Like other caesium atomic clocks, the clock keeps time by a precise 9.192631770 GHz microwave signal emitted by electron spin transitions between two hyperfine energy levels in atoms of caesium-133. A feedback mechanism keeps a quartz crystal oscillator on the chip locked to this frequency, which is divided down by digital counters to give 10 MHz and 1 Hz clock signals provided to output pins.
Like other cesium atomic clocks, the clock keeps time by a precise 9.192631770 GHz microwave signal emitted from electron spin transitions between two hyperfine energy levels in atoms of cesium-133. A feedback mechanism maintains a quartz crystal oscillator on the chip synchronized to this frequency, which is then divided down by digital counters to provide 10 MHz and 1 Hz clock signals at output pins.