The quartz crystal device industry is booming. Crystals are used in so many gadgets and even telecommunications equipment.
Crystals in the telecommunications industry was used as early as 1939 by the U.S. Army. The use of crystals led to the development of radio communication. Because of the global events at that time, the radio communication industry grew so much at that time. Because of the high demand, there were shortages in quartz which greatly affected the growth of the industry.
Compared to its early stages, oscillator packages are smaller now but more effective. The manufacturing process of oscillator packages hasn’t changed much in the past decades. Crystals undergo a meticulous process in order to produce new frequencies.
Why No One Talks About Oscillators Anymore
In the 1990′s, there were some developments in the manufacturing process of programmable oscillators but it was never followed through. There wasn’t a significant change caused by these developments.
A Simple Plan: Oscillators
In order to create a new frequency, a new crystal is needed for each frequency created.
Because of this, there are many crystal frequencies used in the market today. The varying needs of cutting quartz causes many different changes in temperature and frequency stabilities. There is a need to cut the crystal with varying levels of thickness and varying angles for each frequency created.
The amount of crystals needed in a crystal oscillator factory is staggering. The norm for crystal oscillator factories is to follow a build-to-order process.
Because of the diversity of products, it is good that the quartz industry can keep up with the demand.
To maximize time, there are now hybrid oscillators being used. Manufacturers produce “raw” devices and program them based on the specifications given by clients. The tedious process requires a few weeks lead time to produce quality devices. Better technology has shortened these lead times.
Temperature stability is the variation of the oscillator frequency in relation to the temperature. A device’s temperature sensor typically adjusts itself to corresponding temperature changes.
Changes in frequency happen over long periods of use. Frequency stability is required to account for this effect called aging.
A very reliable packaging for the crystal is needed for quartz oscillators. This packaging is needed to prevent leaks from damaging the oscillator which impede it from functioning properly. Some seals that prevent leaks from happening are made out of ceramics or metal.
Shock and vibration can also lead to the deterioration of oscillators. Certain designs are needed to prevent shock and vibration from happening.
A good oscillator will also include a buffer that will help it transmit frequencies across a large range.
Taking care to know the details about crystal oscillators is favorable in knowing which oscillators are good to use.