Did you know? Quartz crystals ‘age’ over time? This natural event is usually so tiny that it's negligible, but it is also predictable and causes frequency drift. Discover more with our ‘Quartz Crystal Ageing’ Application Note
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At IQD our engineering experts understand crystal ageing very well and can offer accelerated ageing testing, amongst a range of other Engineering Support Services
Take a look at our ‘Frequency Products Back to Basics' video and learn about the secrets of quartz crystals and oscillators.
Discover:
Now that you know how to specify, click here to search our catalogue for parts. Explore our Parametric Search Tool
Learn why understanding LOAD capacitance in your circuit is important for ensuring the accurate frequency tolerance of a quartz crystal.
Our engineering support team have put together a handy blog explaining some of the common myths and advise how to choose the right capacitors for your design.
Read more: 'Myths around load capacitance – how to choose the right capacitors' blog post
The trend towards miniaturization continues, leading to increased competition for space on the PCB.
With this in mind, we present an insightful webinar highlighting the various design considerations when downsizing to a smaller quartz crystal and ways to mitigate any challenges 'Quartz Crystal Downsizing - Does Size Really Matter?' video
This informative presentation offers interesting information for design engineers, individuals in the timing and synchronisation industry, and students of frequency.
Don’t miss out on this valuable webinar produced in collaboration with our colleagues at Wurth Elektronik.
IQD Evaluation Board enables fast and precise testing of surface-mountable standard oscillators, VCXOs as well as TCXO/VCTCXOs.
How many times have you wished you had a quick and simple way of testing an oscillator? Now there is no need to worry about designing and building your own test circuit as you can use the IQD IOSC-EVBoard available direct and through some of our distributors. This evaluation board can be used to test standard surface mount clock oscillators, VCXOs or TCXO/VCTCXOs.
Read more: 'Evaluation Board for Standard Oscillators' blog post
Visit IQD Evaluation Board
In today's A to Z, we explore the difference between frequency tolerance and stability.
Tolerance of a crystal refers to the allowable frequency deviation when measured at the inflection point. For AT-cut crystals, this is typically measured at 25°C.
Stability, on the other hand, refers to the frequency variation over a defined operating temperature range.
Although these crystal characteristics differ, they are equally crucial when assessing the accuracy of the timing function for your devices and applications.
Discover more in our ‘Frequency Products Back to Basics' video explaining crystal parameters, and you can refer to the blog to understand how stability factors also have influence 'Quartz crystal stability: how myths and misconceptions mask good value' blog post
These modules are capable of ensuring 1 PPS timing synchronicity to distributed networks, sourced directly from (e.g.) GPS. That's not all - they will continue to provide accuracy of signal, even if the GPS signals fails.
Our DOCXOs are preferred for critical-level applications such as 4G/5G base stations, power grids, and PTP servers.
To learn more about one of the most advanced technologies in the timing world, take a look at our range of Disciplined OCXOs
For specific application advice, contact our Engineering Support Services
Little-known facts on Holdover: Did you know Holdover refers to the ability of GNSS-timing modules to maintain accurate signals during unforeseen GNSS signal failure? It's a crucial feature when selecting timing devices for critical applications such as PTP servers, power grids, financial server solutions etc.
The significance of 1.5 µs for 24 hours in holdover? It's a standard requirement for telecommunication protocols like LTE-TDD, ensuring a staggering accuracy of 1.5 µs for over 24 hours of outage.
Learn more: 'What is Holdover?' blog post
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We are committed to excellence, and IQD's primary goal is to deliver the highest quality products and services, with utmost integrity to our customers, so we are proud to be accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO):
In addition to our ISO certifications, we hold various other accreditations that exemplify the trust our customers place in us.
Check our Quality Assurance page for more details
Referring to the timing variation between the ideal and non-ideal waveform of a signal, there are various types of Jitter and its effects can pose challenges for your applications. For instance, jitter may mean loss of data integrity from source in a digital system.
Learn more about the various types of Jitter in our Application Note, covering:
View 'Jitter and Phase Noise' Application Note
See IQD Phase Noise to Jitter Conversion tool
Quartz crystals have long since been the recognised gold standard in frequency management. Available in kHz and MHz frequencies according to the needs of the connectivity and application. 32.768 kHz quartz watch crystals, in particular, are popular for real-time clocks - you can read more here: 'Unlock the Power of 32.768kHz: Choosing Crystals in Electronic Design' blog post
Since 1973, we've been providing quartz crystals and oscillators for all kinds of applications, from industrial to consumer. We offer a wide choice in package type, size, stability, temperature, and other specialised features, such as low ageing and low-phase noise. If you need advice on specifying and selection, call our sales and application support team and we'll help you find the best option for your application.
Are you a design engineer looking to increase battery life, and enhance the user experience in your portable and energy-efficient device designs? Look no further!
IQD offers a selection of low power oscillators, such as the IQXO-54X and IQXO-64X, specifically designed for low power IoT applications. Discover our Low Power Clock Oscillators solutions.
Did you know? Frequency is measured in the hertz (Hz), i.e. the number of cycles per second.
Our range of MHz quartz crystals is available in frequencies from 1MHz to the hundreds of MHz in both surface mount (SMD) and through-hole packages, offering versatility for designs across various applications. With attributes including wide operating temperature range, small package size, low ageing, and low phase noise, you're sure to find a part suitable for your design. Check out our MHz range!
Phase Noise refers to fluctuations in frequency that could be detrimental to system performance if not kept in check. At IQD, our application support and engineering experts have written a blog discussing phase noise and its challenges.
Explore further by checking out our Selection Guide for Oscillator options with low-phase noise.
Did you know... Crystals can vibrate in different modes? The fundamental frequency is usually achievable up to 50 MHz. But, as higher frequencies are required for different applications, these are easier to achieve using ‘overtone’ frequencies.
Overtone mode for a crystal is simply where it vibrates at odd multiples of its fundamental frequency. Learn more about overtone mode in our App Note on Specifying Crystals.
Or, you can find out whether an IQD part operates in fundamental or overtone mode in our Parametric Search.
Pullability of VCXOs are an essential feature that reflects the change in the output frequency when the input voltage is varied. Greater pullability figures give a greater tuneable range, but smaller pullability figures will allow greater control.
Discover more in our App Note, where we specify two different types of pullability: Absolute Pulling Range (APR) and Relative Pulling.
Isn't it mind-blowing that quartz crystals have an amazing natural piezoelectric quality that bring timing and frequency control capabilities to circuit design! They can be found on almost every PCB in every electronic device, but have you ever wondered about the incredible production process?
Natural quartz will have some minor impurities so the quartz used in manufacture is synthetically grown in giant labs. This video reveals a fascinating process - from synthetic growth in a lab to the precision of slicing the blank to its final packaging stage. Don't miss it - it’s a journey into the precision and wonder of quartz crystal production!
Rubidium Oscillators offer highly accurate timing and synchronisation characteristics with excellent long-term stability. Unlike other frequency devices, they operate with atomic-level precision making them ideal for critical-level applications where clarity of signal is paramount and continuity of signal is critical… Such as broadcasting, telecommunication, master clocks, datacentres and timing synchronization in financial infrastructure.
Discover IQD's range of Rubidium Oscillators.
IQD is equally committed to the sustainability aspect of our business, as we are to our business goals. We pledge to continue to align our products and processes towards greener practices, minimising the environmental footprint.
IQD is proud to have attained ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating our approach to managing the environmental aspects of our business model. We believe in educating our employees and our community to follow these sustainable practices.
For more information, check out our Sustainability page.
IQD TCXOs (Temperature Compensated Cystal Oscillators) offer excellent frequency stability across temperature, combined with low power consumption and fast warm-up. These TCXOs can provide tight stability down to the ppb range, making them suitable for various industrial applications such as broadband, smart meters, mobiles, and radar.
Explore our range of TCXOs, or for specific application needs, contact our Application Support team for expert guidance.
Jitter refers to the variation in the timing of the pulse, arriving either later or sooner than intended.
While this may not be a concern in some applications, it becomes crucial in communications where the rate at which data is transferred is a significant factor.
The IQXV-86, an ultra-low jitter VCXO, is specifically designed for communication devices such as WiFi, Ethernet and SONET. Housed in a small SMD package, it boasts a wide frequency range from 1 to 800MHz and offers additional capabilities for fine-tuning.
View IQXV-86 for additional product specifications.
VCXOs (Voltage Control Crystal Oscillators) are ideal for applications demanding precise frequency tuning, thanks to their pullability. They are optimally used in Broadcast, Telecom, and Testing applications, available in low-jitter and low-phase noise options in the IQD catalogue.
Explore our range of VCXOs, or for specific application needs, contact our Application Support team for expert guidance.
IQD is proud to have been part of the global WE family since 2017, and operating from our HQ in Somerset UK, we are the centre of excellence for frequency products within the Würth Group.
IQD and Würth Elektronik share a service philosophy characterized by partnership-based advice and support for our customers throughout the entire product life cycle. Whether it is the recommendation and selection of products and services or the sharing of knowledge, our colleagues are in close contact with customers maintaining a partnership focused on exceeding expectations.
Crystals, often perceived as passive elements, offer a dynamic world of potential with their piezoelectric properties.
Harnessing this characteristic, they can be made to resonate at precise frequencies by applying electrical signals - ultimately providing essential timing signals in electronics.
Find out more in our App Note. Additionally, explore our range of Crystals.
IQD has been a key player in frequency control for over 50 years, offering a range of products suitable for commercial, industrial and automotive applications. Our experienced customer service team is ready to guide you in finding the perfect parts for your design.
Explore our Parametric Search including crystals and oscillators, VCXOs, TCXOs, OCXOs and advanced GPS Rubidium and Clock Modules. Additionally, contact our Application Support team for expert guidance for specific application needs.
We've reached the end of our A-Z journey through the world of frequency products, and what an incredible alphabet it's been!
From A to Z, we've explored the fascinating fun of frequency products that are so integral to timing and frequency control in everyday electronics products!
In case the facts are not crystal clear (pun intended)… Dive back in and relive the highlights, fun facts and amazing discoveries we've shared together.
