Properties:

An item consisting of an oscillator, amplifiers, waveform clippers, frequency dividers, and the like. It provides a series of pulses, or pulse reference frames of information relating to precise time data, that is applied to other components for purposes of synchronization and control. It may derive signals from internal circuitry, auxiliary external circuitry, or from sources such as the national bureau of standards radio station wwv. The item may include an integral register for circuit monitoring and adjustment purposes only. For items that are not compared to a standard time signal source, but are used as time bases for system triggers, synchronizing sources and the like, see generator, reference signal; generator, electronic command signals and generator, pulse.