How change the Frequency of a 555 timer with another circuit ?

[Sid03]

Hello,

If I wanted change the frequency of a 555 using a processor or some other logic circuit, how would I configure that circuit ? Can I just use some switching transistors to short or change resistance value on the 555 ?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Bluejets]

Have a look on talkingelectronics site...along with many tutorials etc. are full details on 555 use and all free.

http://www.talkingelectronics.com/te_interactive_index.html

Scroll down to the 555 area.

 

[Harald Kapp]

Apart from @Bluejets ' proposal: If you have a processor, why bother generating a variable frequency by a 555? Use the processor to generate the timing you need. This will be much more precise than a 555.

 

[Sid03]

I would like my processor to spend time checking the inputs and not miss a valuable event than having a loop running constantly and get sluggish responses to the inputs.

 

[Bluejets]

Interrupts are pretty good at that.

 

[crutschow]

Is the 555 running as an astable oscillator?

Do you care if the duty-cycle of the 555 output changes with frequency?

How accurately does the frequency need to follow the control voltage?
Or do you just want step changes in frequency?

 

[Harald Kapp]

not miss a valuable event than having a loop running constantly and get sluggish responses to the inputs.

That's what timers are for: to offload this task from the processor. After setting up the timer the only action th eprocessor has to take is when the frequency needs to be changed.
Many tutorials to be found online, e.g. this one.

Oh, and I just found this interesting blog on achieving nearly arbitrary accuracy with Arduino's timers.

 

[Audioguru]

The datasheet of the LM358 shows a VCO.

 

[Sid03]

The 358 example looks interesting, but that changes the frequency.
To control motors and other systems there needs to be a way to control the duty cycle of the signal.

 

[Audioguru]

This thread is about changing the frequency. The LM358 VCO does that.
Now you want to change the pulse width to do PWM. Here is how a 555 can have an adjustable PWM:

 

[crutschow]

So you are changing the requirement from controlling the frequency to changing the duty-cycle of a fixed frequency.
That's a big difference.

Do you want to control the duty-cycle in steps by changing the values digitally, or do you want an analog continuous voltage control.
If you want steps, how many?

Or are you just asking questions in general?

 

[Sid03]

Digital would probably be the pimpliest by swapping out the resisters with different values with a relay ?
Analog seems like it would be a lot more involved, but for the sake of learning and maybe a future project I would love to see how to do it.
Thanks

 

[Harald Kapp]

If you want to control the duty cycle, not the frequency as initially stated, that is called pwm. Many microcontrollers have built-in pwm units. This makes it very easy to control the duty cycle while at the same time requires no processing power at al.

 

[Sid03]

Thank you for that. Can you provide some example chips that I could research ?
Thank you.

 

[crutschow]

Analog seems like it would be a lot more involved, but for the sake of learning and maybe a future project I would love to see how to do it.

Not too involved.
LTspice simulation below of an analog-control PWM circuit using one chip comparator (LM339/393), that goes from 0% (fully off) to 100% (fully on) duty cycle.

 

[Sid03]

Is the frequency controlled by R1 and C1 ? Is there a equation for the frequency ?
Thanks

 

[Audioguru]

I deleted my reply about the datasheet for a 555.
The last circuit has a frequency determined by R1, C1 and the speed of the comparator.

 

[crutschow]

Is the frequency controlled by R1 and C1 ? Is there a equation for the frequency ?

Yes and yes.
At frequencies low enough so the comparator transition time is not a significant factor, the approximate frequency is F ≈ 0.345 / (R1*C1).

 

[Sid03]

230 Hz ? Did I get that right ?
I read somewhere that you should try to get the freq up above 20kHz, so that if it does create a hum it will be well above the hearing range ? Is that true ? Will this chip run at that freq ?
Thanks

 

[Harald Kapp]

Can you provide some example chips that I could research ?

Attiny, Atmega, STM32, PIC, ...