555 Timer
555 Timer Monostable operation: The LM555 timer acts as a “one-shot” pulse generator. The pulse beings when the LM555 timer receives a signal at the trigger input that falls below a 1/3 of the voltage supply. The width of the output pulse is determined by the time constant of an RC network. The output pulse ends when the voltage on the capacitor equals 2/3 of the supply voltage. The output pulse width can be extended or shortened depending on the application by adjusting the R and C values. In this mode of operation, the timer functions as a one-shot (Figure 1). The external capacitor is initially held discharged by a transistor inside the timer. Upon application of a negative trigger pulse of less than 1/3 VCC to pin 2, the flip-flop is set which releases the short circuit across the capacitor and drives the output high. The voltage across the capacitor then increases exponentially for a period of t = 1.1 RA C, at the end of which time the voltage equals 2/3 ...