Timer

The Timer is a time-based signal processing component that modifies incoming signals with configurable delays, pulse durations, and oscillation patterns. Rather than measuring real-world time like the Chronometer, the Timer processes signals through temporal operations such as delayed activation, delayed deactivation, and periodic on/off cycling. At 600 Science Points, the Timer adds sophisticated time-domain control to automation circuits that simple on/off logic cannot achieve.

The Timer accepts an input signal and transforms it based on its configured time parameters. A delay timer can hold a signal for a specified duration before passing it through, which is useful for preventing rapid cycling when sensor readings fluctuate near a threshold. An oscillation timer can convert a steady ON signal into a periodic on/off pattern, useful for creating timed batch operations or pulsed water releases. These temporal operations make the Timer essential for smoothing out jittery sensor inputs and creating rhythmic automation patterns.

Practical Timer applications include preventing Floodgate or valve 'hunting' (rapid opening and closing when water levels hover near a threshold) by adding a delay before the signal passes through. Another use case is creating timed irrigation cycles: an oscillation timer can open and close water channels at regular intervals, mimicking controlled irrigation. For industrial automation, a Timer can introduce cooldown periods between production batches, preventing resource waste from rapid start-stop cycles. The 600 Science Point cost positions the Timer as a mid-game upgrade for players who have already built basic sensor and gate circuits and need more refined signal behavior.