MEMS Timing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is MEMS?
- Is MEMS a new technology?
- How reliable is MEMS?
- How do IDT's MEMS oscillators work?
- How are MEMS made?
- What makes IDT's MEMS Oscillators better than quartz?
- What type of oscillators will IDT's MEMS oscillators replace?
- Will IDT MEMS support the smaller 5.0 x 3.2mm size 6-pin packages?
- My board design requires a non-standard frequency. Will IDT support custom frequencies?
- My company is small and we only need a few thousand pieces. Can I still request custom frequencies?
- Are IDT's MEMS Oscillators RoHs compliant and Pb-Free?
- Are IDT's MEMS Oscillators compatible to existing reflow processes?
- Do IDT's MEMS oscillators have "activity dip" issues similar to quartz oscillators?
- What is Frequency Margining?
- What Value does Frequency Margining provide the customer?
- What is “plus-PPM” clocking?
MEMS stands for "Micro Electro Mechanical Systems". It is a technology that utilizes microfabrication to create ultra miniaturized devices.
Is MEMS a new technology?
No. MEMS can be found in application such as inkjet printers, automobiles, projectors, microphones, and is widely used in nearly every smartphone. Gyroscopes, GPS, pressure sensors, biochips and inertial sensors in cardiac pacemakers… MEMS technology is found in a wide variety of applications.
How reliable is MEMS?
One of the biggest advantages of MEMS is its extreme reliability. For example, one of the first uses of MEMS technology can be found in Automotive airbag systems. Reliability is a critical factor when a MEMS accelerometer is used to signal when a car airbag should or should not deploy.
How do IDT's MEMS oscillators work?
IDT utilizes piezo-MEMS technology. This is a technology where a thin piezo material is used to cause a MEMS structure to resonate. This resonance occurs at an atomic level and produces an ultra pure signal. This oscillation is the core timing technology driving IDT's MEMS oscillator.
How are MEMS made?
MEMS devices start from a wafer made of silicon. These wafer level packaged resonators are fabricated using standard semiconductor processes. This makes it possible to fabricate ultra miniature systems that are barely visible yet extremely reliable.
What makes IDT's MEMS Oscillators better than quartz?
Replacing legacy quartz technology with MEMS allows for continued miniaturization. In addition to higher fundamental frequencies enabled by pMEMS technology, the real breakthrough is the significant increase in reliability. The net benefit that the customer will immediately notice is the dramatic reduction in his overall system cost.
What type of oscillators will IDT's MEMS oscillators replace?
The 4MA series MEMS oscillators support LVDS and LVPECL type outputs. These are pin-for-pin compatible and drop into standard 6-pin SMD footprints.
Will IDT MEMS support the smaller 5.0 x 3.2mm size 6-pin packages?
Yes. Both the standard 7050 and the smaller 5032 size packages are supported.
My board design requires a non-standard frequency. Will IDT support custom frequencies?
Yes. Many non-standard frequencies can be supported. Contact IDT or your sales representative for more details.
My company is small and we only need a few thousand pieces. Can I still request custom frequencies?
Yes. Contact IDT or your sales representative to inquire about lead times and inventory.
Are IDT's MEMS Oscillators RoHs compliant and Pb-Free?
Yes.
Are IDT's MEMS Oscillators compatible to existing reflow processes?
Yes. IDT's MEMS oscillators are compliant to standard 260C reflow process and is MSL-1 compliant.
Do IDT's MEMS oscillators have "activity dip" issues similar to quartz oscillators?
No. IDT's MEMS oscillators are not subject to activity dips since IDT's MEMS oscillation are determined by the material properties of silicon and largely independent of the piezo-electric layer.
What is Frequency Margining?
Frequency Margining is a process where the nominal oscillator frequency is shifted higher or lower to understand and evaluate the robustness of a digital system. By increasing or decreasing the frequency, the system designer can test the limits (ie. margin) of his system.
What Value does Frequency Margining provide the customer?
Crystal Oscillators are configured to specific standard frequencies. It is nearly impossible to find oscillators that have slightly higher and/or lower frequencies than the nominal frequency. Even if found, the lead times can be extremely long, making it impractical to use standard oscillators for margin testing. The frequency margining feature (integrated into 4H-series oscillators) allows the system designer to quickly and easily change frequencies on-the-fly.
What is “plus-PPM” clocking?
System designers have discovered that by clocking certain systems at a slightly higher frequency, the error rate of the overall system can be improved. The frequency margining feature (integrated into 4H-series oscillators) is a perfect fit for these systems. With a single device, hundreds of offset frequencies can be generated and changed at will, even on final production systems. The error rate can be monitored with subsequent PPM adjustments made accordingly in real-time.