In low-power electronic products, timing sources are implicit driving factors for battery life, reliability, and performance. For decades, quartz crystals have been the standard timing component in electronic products until the emergence of silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) oscillators.
Choosing MEMS oscillators is one of the most influential steps in designing various applications ranging from wearable devices and IoT sensors to industrial and high-speed digital systems. This type of crystal is etched onto a silicon wafer and vibrates at a precise frequency, providing a stable digital timing signal.
Quartz crystals have been in use since the 1930s, relying on their piezoelectricity when applied with voltage to vibrate at precise frequencies. Quartz crystals have natural stability, ensuring long-term reliable timing for devices such as microcontrollers and radios.
However, quartz crystals are relatively fragile and operate at specific frequencies, which can cause problems during design iterations and frequency customization. In addition, quartz crystals only stabilize a few milliseconds after being powered on, making them unsuitable for low-power devices with frequent sleep cycles.
Electronic substitutes such as resistance capacitance (RC) oscillators and inductance capacitance (LC) oscillators can generate clock signals from electronic components, but may cause frequency drift due to temperature, voltage, or aging.
MEMS oscillators integrate the mechanical stability of quartz with the miniaturization, impact resistance, and configurability of silicon. Therefore, this oscillator is particularly suitable for applications that require low power consumption, durability, or limited space. This oscillator wakes up at microsecond level speed, remains stable and consumes low power during temperature changes, resulting in longer operating time, smaller battery size, more compact and durable design.
Seismic resistant and programmable options
Abracon offers a range of timing and frequency control devices, including AMMLP series MEMS oscillators, which enable high-precision frequency control in ultra compact, low-power packaging (Figure 1). Compared with traditional quartz, AMMLP devices are characterized by shock resistance, ultra small size, and programmability, which fully meet the design frequency and packaging requirements of engineers.
Figure 1: Abracon's AMMLP series MEMS oscillator adopts industry standard packaging with a wide frequency selection range. (Image source: Abracon)
From next-generation fitness trackers to autonomous drones, AMMLP oscillators can provide the precise, low-power timing required for modern applications. The frequency range of AMMLP devices is 2.3 MHz to 170 MHz, with a complete range of types that combine precision, low power consumption, and flexibility. These devices support four power supply voltages: 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, or continuous voltages ranging from 2.25 V to 3.6 V.
From a power consumption perspective, AMMLP oscillators are designed for energy efficiency, with a typical current consumption of approximately 6.5 mA. Many models also include standby or output enable modes, allowing them to enter sleep mode while the device is energy-efficient. This oscillator adopts industry standard package sizes of 2.0 x 1.6 mm, 2.5 x 2.0 mm, 3.2 x 2.5 mm, 5.0 x 3.2 mm, and 7.0 x 5.0 mm, making it easy to achieve embedded integration even in the most compact design.
Frequency stability
Abracon devices can be programmed for almost any frequency within their range before leaving the factory. The frequency stability can be selected within a wide temperature range of ± 20 ppm to ± 50 ppm, ensuring timing consistency for portable industrial or consumer applications.
AMMLPAALJS-24.0000T is a 2.0 x 1.6 mm MEMS oscillator that saves PCB space while providing high-precision, low-power 24 MHz intermediate frequency. This oscillator provides stable clock signals for microcontrollers, wireless RF, and other digital circuits. The power supply voltage ranges from 2.25 V to 3.63 V, and its maximum operating current is 7.5 mA, with a standby current of only 1.8 µ A. It is very suitable for battery powered devices.
AMMLPDALJS-25.0000T has a slightly larger size of 2.5 x 2.0 mm and operates at a frequency of 25 MHz, which is commonly used for Ethernet, USB, and certain wireless radios. The typical standby current of this device is only 1 µ A, and it also has a flexible operating voltage ranging from 2.25 V to 3.63 V, ensuring high energy efficiency operation in portable or industrial designs.
The 50 MHz AMMLPDDLJS-50.0000T adopts a 2.5 x 2.0 mm package, with a standby power consumption of 1 µ A, supports a 1.8 V power supply, and consumes up to 7.5 mA during operation. This oscillator is compact in size and has low power consumption, making it an ideal choice for those who require excellent space and energy efficiency.
All three devices have ± 20 ppm frequency stability and CMOS output, which simplifies application design.