32kHz oscillator family keeps time for automotive systems
To meet the growth in the automotive electronics market as semiconductor contents increases in the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles, SiTime has introduced the SiT1881 oscillator family for time keeping in ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), infotainment, instrument clusters and electronic control units (ECUs).
The low power 32kHz oscillator family is described as miniature in size, stable and low power to meet the power and space constraints of vehicle design.
Its role in electronic subsystems is the time keeping element when the systems are turned on and off to conserve power. The 32kHz oscillator (XO) is always on and is claimed to be the smallest in the industry. It delivers ±50 ppm stability over the entire temperature range to ensure robust system performance in hostile environments and low power consumption, said SiTime. It is, continued the company, the most accurate amongst all 32 Hz crystal oscillators. It has a current of 490nA and less than 0.6 microW typical power consumption. This, said the company, is up to 20 per cent lower power that competing devices.
As electronics become smaller and denser, semiconductor devices also need to shrink. Unlike legacy quartz alternatives, in which resonator size increases with decreasing frequency, SiTime MEMS technology enables SiT1881 to fit in a tiny QFN package measuring 1.2 x 1.1 x 0.55mm QFN package (1.32mm2 footprint, 0.67mm3 volume).
The SiT 1881 is qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 2 with an extended temperature range of -40 to +105 degrees C. It is also reliable, with two billion hours MTBF.
Engineering samples of the SiT1881 oscillators will be available at the beginning of November with volume production expected in Q2 2023.
SiTime is a precision timing company. Its programmable devices allow customers to differentiate their products with higher performance, smaller size, lower power, and better reliability. To date, the company has shipped over 2.5 billion devices.
