This section provides an overview for crystal oscillators as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 27 crystal oscillator manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked crystal oscillator companies as of November, 2024: 1.CTS Corporation, 2.Daishinku DAISHINKU CORP., 3.Microsemi Corporation.
Table of Contents
Categories Related to Crystal Oscillators
A crystal oscillator is a device that generates a specific frequency by incorporating an oscillation circuit into the mechanical resonance of a quartz crystal unit, utilizing the piezoelectric phenomenon of quartz. These devices are known for their high precision, often on the order of ppm (parts per million).
Other types of oscillation circuits, such as LC, CR, and those using ceramic elements, are limited to percentage precision, whereas crystal oscillation can achieve greater accuracy.
Quartz's suitability for electronic circuits is due to its piezoelectric effect, making it a vital component in technology predating transistors and integrated circuits (ICs).
Crystal oscillators are used in various applications, including as frequency signal sources in telecommunications equipment, timing sources in quartz clocks, and color burst signal sources in televisions. In recent times, they have become essential in providing fixed-frequency clock sources for digital circuits.
These oscillators are critical in delivering high-frequency stability and non-adjustability for ICs and LSIs (integrated circuits with higher complexity). As a result, they are utilized not only in traditional devices like telecommunications equipment, TVs, and clocks but also in satellite communications, automobiles, personal computers, DVD equipment, and other information appliances.
Crystal oscillators function by using a quartz crystal unit to generate a reference resonance frequency through an oscillation circuit. The piezoelectric phenomenon of quartz is key in this process. However, a quartz crystal unit alone cannot maintain the necessary amplitude of the resonance frequency.
In crystal oscillators, an internal oscillation circuit regulates the strength and frequency of the reference frequency signal. While quartz crystals in nature are composed of silicon dioxide, the quartz used in crystal oscillators is synthetic, derived from natural crystal lasca. This synthetic quartz is created under controlled conditions in an autoclave, resulting in large, pure, recrystallized artificial crystals.
The temperature characteristics of frequency and vibration mode vary depending on the crystal's cut angle relative to the crystal axis. For example, quartz crystals in wristwatches are cut to have a zero temperature coefficient at a body or room temperature.
The oscillation mode, likened to the vibration of tofu on a cutting board, is determined by the thickness of the crystal slice.
Normal crystal oscillators have an accuracy of about 1/10,000 to 1/100,000, significantly higher than silicon or ceramic oscillators but not as precise as cesium oscillators in atomic clocks. Temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXO) offer even higher precision by incorporating a circuit that offsets the crystal unit's temperature characteristics.
A quartz oscillator clock, or quartz watch, functions as a clock by converting the high-precision oscillation of a quartz oscillator into a frequency at one-second intervals by dividing the frequency by an IC. Analog clocks use this frequency to drive a step motor that moves the hands, while digital clocks use it to drive a display. Quartz watches have the advantage of long-term operation with minimal maintenance, especially models powered by solar energy or equipped with generators.
MEMS oscillators, emerging as an alternative to quartz oscillators, are produced using semiconductor manufacturing processes, allowing for integration into electronic circuits and miniaturization. They offer advantages in frequency adjustment and power consumption, potentially surpassing crystal oscillators in market share.
As the demand for higher communication frequencies grows, there is a push for crystal oscillators to support higher frequencies. Advances in analog circuit technology like PLL enable frequency increases, but there are challenges such as phase noise and temperature characteristics. Current developments focus on improving both the crystal unit and the oscillation circuit to support frequencies up to 100 MHz.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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NEL Frequency Controls, founded in 1954, is a manufacturer of frequency control products, headquartered in Burlington, Wisconsin. They create optimal solution for applications requiring crystal oscillators with performance specifications such as ultra low phase noise, ultra low power, and ultra high frequency capability. They offer products such as oscillators, encoders, CMOS, LVDS, and TCXO which are used in industries such as aerospace, defense, and telecommunications. NEL Frequency Controls has acquired ISO 9001-2008 certification for its quality management system standard and has expanded its testing methodologies with HALT and HASS procedures to identify design and manufacturing defects in products.
Xsis Electronics, Inc., established in 1978 and based in Kansas, USA, is a manufacturer of hybrid microcircuit crystal oscillators and quartz crystal units for military, aerospace, industrial, and telecommunication purposes. These crystal oscillators and units produced by Xsis are also applied for high temperature, high shock, and high vibration. These products have gone through extensive testing such as the Single Event Latch Up (SEL) and Single Event Upset (SEU). The company uses hermetically sealed metal or ceramic for their packages.
MtronPTI. founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1965 is a manufacturer of frequency control products and filters. The company's product portfolio includes commercial and precision packaged quartz crystal, clock oscillators, Modular Timing Solutions and various filter products including LC, SAW, Crystal and Microwave. Their products are used in markets such as Automotive and Transportation, Telecommunications, Industrial Automation, Healthcare and Medical Devices and Aerospace and Defense. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, and Custom Manufacturing.
Founded in Irvine, CA in 1962, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary semiconductor products. Its product portfolio includes amplifiers, antenna tuners, attenuators, automotive tuners and digital radios, clocks and timings, circulators/isolators, DC/DC converters, demodulators, detectors, diodes, wireless analog system on chip products, directional couplers, diversity receive modules, filters, front-end modules, hybrids, LED drivers, low noise amplifiers, mixers, modulators, switches, synthesizers, timing devices, technical ceramics, voltage controlled oscillators/synthesizers, and voltage regulators. The company provides its products for the usage in aerospace, automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, entertainment and gaming, industrial, medical, military, smartphone, tablet, and wearable markets.
Transko Electronics Inc., established in 1982 in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of quality electronic components and transformers. The company's main products include transformers, inductors, coils, and chokes used in a wide range of applications, such as power supplies, telecommunications, industrial equipment, and consumer electronics. Transko's components play a crucial role in ensuring good power management and signal integrity in various electronic devices. With a motive for excellence and continuous innovation, Transko aims to provide good solutions to its customers and meet the ever-evolving demands of the electronics field.
Raltron, founded in, Miami, FL in 1983 is a manufacturer of frequency management products. The company's product portfolio includes Ceramic Resonators and Filters, Clock Oscillators, Ceramic Buzzers and Piezo Elements, Microwave Filters and Duplexers and VCOs & PLL Synthesizers. Their products are used in markets such as Automotive and Transportation, Telecommunications, Industrial Automation, Healthcare and Medical Devices and Aerospace and Defense. The company has global network of independent Sales Representatives as well as several subsidiary offices in Asia.
Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Bliley Technologies Inc., originally founded as the Bliley Piezo-Electric Company in 1930 in the USA, is a manufacturer of quartz crystals and components for the communications industry. The company's core product-line includes performance oscillators, atomic clocks, space oscillators, transducers, and filters and multiplexers. Bliley Technologies Inc. offers a wide range of solutions for customized production for clients that include integrated RF embedded boards for assured PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) and high-vibration and G-sensitivity OCXO oscillator solutions for low phase noise connectivity components in extreme shock and acceleration environments.
Abracon LLC, founded in 1992 with headquarters in the USA, is an ISO 9001:2015 manufacturer of precision electronic components for the aerospace, defense, security, medical, and transport markets worldwide. The company's core products include RADAR and LIDAR systems, radio communications, datalinks, aircraft computing, and head-up displays. Transportation products include crystals, oscillators, antennas, and inductors for transportation applications in harsh environments. Abracon LLC's medical solutions include hospital beds, bedside patient monitors, MRIs, and surgery-assisted robotics.
Diodes Incorporated is a supplier for the consumer electronics, computing, communications, industrial, and automotive markets. Diodes Incorporated designs, manufactures, and supplies application-specific standard products in the discrete, logic, analog, and mixed-signal semiconductor markets worldwide. It focuses on low pin count semiconductor devices. Diodes specializes in semiconductor products, such as MOSFET, TVS, and performance Schottky rectifiers, transient voltage suppressors and other devices. It also provides analog products, such as power management devices comprising AC-DC and DC-DC converters, signaling devices, CMOS devices, and analog switches. Diodes Incorporated was incorporated in 1959 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (Vishay) was incorporated in 1962 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The company serves the industrial, automotive, telecommunications, consumer products, and medical end markets and sells its products under numerous brand names inlcuding Siliconix, Draloric, Beyschlag, UltraSource, and Applied Thin-Film Products. The company manufactures and sells discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components in globally while operating in six market segments: MOSFETs, diodes, optoelectronic components, resistors, inductors, and capacitors.
Microsemi Corporation was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. Microsemi is a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Incorporated. Microsemi is a provider of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace, communications, data center, and industrial markets. A few of Microsemi’s product lines include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, power management products, timing and synchronization devices, and RF solutions. Microsemi’s technological strengths are in connectivity, energy efficiency, miniaturization, power management, and security.
ECS is a designer and manufacturer of frequency control connectivity, synchronization, and timing solutions, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, USA. The products are power inductors, Quartz Crystal oscillators, resonators, real-time clocks, and filters. Crystal products include surface mount crystals, through-hole crystals, tuning forks, and crystal units with integrated thermistors. The company serves consumer products, medical applications, automotive electronics, wearable technologies, and power generation fields. The company won the International Award 2022 Global Distributor of the Year and the Largest Customent Count Growth Award.
CTS Corporation was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois. CTS is a manufacturer and distributor of sensors, actuators, and various connectivity components to telecommunications infrastructure, information technology, and other high-speed applications such as the aerospace and medical markets. CTS operates in 3 primary market segments: Sense, Connect, and Move. The Sense market segment includes controls such as potentiometers, pedals, sensors, and switches. The Connect segment includes various types of resistors, capacitors, and frequency control products. The move segment includes piezoelectric move products, rotary actuators, and thermal products including ZIF PC board retainers and heatsinks.
AiT Semiconductor, established in 1996 at Taiwan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors, specializing in the design and production of analog and mixed-signal ICs. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of IC solutions for various applications, including power management, LED lighting, audio, and wireless network/communication. They manufacture power switches, inductors, regulator LDO, EEPROM memory and resonators along with other electrical solutions. These power components are used in multiple industries such as consumer, medical, industrial, communication and IoT sectors. Their products are equipped with improved performance, low power consumption, and robust sustainability.
Tai-Saw Technology Co., Ltd. established in 1997 and based in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and distributor of great-performance communication components. The company's product lineup includes SAW (surface acoustic wave) devices, BAW (Bulk Acoustic Wave) devices, and modules like Xtal,VCO, and VCTCXO. These products are essential for enhancing the efficiency and performance of communication systems. Serving industries such as appliances, electrical, and electronics manufacturing, it ensures the delivery of quality frequency products. The company offers design services, manufacturing of frequency components, and processing development.
Rakon, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, is a manufacturer of frequency control products and timing solutions. They offer a range of products including OCXO, OCSO, TCXO, VCXO, and VCSO, as well as XO, VCO, resonators, filters, and system solutions, catering to diverse requirements across industries such as telecommunications, space, and defense. Rakon's frequency control products and timing solutions enable the lightning speed of 5G networks, provide precision positioning for autonomous vehicles, ensure synchronization for cloud computing, and facilitate various other applications. The company holds various certifications, including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management System.
Mercury Electronic Ind. Co., Ltd., founded in 1973, is a manufacturer of quartz-based electronic components headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. The company offers a range of electronic components, including quartz crystals, clock oscillators, VCXOs, TCXOs/VCTCXOs, and OCXOs, which are used in various applications such as timekeeping, communication systems, and electronic circuitry. These components utilize quartz crystals for their unique properties, enabling stable and accurate frequency generation in electronic devices and systems. The company has been awarded certifications including ISO9001, ISO14001, and IATF-16949, signifying its compliance with the industry recognized standards.
Micro Crystal, founded in, Switzerland in 1978 is a manufacturer of quartz-based timing devices, real-time clock modules, and oscillators. The company's product portfolio includes 32.768kHz Quartz Crystals, Temperature Sensors, OCXOs, Miniature Tuning Fork Crystals and Quartz Resonators. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company has sales and technical support offices in Europe, the United States, and Asia and a manufacturing unit in Thailand.
Jauch Group, established in 1954 and based in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of quartz crystals, crystal oscillators, and battery technology. The company’s products are used in various applications, including frequency control components for electronics and battery solutions for diverse industries. The company offers in-depth technical consulting, certification expertise, and fast product delivery. With production facilities in Germany and strategic partnerships in Asia, the company ensures the availability of frequency control products. Besides, the company provides new technology solutions and great customer support, catering to the evolving needs of its clients.
Daishinku Corp was founded in 1957 and manufactures electric components for distribution across Japan and internationally. The company makes an average of 41.31 billion Yen in average revenue. They also have several partnerships with multiple companies dealing with the same commodities. One of the iconic partnerships is with the Harmony Corporation. The main headquarters of this company is at Kakogawa, Hyogo, Japan but there are several subsidiaries across China, USA, and Canada.
NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD., founded in 1948, is a Japanese manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, specializing in crystal-related products. The company’s product line includes crystal units and oscillators, synthetic quartz crystals, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors, and millimeter-wave converters. Additionally, the company provides frequency synthesizers, optical components, outgas analysis systems, signal generators, and ultrasound probe (transducers). These products cater to sectors like automotive, healthcare, household appliances, industrial equipment, and medical. Notably, its collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) resulted in the QCM Thermogravimetric Gas Analysis (QTGA) system for analyzing outgas emissions from organic materials in vacuum settings.
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Murata Manufacturing) was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Nagaokakyo, Japan. Murata Manufacturing designs, manufactures, and sells ceramic-based passive electronic components and solutions globally. The company operates through components, modules, and others segments, serving communications, mobility, industrial, healthcare, and personal electronics customers. They company's product offerings include noise suppression products, quartz devices,RFID devices, phase shifters, and wireless connectivity platforms. Services such as webinars and video library are also available for existing and potential customers alike.
Kingtronics International Company was established in 1990 in Hong Kong and has several factories across China manufacturing electronic components such as bridge rectifiers. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and works with several distributors around the world including KORE, Prod. El, DTDS, and others. The company produces two kinds of electronics components: passive components such as aluminum electrolytic capacitors including radial type and axial type, and active components such as diodes, transistors, and bridge rectifiers.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | CTS Corporation |
22.9%
|
2 | Daishinku DAISHINKU CORP. |
16.7%
|
3 | Microsemi Corporation |
12.5%
|
4 | NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD. |
8.3%
|
5 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
6 | Micro Crystal AG |
4.2%
|
7 | Transko Electronics |
4.2%
|
8 | Jauch Quartz |
4.2%
|
9 | TAI-SAW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
4.2%
|
10 | Diodes Incorporated |
4.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the crystal oscillator page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 14 | 60.9% |
Taiwan | 3 | 13.0% |
Japan | 3 | 13.0% |
New Zealand | 1 | 4.3% |
Switzerland | 1 | 4.3% |
Germany | 1 | 4.3% |
48 products are listed.
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