Crystals & Oscillators
Crystals and oscillators provide digital systems with an extremely stable, precise timing (clock) signal. They set the rhythm of processors and communication.
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Quartz crystals, crystal oscillators (XO), temperature-compensated (TCXO) and MEMS oscillators are the main types. Frequency, stability (ppm), load capacitance and supply voltage matter when choosing one. Microcontroller clocks, USB/communication and RTC are the most common applications.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a crystal and an oscillator?+
A crystal is a passive component and needs an amplifier circuit (usually the oscillator inside a chip) to work; an oscillator (XO) is an active module that contains the crystal and drive circuit and outputs a clock signal directly.
What does the ppm value mean?+
ppm (parts per million) shows how far a crystal's frequency can drift from nominal. For example a 20 ppm crystal works with a very small margin of error; low ppm matters in clock/RTC applications.
Why does load capacitance matter?+
For a crystal to oscillate at its rated frequency, the circuit's load capacitance (usually set by two small capacitors) must match the crystal's value; the wrong value causes frequency drift.