Epson Releases World's Smallest 2.5 V LVDS Output Oscillator

- TOKYO, Japan, December 4, 2002 -

Seiko Epson Corporation has developed the world's smallest(1) LVDS (low voltage differential signalling) -output crystal oscillator operating at 2.5 V. Known as the EG-2121CA-L, the new oscillator will go into mass production in December. Epson is simultaneously offering a 3.3 V version, the EG-2102CA-L, to answer the demands of a wider spectrum of customers.

The new products are LVDS output versions of Epson's high-frequency, low-jitter, high-reliability EG-2121CA P and EG-2102CA (LV-PECL output) oscillators. They boast the smallest package dimensions of any LVDS oscillator on the market and are the first oscillators in the world to provide stable output of ?}2% duty (at or below 175 MHz)(2). These oscillators are the culmination of Epson's efforts to embody customer needs in advanced products.

By providing LVDS output, Epson makes it possible to, for example, achieve low current consumption, simplify peripheral circuits, and reduce noise — great advantages for circuit interfaces for FPGAs, ASICs, and similar devices. The stable duty ratio enables easy realization of double data rate (DDR) RAM applications and devices (computer networks, video, etc.) with built-in high-speed serial communications (Serial-ATA, Fibre Channel, PCI-Express, Ethernet, HyperTransport, IEEE 1394b, etc.) capabilities.

The new oscillators, which consist of a high-stability Epson SAW resonator (with temperature characteristics that are 1/2 those of previous resonators) and a newly developed IC incorporated into a 5 x 7 x 1.4 mm ceramic package, are the smallest LVDS-output oscillators available and are capable of direct oscillation over a wide range of output frequencies (53.125 MHz to 700 MHz).

Epson's SAW oscillators have a proven track record for superior reliability and manufacturability. They solve the problems associated with AT and other oscillators on the customer end by eliminating such problems as spurious signals, temperature dip, faulty oscillation caused by contamination and so forth, and inadequate impact resistance.

For further information on the main features and specifications of the new products, please see the attachment.

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(1) Source: Epson
(2) Source: Epson