This article is part of the 2022 April 1st series in the Humor topic within our Series Library. The ubiquitous 1971 digital miracle—the 555 Timer—is important, replete with 25 transistors, 15 ...

One of the most common clichés around here is that a piece of equipment chosen for a project is always too advanced. If a Raspberry Pi was used, someone will say they should have used an Arduino. If ...

Anyone who has designed circuits using the 555 timer chip will, at some time have wished that it could be programmed for longer timing periods. Anyone who has designed circuits using the 555 timer ...

In the classic configuration and most variants of the astable 555 multivibrator circuit, the timing characteristics are based on the charging and discharging of a capacitor. However, it can be argued ...

Sometimes the best inspiration is limitation. The 555 timer does “one thing” — compares a voltage to a couple thresholds and outputs a signal accordingly. It’s two comparators, a voltage ladder, and a ...

Editor’s Note: Hans Camenzind was selected for the Engineering Hall of Fame in our inaugural induction, which appeared in our 50th Anniversary issue in 2002. He died on August 8, 2012. His son, Peter, ...