30 Real Time Clock Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for real time clocks as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 30 real time clock manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked real time clock companies as of November, 2024: 1.Parallax Inc., 2.CAST, 3.Diodes Incorporated.
Table of Contents
What Is a Real-Time Clock?
A real-time clock is an IC device with clock functions.
Also called an RTC (real-time clock), some models have programmable time alarms and automatic leap year correction functions.
Since the clock needs to keep ticking even when the main device is turned off, it has its own power supply independent of the main device. Electronic devices that require clock functions can also operate without a real-time clock if only relative time is needed.
Uses of Real-Time Clocks
Real-time clocks are used in devices that require current time. By connecting it to a power supply or backup that is separate from the power supply on the embedded system, the clock can keep ticking even if the system power supply is turned off. Examples include personal computers, game consoles, pachinko machines, telephones, fax machines, and rice cookers.
A personal computer reads from a real-time clock to know the current time when the operating system is started. In game consoles and pachinko machines, it is used to generate events or activate effects that correspond to the real time or period. Telephones and fax machines are used to display calendars and time. Rice cookers are used for timer functions.
Principle of a Real-Time Clocks
A real-time clock consists of a quartz crystal and an oscillation circuit.
The quartz resonator is a piezoelectric element, characterized by the piezoelectric effect of regular vibrations. When the vibrations are converted into electricity and extracted from the quartz resonator, a regularly oscillating electrical signal can be obtained, and an alternating current signal with a single frequency can be obtained.
An oscillation circuit is a component or device that creates an AC signal of a desired frequency from a DC power source. The oscillation circuit can continuously generate a signal with periodicity.
The quartz crystal and the oscillation circuit make up a real-time clock that keeps accurate time. Quartz crystal units are used because they have a high Q (quality factor) and steep passband characteristics, allowing selective and accurate frequency extraction. This enables accurate timekeeping.
In addition, a real-time clock has an independent power supply with lower power consumption than the timer function of an operating system or other devices. Since it does not require much power, it can operate for a long period, even if the main unit's power is turned off.
How to Select a Real-Time Clock
There are three factors to consider when selecting a real-time clock: time accuracy, long operation time, and size.
1. Time Accuracy
A real-time clock with high accuracy is required for devices that measure usage in cases where the rate system changes according to the time of day. Since quartz crystal oscillators fluctuate in frequency depending on temperature, a model equipped with a temperature compensation circuit is necessary.
2. Long Time Drive
If the device needs to be driven for a long period, consider a model with low power consumption, or a model that automatically switches the power supply to be supplied from the main unit when the main unit power is on.
3. Size
If the size of the device is limited, select a real-time clock with a reduced number of components or a real-time clock in a single package.
Other Information on Real-Time Clocks
1. Characteristics of Real-Time Clocks
Real-time clocks are equipped with functions necessary for calendars, such as leap years, major months, and minor months, making it easy to program date-related programs in embedded devices. Power consumption can be reduced by operating only the real-time clock and turning off the main unit when not needed.
2. Functions of the Real-Time Clock
In addition to providing basic time and calendar information, some models offer the following functions:
- Alarm
Outputs a signal at a set time. - Backup Power Switching
Switches from the internal battery to the main unit's power supply when the main unit's power supply is on. - Time Stamp
Stores time data when an event is detected. - Reset
Monitors the power supply of the main unit and outputs a reset signal to the CPU when a threshold value is detected.
List of 30 Real Time Clock Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- Egypt
- Germany
- India
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
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SparkFun Electronics
Real Time Clock Module
Manufacturer Overview
SparkFun Electronics is a manufacturer of modernized and cutting-edge electronic components and tools founded in 2003 and was established in USA. The company broad selection of goods includes sensors, development boards, kits, and modules for both experts and enthusiasts. Quality is crucial at SparkFun Electronics, and they work hard to satisfy their clients. They stand out for their adherence to open-source hardware and wealth of instructional resources, which enables them to support a thriving and cooperative community of makers and innovators.
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Diodes Incorporated
Real Time Clock
Manufacturer Overview
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.
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ifm efector, inc.
Real-time clock
Manufacturer Overview
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
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Analog Devices, Inc.
Real Time Clock
Manufacturer Overview
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
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Suntsu Electronics, Inc.
Real Time Clocks
Manufacturer Overview
Suntsu Electronics, Inc., established in 2002 and based in Irvine, California, is an American manufacturer and supplier, specializing in electronic components, primarily within the mid-market segment. The company's portfolio comprises antennas, cables, and connectors. It further offers power inductors, radio frequency (RF) filters, and tantalum capacitors. The company also supplies products from its franchised manufacturer partners, including circuit protection devices, discrete and integrated circuits (ICs), as well as power circuits and modules. Moreover, the company delivers services such as engineering and manufacturing solutions tailored to specific needs, sourcing for end-of-life (EOL) and hard-to-find products, and inventory management to support vendor-managed inventory systems.
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Microchip Technology Inc.
Real-Time Clocks
Manufacturer Overview
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.
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Abracon
Real Time Clocks
Manufacturer Overview
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.
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ECS Inc.
REAL TIME CLOCKS
Company Overview
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.
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Avnet, Inc.
Real Time Clock
Distributor Overview
Avnet, Inc. is an American distributor of electronic components and IT software originally founded in 1921 before its incorporation in 1961. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company offers various electronic components including analog switches, microcontrollers, and circuit protectors, as well as IT solutions such as cloud computing and data analytics software. These are used by their clients in the automotive, transportation, security, and communication sectors. Avnet, Inc. operates in over 140 countries across North America, Asia, and Europe, and has several subsidiaries including Hackster.io, Dragon Innovation, and EBV Elektronik.
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Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc.
Real Time Clock
Manufacturer Overview
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., established in 1959, and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors and electronic components. The company specializes in producing integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, which caters to industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, ensuring quality in their products which are used for various applications, including wireless communication, automotive systems, and industrial automation, providing crucial electronic components for advanced technologies in various industrial and commercial sectors.
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NXP Semiconductors
Real-Time Clock
Manufacturer Overview
NXP was established in 2006 as a spinoff from Phillips and is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company is a co-founder of NFC communication and designs and manufactures semiconductors that serve the automotive, industrial, mobile, and smart home industries. The company’s automotive products include driver assistance transceivers, sensors, and security systems. For industrial markets, the company produces RFID readers, processors, and microcontrollers. For communication infrastructure, the company produces RF mixers, diodes, and low-noise amplifiers for wireless LAN networks. The company also produces peripherals, power management chips, communications chips, and interface devices.
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Renesas Electronics Corporation.
Real Time Clocks (RTC) IC
Manufacturer Overview
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
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DFRobot
Real-Time clock Module
Manufacturer Overview
DFRobot, established in 2008, is a manufacturer of robotics and open-source hardware solutions. Their mission is to empower future inventors by providing easy access to hardware, software, and ideas. With a strong focus on open-source hardware, DFRobot creates user-friendly products and fosters a community of learners. They have expanded their offerings to include STEM education, manufacturing, and more. DFRobot's diverse team consists of employees with varied backgrounds. They offer a wide range of electronic toolkits, modules, and learning resources for DIY hobbyists, industry developers, and educators. DFRobot serves creators globally through their comprehensive online and offline ecosystem.
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STMicroelectronics
RTC - Parallel Interface Timekeepers
Manufacturer Overview
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
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ABLIC Inc.
Automotive Real-Time Clock
Manufacturer Overview
ABLIC, Inc. is a manufacturer of analog semiconductors and integrated circuits (ICs) based in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Originally established in 2016, the company is a subsidiary of Seiko Instruments, Inc., and was renamed SII Semiconductor Corporation in 2018. The company produces memory, logic, and power management ICs, as well as various sensors for use in mobile computers, industrial equipment, wearable tech, and automotive systems. These supply clients in the consumer electronics, factory automation, and medical equipment industries.
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Texas Instruments
Real-Time Clocks RTCs) & Timers
Manufacturer Overview
Texas Instruments Incorporated was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Texas Instruments is a producer of high tech equipment for industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment industries. Texas Instruments designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers in the United States and internationally. Texas Instruments operates in two segments: analog and embedded processing. The Analog segment offers power products, including battery-management solutions, DC/DC switching regulators, power switches, linear regulators, voltage references, and lighting products. The Embedded Processing segment offers microcontrollers that are used in fields such as electronic equipment and digital signal processors for mathematical computations.
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Digilent
Real-time Clock
Company Overview
Digilent is based in Pullman, Washington State, USA, and is a manufacturer of electrical engineering products that was established in 2000 before being acquired by National Instruments in 2013. The company primarily produces microcontroller boards for robotics or automation, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) boards, and Pmod and Zmod expansion modules for providing I/O options for portfolio microcontroller and FPGA boards. The company’s products are commonly used in the robotics, artificial intelligence, and computer science industries.
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Hobby Components Ltd
REAL TIME CLOCK MODULE
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The Pi Hut
USB Real-Time Clock
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Freetronics Pty Ltd.
Real Time Clock RTC Module
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GeeksValley
Real time clock
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Embedded Data Systems
Real Time Clock
Distributor Overview
Embedded Data Systems is a distributor of embeddable systems and sensors that was established in 2001 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA. The company stocks products from a number of brands including Western Reserve Controls, MeshNet, and MicroDL. These products include portable iButtons for storing and transferring data, data loggers for recording and uploading data, and wireless communication products utilizing Bluetooth or radio frequency protocols. The company also offers discontinued or surplus products to its customers at “closeout” or discounted prices.
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Real Time Clock Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parallax Inc. |
20.0%
|
| 2 | CAST |
10.9%
|
| 3 | Diodes Incorporated |
9.1%
|
| 4 | Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. |
7.3%
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| 5 | SparkFun Electronics |
7.3%
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| 6 | Suntsu Electronics, Inc. |
5.5%
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| 7 | NXP Semiconductors |
5.5%
|
| 8 | Hobby Components Ltd |
3.6%
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| 9 | Freetronics Pty Ltd. |
3.6%
|
| 10 | Abracon |
3.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the real time clock 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
- Renesas Electronics Corporation.: 21,017
- Avnet, Inc.: 15,300
- Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc.: 2,164
Newly Established Company
- M5Stack Technology Co., Ltd: 2016 (8 years ago)
- DFRobot: 2008 (16 years ago)
- SparkFun Electronics: 2003 (21 years ago)
Company with a History
- NXP Semiconductors: 1891 (133 years ago)
- Avnet, Inc.: 1921 (103 years ago)
- Texas Instruments: 1930 (94 years ago)
Real Time Clock Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
- SparkFun Electronics
- Diodes Incorporated
- ifm efector, inc.
- Analog Devices, Inc.
- Suntsu Electronics, Inc.
- Microchip Technology Inc.
- Abracon
- ECS Inc.
- CAST
- Parallax Inc.
- Avnet, Inc.
Global Distribution of Real Time Clock Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
11 | 55.0% |
Japan
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2 | 10.0% |
Netherlands
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1 | 5.0% |
Malaysia
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1 | 5.0% |
India
|
1 | 5.0% |
Germany
|
1 | 5.0% |
| Egypt | 1 | 5.0% |
China
|
1 | 5.0% |
United Kingdom
|
1 | 5.0% |
