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This section provides an overview for clock buffers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 7 clock buffer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked clock buffer companies as of December, 2024: 1.Robot MarketPlace, LLC, 2.Microsemi Corporation, 3.Skyworks Solutions, Inc..
Table of Contents
A clock buffer is an IC used to minimize the delay difference between clock pulses reaching multiple logic circuits in a printed circuit board system and to match (synchronize) the timing.
When operating multiple logic circuits, it is necessary to synchronize the circuits. A signal is needed to control the entire system, and the periodic signal of a certain frequency used for this purpose is a clock (like a metronome in music).
The group of circuits that operate in conjunction with the clock is called the synchronous circuit. The clock branches off in the system and propagates to several logic circuits. However, if this clock is not synchronized, the entire system may not operate as desired due to malfunctioning of logic circuits, and thus, a clock buffer is required.
Clock buffers are used in a wide range of applications, including personal computers, communication systems, and industrial equipment.
Specific applications are as follows:
As an example, the CPU (central processing unit), which is the core of PC operation, uses clock signals to synchronize each circuit (control unit, arithmetic unit, registers, interface with storage devices, and interface with input/output devices) to control its operation. The clock signal is used to synchronize the circuits.
For any of these applications, it is essential to synchronize the exchange of information and data among multiple circuits more accurately for stable operation.
Clock buffers are classified into "Non-PLL Buffer" and "PLL Buffer" according to the circuit type.
The main difference is the use of an internal phase-locked loop (PLL). The features of each are as follows:
Since clock buffers can output multiple clock signals, it is possible to generate clocks that can be used by multiple circuits operating at the same frequency by providing a clock signal source and clock buffers for each.
This has the advantage of reducing component costs and facilitating printed circuit board layout. Other features of some products include level conversion and ease of configuration.
Select the optimal device for the system to be designed after checking the device data sheet for the required input signal specifications, output clock frequency, number of signals, voltage, jitter, skew, input-output delay, clock buffers supply voltage, package dimensions, pin count, power consumption, cost, etc.
Ideally, the clocks distributed to each group of circuits in the system should switch at the same time 100% of the time, but this is rarely possible in reality. However, it is important to select a device with excellent characteristics to prevent circuit malfunctions.
To generate a stable clock that can be used in a system, a clock signal source and a clock product that supplements the clock signal source and distributes it appropriately to multiple circuits are required.
1. Clock Signal Source
Resonators and oscillators are used as clock signal sources. A resonator is a pendulum with a specific frequency.
It does not operate alone and can be divided into the ceramic, crystal, and SAW categories. An oscillator is a product that consists of a circuit that starts a pendulum to oscillate and keeps it oscillating (oscillation circuit) and a resonator in a package. Crystal, SAW, silicon, and MEMS oscillators are available.
2. Clock Products
Clock buffers are clock product that supplements the clock signal source. The output signal of the oscillator is input to the clock buffers. The role of the clock buffers is to output multiple clock signals of the same frequency as the input signal.
Other clock products that complement oscillators include clock generators (which can generate multiple frequencies), jitter cleaners (which improve jitter performance), and RF synthesizers (which output high frequencies), and designers need to choose the one that best suits their system requirements, including specifications and cost.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
Robot MarketPlace, LLC, came into being in 2002 in Bradenton, Florida, USA, as a distributor of robot parts and hobby accessories. The product portfolio of the company encompasses the FDC3260 Triple Channel 60A 60V Brushed DC Motor Controller, Custom Battery Pack, FingerTech Beater Bar Electronics, and 1/2 inch bore UCFL 2-bolt Flange Mount Bearing, among various others. The products are crucial in robotics for motor control, power various electronic devices, are used in combat robotics for weapon control, and serve as essential components in mechanical systems, offering stability. The company caters to various industries, including robotics, electronics, mechanics, automotive, and aerospace.
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.
Lingto Electronic Limited is a distributor of electronic components and wireless modules that was incorporated in 2022 in Hong Kong, China. The company stocks passive and active electronic components from brands such as Xilinx, Fairchild, and Altera, These include power management devices, logic integrated circuits, and electrolytic capacitors. It also offers wireless and GPRS modules, such as cell jamming detectors, vehicle tracking chips, and text-to-speech (TTS) modules. The company mainly markets to clients in electronic manufacturing, networking, and telecommunications operations.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robot MarketPlace, LLC |
32.0%
|
| 2 | Skyworks Solutions, Inc. |
20.0%
|
| 3 | Microsemi Corporation |
16.0%
|
| 4 | Renesas Electronics Corporation. |
12.0%
|
| 5 | Diodes Incorporated |
8.0%
|
| 6 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
8.0%
|
| 7 | Lingto electronic Limited |
4.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the clock buffer 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
|
5 | 83.3% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 16.7% |
2 products found
2 products
Silicon Device Co., Ltd.
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