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For decades the 555 timer has enabled system designers to create solutions for a variety of applications, including oscillators, pulse generation, and converting analog signals to pulse width modulated (PWM) signals. Depending on the 555 timer configuration, there can be limits to how flexible the device is in meeting the system designer’s need, whether it be due to the structure of the internal blocks or the tolerances of the external components used to construct the complete circuit.
Texas Instrument’s new family of smart DACs are capable of voltage output configurable waveform generation and include configurable threshold blocks that can be used to exceed the functionality of 555 timer circuits in most cases. The following sections explore a handful of common 555 timer circuits and present the alternative smart DAC solution.