Real Time Clocks (RTCs) Are Available Now for Your Design

These Timing Solutions Provide Versatility and Exceptional Accuracy

The most familiar function of the 32.768 kHz crystal frequency band is time keeping. When it was discovered that a crystal at that frequency output could be measured in human seconds, what we now call a “personal electronic device” was born.

32.768 kHz watch crystals became the most-used timing component for any electronic product that is required to keep human time. However, the need to measure time is not limited to our wrists. Today, highly accurate clocks exist everywhere we look. Outside of user interfaces, modern clocking is also used in devices to keep time as a form of data and as a way to schedule events within an electronic application.

This is all possible because of the function of a RTC. You can order four options for RTCs from ECS Inc. by contacting a sales representative.

How Are RTCs Used In Designs Today?

RTCs have three primary functions: initiating a command at a given time, collecting time as data in the form of a time stamp and keeping time even when a device is in low-power mode.

1. The RTC as a command center: Imagine a weather device that is deployed by itself on a farmer’s vast acreage of soy fields. The device is meant to measure certain environmental conditions, such as dew point, at sunrise. The farmer can deploy their device and provide a command, so that data can be extracted at that particular time. This metric, set to be recorded at a certain time, provides information about the farmer’s crop and allows them to take actions to protect their investment. To accomplish this, a real time clock functions as a time-keeper and “quarterback,” providing commands to other components within the device.
2. The RTC as a data collector: A key real time clock function provides users with the ability to understand when an event has occurred. Now imagine a Wi-Fi connected device that could potentially be hacked by a cyberattack. The users who own the device will want to know when threats occurred, so they can monitor that episode. A real time clock can record the time at which an event occurred. This provides important “evidence” that can be used to better understand the nature of the attack or provide time for the user to act on unauthorized use of the device.
3. The RTC as a continuous timekeeper: As a final example, think of a device, such as an office printer, that goes into a sleep mode when it is not in use. This mode ensures that the machinery does not overheat or draw too much power unnecessarily. Yet when the next person sends a file to the printer, the device powers up, prints the document and even includes a timestamp at the bottom of the page to record when the print was created. A real time clock is the responsible timing solution for keeping quality time in the background, even when a device is not “awake.”

RTCs as a Sustainability Solution

The real time clock will continue to enjoy its position as a highly sought-after timing solution for timed commands and the recording of human time as data. Any device that performs functions remotely requires a real time clock to ensure the recording of episodes when they occur and that actions are performed when desired.

RTCs are also emerging as desirable timing components because of their important functionality in low-power environments. RTCs do not require a great deal of power to perform their role, which makes them a natural fit for any product that aims for sustainability. In fact, they can be powered by a lithium-ion battery. A RTC could then be used in an electric vehicle charger for the home, which you have programmed to run at night when the power grid is not overworked.

Whether you have energy efficiency in mind or another innovative use case for your real time clock, contact ECS Inc. to place an order at your convenience.

RTCs from ECS Inc.

ECS Inc. offers four real time clocks that each have functionalities to benefit your particular use-case, including:

• RTCs that perform their key functions on a continuous power supply (ECS-RTC-3225-5609).
• RTCs that are high-performing on a limited power supply (ECS-RTC-3225-5699C3 and ECS-RTC-3225-5699HS).
• RTCs for devices that depend on an external clock (ECS-RTC-SOP8-5101A).

Real time clocks are available to order today from an ECS Inc. sales representative in your region. If you require engineering help for your RTC, including how to integrate these products into your circuit board layout or design, the ECS Inc. engineering support team is ready to meet your needs.