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This section provides an overview for voltage controlled oscillators (vco) as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 voltage controlled oscillator (vco) companies and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked voltage controlled oscillator (vco) companies as of December, 2024: 1.Raditek, 2.Millimeter Wave Products, 3.Emhiser Micro-Tech.
Table of Contents
A VCO is an oscillator whose oscillation frequency varies depending on the input voltage.
The output frequency range of a VCO relative to the input voltage varies, and the frequency range varies from product to product.
VCOs are generally used in PLLs (phase-locked loops), also called phase-locked circuits, which synchronize the phase of input and output signals to stabilize the frequency.
VCOs are used for frequency control purposes in various electronic applications. Specific applications include media players, digital cameras, consumer audio equipment, communication systems such as cellular phones, wireless LANs, radios, TV tuners, GPS, and Bluetooth.
VCOs are mainly used as PLLs to stabilize frequencies in electronic devices that handle particularly high frequencies.
The principle of VCO lies in the operation of generating the desired frequency by means of an amplifier circuit that maintains and amplifies the power at the resonant frequency, with a circuit that allows the resonant frequency to be varied by voltage in part of the oscillation circuit in order to control the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit that generates the radio waves by voltage.
There are three main methods of generating the resonant frequency of VCOs: ring VCOs, LC VCOs, and VCXOs.
Ring VCOs are VCOs that have multiple stages of inverters and are connected in a ring shape to form an oscillation circuit. The oscillation frequency can be controlled by the number of inverter stages and the gate delay. The number of stages and the delay can be controlled by an external bias current.
They are widely used in PLLs due to their excellent frequency tuning range. However, they are susceptible to power supply noise and generally do not have a high degree of frequency stability.
LC VCOs are VCOs composed of an LC oscillator and a varactor. A varactor is a diode whose PN junction capacitance can be varied according to the applied voltage. By varying the capacitance, the oscillation frequency caused by the resonance of the LC is changed, and the oscillation frequency of the VCOs is varied by the voltage.
A VCXO is a VCO that uses a quartz crystal (Xtal). The crystal has a high Q-value (Quality factor), resulting in high-frequency stability. At the same time, the range of output frequencies that can be varied is narrower.
VCOs can also be made using ceramic or SAW crystals instead of quartz crystals. Compared to a quartz crystal, a VCO can have a larger variable frequency range, but a quartz crystal is superior in terms of stability.
VCOs can be implemented in a variety of ways, depending on their frequency and application. The factor that determines the oscillation frequency is the LC value. However, since relatively large inductors and capacitors are required to oscillate at low frequencies, it may not be suitable for miniaturization and cost reduction if everything is implemented in an IC. In many cases, depending on the situation, chip components, crystals, MEMS, ceramic substrates, or other oscillators are used. In such cases, they are mounted as VCO modules.
On the other hand, for wireless communications such as RF high-frequency and millimeter waves, there are cases where VCOs are used as a part of RFIC, including integration with PLLs, mixers, and digital logic.
Reducing the phase noise of VCOs is a very important characteristic in wireless communication applications, as it is closely related to PLL jitter, modulation accuracy (EVM), and other characteristics. Reducing phase noise is essential for achieving high-quality communications, and manufacturers are working hard to reduce this noise.
Although it is also related to oscillation frequency stability, raising the Q-value of the resonant circuit of the VCOs is very effective in reducing the phase noise of the VCOs and is also essential for good PLL characteristics. On the other hand, it is sometimes difficult to realize a high Q-value by using a single chip IC from the viewpoint of material properties, and a high Q-value also affects the frequency tuneable range.
Recently, with the development of analog and digital circuits, VCOs with built-in filters to reduce noise and multiplier circuits to expand the frequency tuning range have been introduced to achieve both noise reduction and frequency tuning range.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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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.
Raditek founded in San Jose, California, USA, in 1993, is a manufacturer of Microwave/Wireless Telecom components, modules, and systems. The company offers products including satcom and Wi-Fi systems, Isolators, cable assemblies, and oscillators. Its products are used in telecommunications, satellite communications, radar systems, and electronic warfare systems. The company serves the industries of aerospace and defense, It has partnered with the US Department of Defense and NASA. It also provides custom RF Test solutions to labs.
Synergy Microwave Corporation, founded in 1982, is a manufacturer of RF and microwave components located in New Jersey, USA. Their product line comprises voltage-controlled oscillators, PLL frequency synthesizers, power dividers/combiners, filters, and transformers, which are designed to enable efficient signal generation, signal processing, and signal distribution in various industries such as military, commercial, industrial, and medical, ensuring optimal performance and communication. The company has undergone an evaluation and obtained certification for complying with the ISO 9001:2015 standards.
Millimeter Wave Products Inc., a company founded in 1989 and based in St. Petersburg, Fl, is a manufacturer of millimeter wave products and microwave technology, components, and assemblies. The company offers standard and custom products such as adapters, rotary joints, frequency meters, antennas, and amplifiers used in the communication, engineering, national security, defense, and military markets. The company offers various custom manufacturing services such as testing, prototyping, research, development, and assembling.
Mini-Circuits, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of RF and microwave components and integrated assemblies. The company’s range of products includes adapters, amplifiers, attenuators, cables, and frequency multipliers. Mini-Circuits' products are used to provide essential components and solutions for RF and microwave communication, signal processing, and testing across industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, defense, research, and manufacturing. Their offerings enable efficient signal transmission and manipulation in diverse applications where RF and microwave technologies play a role. The company also holds ISO 9001, AS 9100, and ISO 14001 certifications.
Z-Communications, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, is a manufacturer and distributor of electrical components. The company offers surface mount VCO modules, PLL synthesizers, and evaluation tools, which are used in various applications such as in wireless communication systems, satellite communication systems, test and measurement equipment, military communication systems, and radar systems. These signal source solutions operate in the frequency range of 40 MHz to 15 GHz and can be customized to meet various specifications, ranging from narrow band to octave tuning bandwidths.
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.
Teledyne Defense Electronics was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California. The company is a manufacturer of electronics and components mainly for the commercial aviation and defense industries, but also for the communication, industrial, energy, and measurement industries. The company operates through brands such as Lincoln Microwave, Reynolds, MEC, and Storm Microwave. The company manufactures electronic test instruments, and security screening technology components, and provides MEMS & foundry capability for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
Emhiser Micro-Tech was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Nevada, United States, as a supplier of ceramic resonator VCOs designed for narrow-band applications with very low phase noise. EMT persistently challenges the conventional practices linked to commercial VCO producers by creating, manufacturing, and promoting a product that ensures comprehensive quality, dependability, and customer contentment. The organization acknowledges the challenges inherent in the customer experience and is engrossed in delivering customer service, fostering loyalty, and offering a dependable product.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raditek |
17.3%
|
| 2 | Millimeter Wave Products |
12.1%
|
| 3 | Emhiser Micro-Tech |
11.0%
|
| 4 | Rakon Limited |
10.4%
|
| 5 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
9.8%
|
| 6 | Synergy Microwave |
9.2%
|
| 7 | MARUWA CO., LTD. |
9.2%
|
| 8 | Z-Communications |
8.1%
|
| 9 | Teledyne Advanced Electronic Solutions |
8.1%
|
| 10 | Mini-Circuits |
4.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the voltage controlled oscillator (vco) page as of December 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
|
6 | 75.0% |
Japan
|
1 | 12.5% |
|
New Zealand
|
1 | 12.5% |
