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A chime is a form of audible signal device which produces a soft harmonic "ding" tone. Chimes were introduced as an alternative to louder bells or horns, and are typically used in applications where a jarring signal could cause undesired interruptions, such as hospitals or laboratories. They were also used as prealarm notification devices in two-stage systems.

[edit] Electromechanical Chimes

The earliest types of chimes utilized an electromechanical motor or solenoid which would strike a resonant metal strip akin to a xylophone note, or in rare cases, a cowbell-like structure. The majority of these devices were single-stroke, meaning that the striker would only strike the chime once when power is applied.

[edit] Electronic Chimes

In the late 80's/early 90's, electronic chimes began to replace electromechanical chimes. These chimes usually feature an analog tone generator, which is connected to a speaker or peizo sounder. Common controls such as pitch, tone volume, and vibrating/single-stroke can typically be found. Some multitone horns include a built-in chime tone.