SiTime enhances timing architecture for wireless infrastructure
A precision timing platform, Elite RF has been introduced by SiTime. The Elite RF Super-TCXO (temperature controlled crystal oscillator) simplifies the timing architecture in the wireless infrastructure with higher bandwidth and lower latency for 5G and satellite communications deployment.
It is a new class of MEMS-based TCXO, said the company, for infrastructure radios in small cells, remote radio units (RRUs), microwave backhaul, and satcom (satellite communications) equipment.
The TCXOs are built to withstand the extreme environments in which 5G radios are deployed, and deliver phase noise, accuracy and resilience in a single, integrated device. The Elite RF TCXOs also meet the stringent performance requirements specified by the IEEE 1588v2 timing synchronisation protocol.
The conventional primary timing reference for 5G and satcom equipment is mini-OCXOs. While these provide stability over changing temperature in order to clock advanced synchronised radios, but while accurate, they are unreliable in harsh environments. They also consume excessive power and board space, said SiTime, and require additional components, such as jitter cleaners and VCXOs for generating RF-capable clocks. One Elite RF Super-TCXO replaces all these components, said the company.
“To enable new services, radios are expected to deliver 10x the bandwidth of previous generations with significantly lower latency,” said Piyush Sevalia, executive vice president of marketing, SiTime. “To achieve these performance goals, next-gen radios must be deployed closer to the user, and all nodes in the network must be time-synchronised”. Separate timing devices for the radio and for synchronisation are integrated in the SiTime Elite RF platform to simplify the radio timing architecture, he added.
Other key attributes of the TCXO are 1 to 220MHz frequency output, ±100 parts per billion (ppb) stability over temperature, ±0.9 ppb per degree C stability over temperature slope and ±400 ppm digital control with ±0.05 ppt (parts per trillion) resolution.
The operating temperature range is -40 to +105 degrees while typical integrated phase jitter is 100 fs typical (19.2MHz, 12kHz to 20MHz integration range).
Typical daily ageing is just 0.3 ppb per day and power consumption is just 144mW at 1.8V.
The Elite RF TCXO is supplied in a 5.0 x 3.5mm ceramic package. Limited customer sampling is available now with general sampling scheduled for Q2 2023 and mass production expected in Q3 2023.
