Epson Toyocom halves the size of SAW Oscillators

15 March 2011 – Epson Toyocom Corporation, a leader in crystal devices, today announced the development of a new series of differential-output SAW oscillators that offer both excellent stability and high-frequency oscillation, from 100 MHz and up.

Measuring just 5.0 mm x 3.2 mm along the edges and only 1.4 mm thick, the SAW oscillators in the new EG-2121/2102CB series are believed to be the smallest of their type in the world.* Samples are currently available for evaluation. Commercial development is scheduled for December 2011.

The march toward faster communications and higher capacities has made high frequencies and low jitter(*¹) even more important characteristics of clock sources used in LAN(*²) and SAN(*³) equipment attached to high-speed next-generation communications networks such as 8G Fibre Channel and 10Gb Ethernet.

To ensure the stability of communications, LVDS (low voltage differential signaling), LV-PECL (low-voltage positive emitter-coupled logic), and other types of differential signaling(*⁴) are increasingly being used, and reliable oscillators that can provide stable operation over long periods of time are essential.

Meanwhile, the amount of data handled by network devices such as blade servers has skyrocketed, giving rise to a need for higher packaging densities and lower device power consumption. Accordingly, network systems makers increasingly require even smaller chips that use even less power.

Epson Toyocom has for some time been providing unique SAW oscillators that exhibit outstanding stability and the ability to oscillate at a high fundamental frequency for use in high-capacity, high-speed network systems.

To meet strong market demand for smaller products, Epson Toyocom reduced the size of the SAW resonators and oscillation circuits that comprise these oscillators and further refined the precision-packaging technology for which it is known in order to squeeze more components into even less space. The result is that the SAW oscillators in the EG-2121/2102CB series have a 50% smaller footprint than their predecessors yet still boast high frequencies and outstanding stability.

These products, which support 2.5V and 3.3V LVDS and LV-PECL output, consume approximately 50% less current than their predecessors.

The products in the EG-2121/2102CB series oscillate at fundamental frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 700 MHz. This endows them with both excellent noise immunity and high stability: phase jitter(*⁵) is 0.5 ps, while frequency tolerance is ±50 x 10-⁶.

These oscillators use a SAW resonator engineered to be resistant to oscillation defects induced by particles and other foreign substances, while a built-in low-noise regulator enables them to withstand fluctuations in the external power supply. These characteristics of the new SAW oscillators will make them important components in stable, high-capacity, high-speed communications systems.

Epson Toyocom’s SAW oscillators, which have an excellent track record for reliability and mass producibility, are a perfect match for systems that require high reliability.

Epson Toyocom is committed to using new technologies to expand and enhance its lineup of SAW oscillators to meet demand in a wide range of areas.

* Source: Epson Toyocom research as of March 15, 2011.

Main Features

• Low-jitter SAW oscillators that support oscillation at fundamental frequencies from 100 MHz to 700 MHz
• A highly stable SAW resonator that enables frequency tolerances of ±50 x 10-6 / ±100 x 10-6.
• Unrivalled compactness. Measuring 5.0 x 3.2 mm and just 1.4 mm thick, these are the world’s smallest high-frequency (100 MHz or more), differential output SAW oscillators.
• Use 50% less current than Epson Toyocom’s earlier products.
• LVDS and LV-PECL output support

Key Features

Glossary

(*¹) Jitter
This refers to fluctuation among clock cycles, which can cause jittery images or bit errors during data transfers.

(*²) LAN (local area network)
A network that interconnects computers and peripherals within a small geographic area, such as an office or building, and that is used for sharing information and for intercommunications. LANS are typically based on the Ethernet standard and transmission rates have accelerated in recent years.

(*³) SAN (storage area network)
A network that connects remote storage devices to servers. Capable of storing and handling large volumes of data, these systems most often utilize the Fibre Channel standard.

(*⁴) Differential signaling
A type of signaling wherein two signals are output such that their respective polarities are reversed. Differential LV-PECL and LVDS are two types of differential signaling systems. Differential signals are particularly well-suited to the transmission of high frequencies and are noted for their high noise immunity.

(*⁵) Phase jitter
A metric used to express jitter, phase jitter is a value found by integrating phase noise across an offset frequency in a predetermined range.