Can anyone explain what a debounce timer is for and how it works. I know there is resistor and capacitor in the circuit but I want a Layman's terms description so that it can be explained to anyone that doesnt know anything about electronics.
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When a switch is closed (and sometimes opened) the contacts bounce for a few milliseconds. For electronic devices, this looks like the switch is switched on and off rapidly for a few times which may well affect the switched circuit.
If the first time the contacts meet, a capacitor is charged, then even if the contacts separate for a few mS, the charge in the capacitor means the output voltage from the switch doesn't drop significantly when the contacts separate briefly.
........SW....................R
+V-----/ --------------------===--------> circuit
................|
................= C
................|
---------------------------------------… 0V
Ignore the dots, I need them for alignment
R*C should be several times the individual bounce time - typically 2mS
An alternative to the RC, is to use a monostable multivibrator
If the first time the contacts meet, a capacitor is charged, then even if the contacts separate for a few mS, the charge in the capacitor means the output voltage from the switch doesn't drop significantly when the contacts separate briefly.
........SW....................R
+V-----/ --------------------===--------> circuit
................|
................= C
................|
---------------------------------------… 0V
Ignore the dots, I need them for alignment
R*C should be several times the individual bounce time - typically 2mS
An alternative to the RC, is to use a monostable multivibrator