41 Oscillator Crystal Manufacturers in 2023
This section provides an overview for oscillator crystals as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 41 oscillator crystal manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked oscillator crystal companies as of April, 2023: 1.SIWARD, 2.Epson Europe Electronics, 3.Icom Inc..
Table of Contents
What Is an Oscillator Crystal?
An oscillator crystal is a device that generates a certain frequency by incorporating an oscillation circuit in the mechanical resonance of a quartz crystal unit (quartz) using the piezoelectric phenomenon of quartz.
Oscillation circuits other than quartz include LC oscillation, CR oscillation, and oscillation using ceramic elements. Crystal oscillation is superior in that it can achieve high precision on the order of ppm (strict quality control that does not allow even one defect per million pieces), while other types of oscillation are limited to circuits that can tolerate a percentage precision.
The reason why quartz can be used as an electronic circuit element is because of its piezoelectric effect. Quartz has been used as an element since the 19th century, long before the invention of transistors and ICs.
Uses of Oscillator Crystals
Oscillator crystal, based on the vibration of quartz, have been used as a frequency signal source for telecommunications equipment, as a timing source for clocks (quartz), and as a color burst signal source for television. In recent years, they are used in vast numbers as fixed frequency clock sources for digital circuits.
Clock reference signals are essential for ICs and LSIs (integrated circuits that contain more highly integrated and complex circuits than ICs), and oscillator crystal provide the high frequency stability, non-adjustability, and miniaturization required for clock generation.
Therefore, oscillator crystal is used not only in conventional telecommunications equipment, televisions, and clocks, but also in a wide range of other applications such as satellite communications, automobiles, personal computers, DVD equipment, and other information appliances.
Principle of Oscillator Crystals
oscillator crystals are device that uses a resonator called a quartz crystal unit (quartz) as a reference resonance to generate a signal that serves as the reference frequency through an oscillation circuit. Quartz crystal units utilize the piezoelectric phenomenon of quartz, but a quartz crystal unit alone cannot maintain the required amplitude of the resonance frequency.
Therefore, in oscillator crystals, an additional internal oscillation circuit is added to control the strength and frequency of the reference frequency signal by utilizing the resonant frequency of the resonator. This is the operating principle of oscillator crystals. Quartz crystal is made of quartz (Sio2: silicon dioxide), but the material used in oscillator crystals are artificial quartz. The artificial quartz crystal is made from a natural crystal called lasca.
Laska is placed in a furnace (autoclave) filled with an alkaline solution, melted at high temperature and high pressure, and controlled temperature to generate natural convection to produce large, highly pure, recrystallized artificial crystals. The crystal is then cut into thin slices and made into oscillator crystals.
Other Information on Oscillator Crystals
1. Vibration Modes of Quartz Oscillator Crystals
Depending on the angle at which the crystal is cut in relation to the crystal axis, the temperature characteristics of the frequency and the vibration mode will vary.
For example, when a quartz crystal is used in a wristwatch, it is cut at an angle such that its temperature coefficient is zero at a temperature close to body temperature or room temperature.
The oscillation mode is a form of mechanical vibration of quartz crystal, also called AT-cut "thickness-slip vibration," which is similar to the vibration of tofu shaken on a cutting board. Thus, the oscillation frequency is determined by the thickness of the cutout.
2. Accuracy of Oscillator Crystals
The accuracy of normal oscillator crystals are about 1/10,000 to 1/100,000. Compared to other oscillators, this accuracy is about 1,000 times higher than that of silicon oscillators and about 100 times higher than that of ceramic oscillators, and although it is higher than that of silicon and ceramic oscillators, it is not as accurate as that of cesium oscillators used in atomic clocks.
Oscillator crystals are also available with higher precision and are of the temperature guaranteed oscillator crystals (TCXO) type. This type of product incorporates a circuit called a temperature-guaranteed circuit. The temperature guarantee circuit is a circuit that cancels out the temperature characteristics of the crystal unit, and by incorporating this circuit, stable performance can be achieved over a wider temperature range.
3. Oscillator Crystals Type Clock Mechanism
A quartz oscillator clock, or quartz watch, functions as a clock by converting the high-precision oscillation produced by a quartz oscillator into a frequency at one-second intervals by dividing the frequency by an IC. Analog clocks (those with hands) use this frequency at one-second intervals to drive a step motor to move the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand. Digital clocks, on the other hand, use the same one-second interval frequency produced by a quartz oscillator to drive a liquid crystal panel to display numerals.
The advantage of quartz watches over mechanical watches is not only their superior time accuracy. The fact that quartz watches can be powered by batteries means that they can continue to run for a long time without maintenance. Even if the battery runs out, the watch can continue to run with the same accuracy as before by simply replacing the battery.
Quartz watches that do not require battery replacement, such as solar-powered watches and watches equipped with generators, are also available, and these watches can continue to run for a longer period of time.
4. Comparison with MEMS Oscillators
The history of quartz oscillators spread rapidly after Japanese watch manufacturers created quartz watches in the 1950s, and today they are widely used in telecommunications equipment, televisions, and information appliances. Recently, however, oscillators called MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) oscillators have been attracting attention due to their miniaturization, price, and performance.
MEMS oscillators use a manufacturing process based on the semiconductor manufacturing process, making them easy to integrate into electronic circuits and suitable for miniaturization. There are also products on the market that have advantages in terms of characteristics, such as ease of frequency adjustment and power consumption, and there is a possibility that future improvements will enable them to surpass oscillator crystals in terms of market share.
5. Efforts to Increase High Frequencies
With the recent expansion of the volume of information communication, the frequency handled by devices for information communication has been increasing with the generation of communication due to the need to secure a wider modulation bandwidth for communication and a faster clock frequency to be handled. Therefore, oscillator crystals for reference frequency generation are naturally required to support higher frequencies.
With the advancement of analog circuit technology such as PLL, it is possible to raise the frequency from the circuit side to some extent. However, this will cause issues such as phase noise and temperature characteristics, so in order to raise the oscillation frequency of the reference oscillator crystals, products that support high frequencies up to 100 MHz are currently being released by improving the crystal unit itself and the oscillation circuit to support higher frequencies.
List of 41 Oscillator Crystal Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Company Overview
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.
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Diodes Incorporated
Xtal/crystal
Company 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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Kyocera
Crystal unit
Company Overview
Kyocera Corporation was incorporated in 1946 in Kyoto, Japan as Kyoto Ceramics, but the name was later shortened to Kyocera. Kyocera is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of consumer products as well as industrial components including ceramic and electronic components used in the semiconductor, wireless communications, electronics, and wireless communications markets. Kyocera’s consumer products line includes smartphones and kitchenware such as ceramic knives, cookware, and drinkware. Ceramics are used in semiconductors, solar photovoltaic modules, as well as cutting tools. Kyocera’s electronics cameras, LCDs, medical products, and more.
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Kingtronics International
Quartz crystal
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Oscillator Crystal Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2023 in United States of America
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIWARD | 8.1% |
| 2 | Epson Europe Electronics | 8.1% |
| 3 | Icom Inc. | 5.4% |
| 4 | SMI | 5.4% |
| 5 | Abundance Enterprise Company (AEC) | 5.4% |
| 6 | Kingtronics International | 5.4% |
| 7 | Mercury Electronics | 5.4% |
| 8 | Halloran Electronics | 5.4% |
| 9 | Abracon | 5.4% |
| 10 | YOKETAN CORPORATION | 2.7% |
| 11 | CTS | 2.7% |
| 12 | ASNICS Co., Ltd. | 2.7% |
| 13 | Vishay Intertechnology | 2.7% |
| 14 | Jauch Quartz | 2.7% |
| 15 | Daishinku (KDS) DAISHINKU CORP. | 2.7% |
| 16 | NXP Semiconductors | 2.7% |
| 17 | RIVER ELETEC | 2.7% |
| 18 | Axtal | 2.7% |
| 19 | Petermann-Technik | 2.7% |
| 20 | Micro Crystal | 2.7% |
| 21 | Kyocera | 2.7% |
| 22 | Rakon | 2.7% |
| 23 | Connor-Winfield | 2.7% |
| 24 | NEL Frequency Controls | 2.7% |
| 25 | KYUSHU DENTSU COMPANY LIMITED(KDK) | 2.7% |
| 26 | TXC | 2.7% |
Ranking as of April 2023 Globally
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NEL Frequency Controls | 8% |
| 2 | Epson Europe Electronics | 8% |
| 3 | SIWARD | 6% |
| 4 | SMI | 6% |
| 5 | Connor-Winfield | 6% |
| 6 | CTS | 6% |
| 7 | Kingtronics International | 6% |
| 8 | Icom Inc. | 4% |
| 9 | Halloran Electronics | 4% |
| 10 | Abracon | 4% |
| 11 | Mercury Electronics | 4% |
| 12 | Abundance Enterprise Company (AEC) | 4% |
| 13 | YOKETAN CORPORATION | 2% |
| 14 | ASNICS Co., Ltd. | 2% |
| 15 | Bliley Technologies | 2% |
| 16 | Vishay Intertechnology | 2% |
| 17 | Jauch Quartz | 2% |
| 18 | Daishinku (KDS) DAISHINKU CORP. | 2% |
| 19 | NXP Semiconductors | 2% |
| 20 | RIVER ELETEC | 2% |
| 21 | Axtal | 2% |
| 22 | Petermann-Technik | 2% |
| 23 | Micro Crystal | 2% |
| 24 | Kyocera | 2% |
| 25 | Rakon | 2% |
| 26 | Raltron | 2% |
| 27 | Vectron International | 2% |
| 28 | KYUSHU DENTSU COMPANY LIMITED(KDK) | 2% |
| 29 | TXC | 2% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the oscillator crystal page as of April 2023. 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
- Kyocera: 83,001
- Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: 77,581
- Vectron International: 8,407
Newly Established Company
- NXP Semiconductors: 2006 (17 years ago)
- Abundance Enterprise Company (AEC): 2005 (18 years ago)
- ASNICS Co., Ltd.: 2003 (20 years ago)
Company with a History
- CTS: 1896 (127 years ago)
- Bliley Technologies: 1930 (93 years ago)
- Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: 1944 (79 years ago)
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