Learn the Uses of Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXOs)

These High-Performing Quartz Crystal Oscillators Provide Exceptional Accuracy for Many Essential Applications

An oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is a quartz oscillator whose crystal is specifically cut for exceptional frequency accuracy. When the crystal is heated to a specific internal temperature, it is highly useful for clocking reference accuracy.

The OCXO is outfitted with its own heating component encapsulated in metal or ceramic packaging to maintain its frequency. It also contains a thermistor which measures the temperature at which the OCXO emits its accurate frequency. When designed effectively, the OCXO only ever sees a temperature variation of .5 degrees. It comes as no surprise that the OCXO’s stability is sought after for many applications that require that level of precision.Engineers in the design community take advantage of the performance that this quartz crystal oscillator provides by integrating it into important applications that our world depends on today, including networking and communications.

Where Are Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators Used?

Imagine a large network whose information travels outward at greater and greater distances. It is important that the information at the furthest point in the network is as accessible as any other part. An accurate frequency generated by an OCXO provides a stable backbone to ensure the fidelity of information sent across the network.

OCXOs are necessary for the hub or center point of any large system that relies on frequency to communicate information. The OCXO also can help effectively control the central electronics within that main hub. Engineers include OCXOs whenever maintaining system accuracy is highly necessary. It would be difficult to imagine satellite communications or any other long-haul transmissions (for example, fiber optic sensors on the highway) without a highly dependable starting point. From central office equipment to radio transmitters and cell towers, the OCXO is a vitally important component, which ensures an unwavering temperature for the most accurate frequency.

Another Key Use for Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators – Testing Equipment

When testing products that are meant to provide accurate readings, such as frequency spectrum analyzers or oscilloscopes, it is important to have another highly accurate tool for measurement or comparison. Enter the OCXO. The high level of accuracy in this quartz crystal oscillator plays an essential role for testing applications that provide accurate measurements. In the case of testing a standard MHz surface mount quartz oscillator for phase noise and jitter, the OCXO serves as a comparative tool. What better way to test a strong, stable frequency than crystal oscillator circuitry that is primarily characterized by its strength and stability.

Where to Find Superior Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators in Today’s Marketplace

In a marketplace where engineers are under pressure to deliver on time and under budget, some manufacturing companies have developed inferior electronic components – including quartz crystal oscillators – hoping that engineers will buy them in a pinch.

However, inferior products and counterfeits pose a significant risk to engineers. These products may not have been designed as they should and may not have the shelf life and high performance of products designed by a superior manufacturer of crystal oscillators and other circuits. It is important to choose an authorized distributor of high-quality electronic components. In the case of OCXOs, these oscillators should include a rigorous testing process. Forced aging and stress testing the OCXO allows it to perform as accurately as possible. Premier quartz oscillator manufacturers will run these tests for a number of months to ensure that a customer will receive the product after the initial aging performance of the OCXO, so the product is primed for the engineer’s use case.

It is also important to remember that an inferior manufacturer is not going to stand behind their work when their ethos is building products cheaply and quickly under potentially deceptive premises. On the other hand, a leading manufacturer will always provide engineering support for its customers to ensure their products are working as desired.

The value that an outstanding crystal oscillator manufacturer offers is not limited to the electronic components themselves. A leader in frequency solutions will want to see its products used successfully in a wide variety of applications, especially those that will innovate in any given industry and benefit those who will use the product. A company like this will work tirelessly to support its customers by offering far more value than any fly-by-night business that is simply looking to capitalize on the growth of the electronics industry.

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