A timer is a specialized type of clock.
A timer can be used to control the sequence of an event or
process. Whereas a stopwatch counts upwards from zero for measuring elapsed time, a timer counts
down from a specified time interval, like an hourglass. Timers can be mechanical, electromechanical,
electronic (quartz), or even software as all modern computers include digital timers of one kind or
another. When the set period expires some timers simply indicate so (e.g., by an audible signal), while
others operate electrical switches, such as a time switch, which cuts electrical power.
A typical mechanical timer
Mechanical timers regulate their speed. Inaccurate, cheap mechanisms use a flat beater that spins
against air resistance. Mechanical egg-timers are sometimes of this type.
More accurate mechanisms have mechanisms similar to mechanical alarm clocks; they require no
power, and can be stored for long periods of time. The most widely-known application is to control
explosives.
Electromechanical timers
Short-period bimetallic electromechanical timers use a thermal mechanism, with a metal finger made of
strips of two metals with different rates of thermal expansion sandwiched together; steel and bronze
are common. An electric current flowing through this finger causes heating of the metals, one side
expands less than the other, and an electrical contact on the end of the finger moves away from or
towards an electrical switch contact. The most common use of this type is in the "flasher" units that
flash turn signals in automobiles, and sometimes in Christmas lights. This is a non-electronic type of
multivibrator.
An electromechanical cam timer uses a small synchronous AC motor turning a cam against a comb of
switch contacts. The AC motor is turned at an accurate rate by the alternating current, which power
companies carefully regulate. Gears drive a shaft at the desired rate, and turn the cam. The most
common application of this timer now is in washers, driers and dishwashers. This type of timer often has
a friction clutch between the gear train and the cam, so that the cam can be turned to reset the time.
Electromechanical timers survive in these applications because mechanical switch contacts may still be
less expensive than the semiconductor devices needed to control powerful lights, motors and heaters.
In the past these electromechanical timers were often combined with electrical relays to create electro-
mechanical controllers. Electromechanical timers reached a high state of development in the 1950s and
60s because of their extensive use in aerospace and weapons systems. Programmable
electromechanical timers controlled launch sequence events in early rockets and ballistic missiles. As
digital electronics has progressed and dropped in price, electronic timers have become more
advantageous.
Electronic timers
Electronic timers are essentially quartz clocks with special electronics, and can achieve higher precision
than mechanical timers. Electronic timers have digital electronics, but may have an analog or digital
display. Integrated circuits have made digital logic so inexpensive that an electronic timer is now less
expensive than many mechanical and electromechanical timers. Individual timers are implemented as a
simple single-chip computer system, similar to a watch and usually using the same, mass-produced,
technology.
Many timers are now implemented in software. Modern controllers use a programmable logic
controller rather than a box full of electromechanical parts. The logic is usually designed as if it were
relays, using a special computer language called ladder logic. In PLCs, timers are usually simulated by the
software built into the controller. Each timer is just an entry in a table maintained by the software.
Digital timers are used in safety device such as a gas timer.
Computer timers
Computer systems usually have at least one timer. These are typically digital counters that either
increment or decrement at a fixed frequency, which is often configurable, and that interrupt the
processor when reaching zero, or a counter with a sufficiently large word size that it will not reach its
counter limit before the end of life of the system.
More sophisticated timers may have comparison logic to compare the timer value against a specific
value, set by software, that triggers some action when the timer value matches the preset value. This
might be used, for example, to measure events or generate pulse width modulated waveforms to
control the speed of motors
