COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY: QUARTZ VERSUS NON-QUARTZ COMPONENTS

Prospect Heights, NY -- With initiatives based on design technology, such as the incorporation of MEMs into devices, the development of high-tolerance products, or the incorporation of more accurate compensation techniques, producers supplying the world market for frequency control components are pursuing ways to offset the recent downturn in the market.

In 2003, the world market for frequency control components continues to fall, dropping in total consumption value by nearly 3.0% over last year. Quartz devices, such crystal resonators, XOs, TCXOs, VCXOs and OCXOs, continue to make up nearly 70% of demand while non-quartz devices, such as ceramic resonators, silicon ICs, VCOs and Phase Locked Loops comprise nearly 30% of the total market.

Systems on a chip

The major advantage of non-quartz products is the ability to control several devices from one integrated chip. Thus, a micromachined clock source, standard ICs, and other micromachined components can be built simultaneously to form a complete system on a chip. The goal would then be mass production which would dramatically reduce price. Further, the cost of manufacturing could be significantly reduced by eliminating the need for assembly.