Time to ditch quartz? Superior temperature and vibration stability with MEMS timing devices

ipXchange is taking two SiTime boards to Embedded World! We’ve written about their MEMS timing devices before, but here’s a refresher on what this disruptive company is all about:

Many electronics designs require a timing source, and quartz technology is typically at the heart of this. While quartz has been used for many years, it has some drawbacks that result in a performance plateau when it comes to applications that require the most accurate timing sources, such as in high-speed datacentres where timing errors can result in data corruption. The issues inherent in quartz include poor stability in environments where there is mechanical noise and drift in the resonant frequency due to temperature change.

While there are some market-ready workarounds that improve quartz performance, MEMS technology is inherently far less affected by either of these issues. It also enables smaller, consolidated devices with longer service lifetimes.

SiTime’s devices are a forward-thinking alternative to legacy quartz from manufacturers like Jauch, Abracon, and Seiko Epson.

So, let’s take a little look at these boards! The first is an evaluation Board for SiTime’s aptly named Emerald OXCOs, which are the most compact devices in their class. Despite the name, these are still MEMS devices, and they provide a comfortable transition from quartz to MEMS, with the best dynamic performance and enhanced system robustness in electromechanically noisy environments. SiTime’s Emerald range also includes the industry’s only fully digitally controlled OCXO, which offers frequency control at ultra-fine resolution.

SiTime’s Emerald OXCOs feature:

• Exceptional dynamic stability under airflow, fast temperature ramp, vibration, board bending, etc.
• ±5 to ±8 ppb over-temperature stability as standard, with ±40 ppt/°C frequency slope (ΔF/ΔT) stability and ±0.6 ppb typical daily aging.
• Programmable 1 to 60 MHz LVCMOS or clipped sinewave output.

If that’s got you interested in MEMS, you can learn more and apply for a sample here or using the link below.

The second board is a bit more hardcore: SiTime’s ClockSoC products consolidate multiple clock ICs and oscillators into a single device with up to 11 differential or 22 single-ended clock outputs. This space-saving device is enabled by SiTime’s MEMS-based timing and provides reliable operation under ambient temperatures from -40°C to 85°C with ten times more robustness against mechanical shock and vibration.

The ClockSoC devices include fully programmable clock generators, jitter cleaners, and network synchronisers for high-flexibility frequency options in 5G, datacentre infrastructure, and other applications that require high-precision timing.

Learn more about these highly integrated devices and apply for the evaluation board here.

Alternatively, come see them in Hall 4A, Stand 556 at Embedded World!

Keep designing!