New Frequency Control Technologies: A Comparative Analysis of New Technologies and Traditional Quartz Based Te

New Frequency Control Technologies: A Comparative Analysis of New Technologies and Traditional Quartz Based Technology

Over the years there has been a steady progression in the development of frequency control technologies. While many changes have been the result of the natural evolution of technology, the main drivers have been enhanced manufacturing capabilities, demands to reduce costs, and various technical requirements for smaller sizes, greater stability, reduced power consumption, and faster start-up.

Quartz-based devices, primarily Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) devices, have long been the standard by which all commercially available clocking sources have been compared. The history of quartz crystals as very stable, high quality resonators for frequency control is well documented and universally recognized. Frequency versus temperature response, aging, jitter and phase noise characteristics of quartz-based frequency control devices are all well chronicled in the industry. However, a concise technical comparison of such characteristics with frequency control devices utilizing new technologies has been lacking. To establish a benchmark between MEMS and other devices against established quartz based devices, the authors of this analysis began a study in 2007, and published A Comparative Analysis of Frequency Control Devices in 2008. This comparison study is an update and expansion of the earlier benchmark analysis. ■