Iterface IC 555 Project To Laptop or PC

If you look at 555 Timer , you will see a good analysis of the chip. A LED can be used to see when the chip can pulse. If you need to do with a laptop, check out arduino using serial interface.

Let me google that for you

clem57

From what I've determind his issue isn't with making the 555 timer, but with electronically measuring the pulse frequency his circuits are generating.

To accurately measure the time periods of the 555 circuit, you need an

accurate measurement device.  One such potential device would be an Arduino

(you can get a small Arduino board very reasonably priced).  You would have

to connect it to your test circuit and write code for the Arduino board to

monitor the output of the 555 (make sure you are using the same voltages on

everything or you will have to address the issue of voltage level

translation).  The Arduino would monitor the status and send that

information to the laptop.  While a laptop with a parallel interface could,

in theory, monitor the output of your 555 using one of the input lines on

the interface, it would be very difficult since the OS on the laptop is

busy doing multiple tasks so timing is very tough.  There are a number of

sites dedicated to working with Arduino boards and creating "sketches"

(their name for programs).  Another option is simply use a decent

oscilloscope and measure the times that way, entering the information by

hand into your table.  Depends on the accuracy needed - you don't mention

just what your definition of "accuracy" is - 5%?, 1%? 1us?

mikey

mikey

--

Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

To accurately measure the time periods of the 555 circuit, you need an

accurate measurement device.  One such potential device would be an Arduino

(you can get a small Arduino board very reasonably priced).  You would have

to connect it to your test circuit and write code for the Arduino board to

monitor the output of the 555 (make sure you are using the same voltages on

everything or you will have to address the issue of voltage level

translation).  The Arduino would monitor the status and send that

information to the laptop.  While a laptop with a parallel interface could,

in theory, monitor the output of your 555 using one of the input lines on

the interface, it would be very difficult since the OS on the laptop is

busy doing multiple tasks so timing is very tough.  There are a number of

sites dedicated to working with Arduino boards and creating "sketches"

(their name for programs).  Another option is simply use a decent

oscilloscope and measure the times that way, entering the information by

hand into your table.  Depends on the accuracy needed - you don't mention

just what your definition of "accuracy" is - 5%?, 1%? 1us?

mikey

mikey

--

Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.