Low-Power Silicon Oscillator from STMicroelectronics Saves Parts-Count and Streamlines Design

The STCL1120 family of silicon oscillators from STMicroelectronics combines fast start-up and high immunity to shock, vibration and EMI (electromagnetic interference) with lower operating current and a chip-select control for easier and more efficient power management compared to other silicon-based devices.

The first STCL1120 family members to be introduced are 10-, 12- and 16MHz devices. The short startup time of 50 microseconds and best-in-class 0.65mA operating current for the 12MHz version combine with the chip-select capability to enable power savings for engineers seeking a cost-effective and robust alternative to ceramic or quartz-based oscillators. As a further benefit, no external components are required, allowing designers to eliminate the capacitance matching typically necessary with ceramic resonators. The STCL1120 oscillators also operate directly from a 5V supply.

By implementing an external chip-select pin, the STCL1120 provides an easy way for engineers to stop the clock when the application is in standby mode, gaining extra power savings by reducing the oscillator current to less than 3 microamps. The push-pull, CMOS-compatible output produces a square wave for direct interfacing with on-board components including logic devices, microcontrollers, FPGAs and ASICs.

The fixed operating frequency is accurate to within ±1.5% throughout all operating conditions. A 32kHz silicon oscillator is also offered and further variants of the oscillators, with tighter accuracy, will be introduced in the future. Specified for operation from –20 to +85 degrees C, the STCL1120 serves motor-control applications, home appliances, building controllers, display drivers, advanced battery chargers, and low-speed USB peripherals such as computer keyboards or mice.

STMicroelectronics