A monostable circuit is a digital circuit that is only stable in one state. This means that the output is usually LOW (logic 0) but it can be triggered and the output will go temporarily HIGH (logic 1) for some predetermined length of time. The HIGH state is not stable - eventually the output will go back to being LOW and will remain that way indefinitely unless forced to do otherwise. The length of time that the monostable stays in its unstable state is determined by external components such as capacitors and resistors. This time is called the Time Period (T).
The system diagram and the timing diagram for a monostable are shown below:
The output is LOW until the monostable is triggered. At this point the output goes HIGH. The output stays HIGH for a set length of time (period = T) which is determined by the values of the resistor and capacitor that form part of the circuit.
The input is more unusual in that it is normally in a HIGH state and has to go LOW to trigger the monostable - this is called a falling edge.
The timing diagram shows the ideal behaviour of a monostable:
When the trigger goes LOW, the output immediately becomes HIGH. The monostable is triggered on the falling edge of the trigger.
Even if there are multiple trigger falling edges, the output still only goes HIGH for the set time period from the first trigger's falling edge - the monostable is not 'restarted' by subsequent triggers.
If the trigger stays low, the output still only stays HIGH for the set time period - holding the trigger LOW has no effect on the output.
An ideal monostable should have the following properties:
The 555 is an integrated circuit (IC) that can be used to make a convenient, if not necessarily very good, monostable. The circuit shown needs to be learnt for the GCSE course and it is reasonable to be expected to be able to draw and/or construct the circuit with no instructions ... learn this circuit!
The time period depends only on R and C such that:
In normal operation pin 4 is held HIGH. Pin 4 is the reset pin. When pin 4 is Logic 1 the 555 acts as a monostable. When pin 4 is Logic 0 the output remains LOW and the 555 does not act as a monostable
Pin 5 is connected through a 10 nF capacitor to 0 V
Link to a VIDEO that explains how to draw the circuit, draw the timing diagram and calculate the time period of the 555 monostable.
Good points
Bad points
The NAND gate monostable meets all of the criteria for a good monostable.
The output is represented by the LED which is usually off in the stable state. The 10k resistor is a pull up resistor that keeps the input high unless the button is pressed. Immediately the button is pressed, the capacitor which is uncharged in the stable state, begins to charge and hence the time period begins. The button has no further effect on the circuit until the output returns to its normal stable state. The time period is determined by R and C and, for most logic gates, the time period is given by T = 0.7RC.
Although this is a very good monostable that behaves as it should, it is not really included in the GCSE course as it is considered too hard to build. The logic gates used do not provide much current to drive an output transducer. If you need a real monostable, this is the one to use.
Link to a VIDEO that explains how to draw the circuit, draw the timing diagram and calculate the time period of the NAND gate monostable.
The circuit shown is a very simple monostable, and not a very good one either!
It is useful to consider how it works as it helps to understand the more complex circuits
This is a poor circuit because:
It is important to remember that a capacitor, when it is charged, has a voltage across it and when it is not charged, it has no voltage across it. The capacitor charges through the resistor and so the rate at which it charges, and hence the time period, is determined by both the resistor and the capacitor values. Increasing either the resistor value or the capacitor value increases the time period.
T = 0.7 × R × C = 0.7 × 100 × 103 × 220 × 10-6 = 15.4 seconds
© Paul Nicholls
April 2016
Electronics Resources by Paul Nicholls is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.