I'm new to electronics and have been studying the 555 timer. One of the key components within the 555 timer is the "Flip-Flop", at least that's how every resource on the internet refers to it.
Here is a diagram of a 555 timer that is commonly found across the internet.
You can clearly see the component is labeled a "Flip-Flop". If you look at the Wikipedia page for a 555 timer it states it uses a "SR Flip-Flop".
As we know, a "Flip-Flop" uses a Latch as an integral component. So what is the difference between a Latch and a "Flip-Flop"? Every resource I find, describes a "Flip-Flop" as having one of these two defining characteristics:
- It is a Gated Latch
- It is enabled through a clock signal
So, the problem is, in a 555 timer, every diagram shows the "Flip-Flop" only taking 2 inputs, and has no enable pin, therefore, it is not gated. Thus, it must be a simple Latch.
Again, I'm new to electronics, but my question is:
Does a 555 timer actually have a "Flip-Flop" or is it just an SR Latch?