A tiny ultra stable oscillator built for harsh environments could improve GPS, military radios, satellites, and battery powered electronics significantly.
Microchip Technology has announced the EX-423 Evacuated Miniature Crystal Oscillator (EMXO), a compact low power timing component intended for applications requiring stable and reliable frequency performance. Based on the company’s EX-421 platform, the oscillator is packaged within a 13 mm × 13 mm footprint and is aimed at designs where both space and power consumption are constrained.
The EX-423 targets applications that depend on highly accurate timing references, including GPS and GNSS tracking systems, military radios, medical electronics, Ocean Bottom Node seismic equipment, satellite communications, and precision test instruments. These systems often operate in environments where timing stability can directly influence overall system performance and signal integrity.
One of the notable aspects of the device is its ultra high vacuum enclosure, which is designed to improve thermal insulation and maintain frequency stability across varying operating conditions. The oscillator also uses a four point mounted quartz crystal structure to improve resistance against mechanical shock and reduce g sensitivity, characteristics that can be important in vibration intensive environments.
The component operates across a standard 10 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range and offers features such as low phase noise, temperature stability, fast warm up, and long term frequency consistency. Power consumption is rated at approximately 1W during warm up and around 0.2W during steady state operation at +25°C, making it suitable for certain battery powered and portable electronics.
“When developing the EX-423, we focused on the key parameters designers use to evaluate high-performance reference oscillators,” says Randy Brudzinski, corporate vice president of Microchip’s frequency and time systems business unit. “Delivering this level of performance in a rugged, small footprint helps customers simplify designs without compromising timing accuracy.”
Click here for the official announcement.
