Experiment No: 6
Study of Bi-Stable Operation & Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
Objectives:
a. To observe the basic operation and the output of Bi-stable mode.
b. To observe the operation and output of Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO).
Theory:
The name of the timer comes from the three 5 kΩ resistors which are embedded in it. This IC
gives precise time at the output which is must in the time related circuits. Its basic operations are
to produce clock pulses with predefined frequency as an astable, mono-stable & bi-stable
mutivibrator. We will see these three operations in this experiment. The following figures are the
pin configuration & layout of the 555 Timer IC as which allows us to focus on the functions of
the circuit.
Figure 1: Pin configuration of 555 Timer.
Figure 2: Internal Pin Configuration of 555
Timer
Bi-stable Mode:
Bi-stable Multivibrator mode of 555 timer IC is the easiest mode of 555 timer IC, where
Monostable multibrator mode has one stable & one unstable state, Astable multvibrator mode
has both the unstable states, here in Bi-stable mode, both the states are stable. Means it remains
in the same state (either HIGH or LOW) until an external trigger is applied; otherwise it stays in
one of the two states (HIGH or LOW) indefinitely. In bi-stable mode there is no RC network like
the other two modes of 555, hence there are no equations and wave form. Bi-stable mode simply
works as a Flip-flop.
Fig 3: 555 Timer as Bi-stable Mode. Fig 4: Timing diagram for Bi-stable Mode
Voltage Controlled Oscillator:
The 555 timer consists basically of two comparators, a flip-flop, a discharge transistor, and a
resistive voltage divider, as shown in Figure. The flip-flop (bi-stable multivibrator) is a digital
device that may be unfamiliar to you at this point unless you already have taken a digital
fundamentals course. Briefly, it is a two-state device whose output can be at either a high voltage
level (set, S) or a low voltage level (reset, R). The state of the output can be changed with proper
input signals. The resistive voltage divider is used to set the voltage comparator levels. All three
resistors are of equal value; therefore, the upper comparator has a reference of 2⁄3VCC, and the
lower comparator has a reference of 1⁄3VCC. The comparators’ outputs control the state of the
flip-flop. When the trigger voltage goes below 1⁄3VCC, the flip-flop sets and the output jumps to
its high level. The threshold input is normally connected to an external RC timing circuit. When
the external capacitor voltage exceeds 2⁄3VCC, the upper comparator resets the flip-flop, which in
turn switches the output back to its low level. When the device output is low, the discharge
transistor is turned on and provides a path for rapid discharge of the external timing capacitor.
This basic operation allows the timer to be configured with external components as an oscillator,
a one-shot, or a time delay element. A 555 timer can be set up to operate as a VCO by using the
same external connections as for astable operation, with the exception that a variable control
voltage is applied to the CONT input (pin 5), as indicated in Figure. As shown in Figure 16–43,
the control voltage changes the threshold values of 1⁄3VCC and 2⁄3VCC for the internal
comparators. With the control voltage, the upper value is and the lower value is 1⁄2VCONT, as you
can see by examining the internal diagram of the 555 timer. When the control voltage is varied,
the output frequency also varies. An increase in increases the charging and discharging time of
the external capacitor and causes the frequency to decrease. A decrease in decreases the charging
and discharging time of the capacitor and causes the frequency to increase. An interesting
application of the VCO is in phase-locked loops, which are used in various types of
communication receivers to track variations in the frequency of incoming signals.
Figure 5: Voltage Control Oscillator (VCO) Figure 6: Timing diagram for VCO
Equipment List:
Serial Component Detail Specification Quantity
Number
1 Resistor 10KΩ (x 2), 330Ω 3 piece
2 Capacitor 10nF, 100nF 2 pieces
3 Push Switch 2 pieces
4 555 Timer LM555 1 piece
5 Oscilloscope 1 unit
6 DMM 1 unit
7 DC Voltage Source 2 units
8 Bread Board 1 unit
Circuit Diagram:
Figure 7: Bi-stable mode for 555 timer. Figure 8: VCO circuit diagram of 555 timer.
Procedure:
1. Construct the Figure: 7 on the breadboard.
2. Press switch 1 and check the LED. Measure voltage at pin 3.
3. Press switch 2 and check the LED. Measure voltage at pin 3.
4. Construct the Figure: 8 on the breadboard.
5. Apply control voltage source at pin 5 and oscilloscope at pin 3.
6. Record the time duration and magnitude of output from oscilloscope.
7. Draw the wave shape of the output and compare with its reference one.
Result and Findings:
After completing the experiment, the student will take the wave-shapes found in the experiment.
They will take all the numerical data like magnitude of the output, time/duration as high,
time/duration as low. They will match the result with the formulae.
Data Sheet:
Bi-stable circuit
Nominal Value Measured Value
VCC = ____________V VCC = ____________V
R1 = ____________ k Ω R1 = ____________ k Ω
R2 = ____________ k Ω R2 = ____________ k Ω
C1 = ____________ μF C1 = ____________ μF
Record the output voltage at pin 3
When LED is on: Vout = ______________________
When LED is off: Vout = ______________________
Data Sheet:
VCO circuit
Nominal Value Measured Value
VCC = ____________V VCC = ____________V
R1 = ____________ k Ω R1 = ____________ k Ω
R2 = ____________ k Ω R2 = ____________ k Ω
R3 = ____________ k Ω R3 = ____________ k Ω
C1 = ____________ μF C1 = ____________ μF
Record the values and complete the table using Experimental Data
Vcont (V) Vout-pp Tout fout Duty cycle
1
2
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
Bi-stable Circuit: Draw Bi-stable Output, Trigger input and Reset input
VCO Circuit: Draw Vc and Vout
Report Question:
1. What are the differences between astable, mono-
stable, and bi-stable multivibrator?
2. What are the two reference voltage when Vcc = 10V.
3. Determine the frequency of oscillation for the 555
astable oscillator in the following figure.
4. What will the value of Cext when we change the
frequency to 25 KHz?
