Rugged TCXO Speeds GPS Signal Acquisition, Locking in Mil/Aero Systems
This article is part of the TechXchange: Oscillations, Timing, and Synchronization.
Horology and timekeeping have been important factors in society ever since humanity developed the ability to create a reliable timepiece. Time is so important to modern society that it's a commodity, with atomic-accurate time signals beamed down from space for all to use.
Most people would be surprised to know how dependent we are on accurate shared time, and how quickly civilization would collapse without it. Today, precision timekeeping plays a pivotal role in national security, navigation, communications, financial systems, and power-grid operations, among a myriad of others.
Addressing the need for more rugged and accurate board-level timing solutions, SiTime’s SiT7910 temperature-compensated oscillator (TCXO) addresses the aerospace and defense industries by offering up to 25X better timing accuracy in a resilient and reliabile package. This ruggedized 32.768-kHz Super-TCXO ushers in the design of ultra-rugged devices that can also address critical market needs beyond military and aerospace.
The SiT7910's best-in-class ±0.1- to 0.2-ppm frequency stability enables rapid and secure acquisition of GPS signals, reducing lock time from over 30 seconds to mere seconds. Thus, it enhances productivity by providing accurate timing and location data faster than before.
Built for ruggedized hand radios, portable equipment, ground vehicles, and airborne environments, device features include a 2-ns RMS phase jitter and a 20-year aging figure of ±2.5 ppm, with an operating temperature range from –55 to 105°C. It also boasts 20-ppb/g g-sensitivity for resilience in high-vibration environments, and consumes only 6.0 µA to extend battery life. Part of the SiTime Endura ruggedized family for aerospace and defense applications, it is Pb-free, RoHS- and REACH-compliant, and is subject to the Endura enhanced screening flow for high quality and reliability.
