MEMS-based oscillator threatens quartz; resonator could move on-chip

摘要

Few electronic components have stood the test of time better than the quartz-crystal oscillator or resonator. But researchers continue to search for a quartz replacement because the components don't scale downward sizewise—at least relative to ICs—and manufacturing and packaging are problematic, even though the industry has developed ways to turn out millions of discrete oscillators at low prices. MEMS (microelec-tromechanical-system) technology is one silicon technique that designers can use to build an oscillator. Start-up SiTime believes that it has unlocked the secret to MEMS-based oscillators that, as discrete components, can undercut quartz prices and that designers might ultimately integrate directly into large digital chips.