Date: 04/10/2012

32kHz AT-cut crystal oscillator from Kyocera with record current consumption of 80µA

Kyocera Corporation (President: Tetsuo Kuba) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary in charge of developing and manufacturing crystal devices, Kyocera Crystal Device Corporation, has successfully developed an AT-cut crystal oscillator (KC2520M) with an output frequency of 32kHz. Kyocera claims that this device has the world's first low current consumption of 80µA. A crystal device for use in electric vehicles and smart meters, the mounting area has also been reduced by approximately 40% compared to conventional products (3225-size) available in the market.

Development background:
The 32kHz crystal device is an electronic component that is installed for use as a clock function in various general electronic devices. In recent years, its range of use has expanded to automobiles and smart meters among other applications. Since high reliability is required, especially for in-vehicle use, the AT-cut crystal oscillator with its high accuracy and high strength can be used stably in a wide temperature range.

The typical current consumption of conventional products is several mA (1mA=1,000µA). However, for crystal oscillators used in electric and hybrid-electric vehicles -- for which demand has recently been quickly growing -- the need to further decrease the current consumption in order to save battery life is rapidly increasing, in addition to the needs for downsizing, higher strength and higher accuracy.

Kyocera Crystal Device has developed this new device on the basis of these needs.

Features:
1. Low current consumption of 80µA with an output frequency of 32kHz despite of its small size
2. AT-cut crystal element is used instead of tuning-fork type crystal element as a standard frequency source and hence has better temperature characteristics and can achieve high frequency accuracy
3. Utilized company's small crystal blank processing technology and IC assembly technology in commercializing a 2520-size product with a 40% reduced mounting area compared to the 3225-size product

Specifications:
1. External dimensions: 2.5 x 2.0 x 0.7mm typ.
2. Output frequency: 32.768kHz
3. Operating temperature range: -40 to 125 degrees Celsius
4. Frequency-temperature characteristics: ±80 x 10-6
5. Frequency deviation vs. load: ±4 x 10-6
6. Frequency deviation vs. supply voltage: ±0.5 x 10-6 (Vcc±10%)
7. Supply voltage: 1.6 to 5.5V
8. Output voltage: Min 90%Vcc
9. Current consumption: Typ. 80µA

The KC2520M (32kHz) is available on a sample basis in September 2012.

The device is to be displayed at the company's booth at the CEATEC JAPAN 2012 exhibition to be held from October 2 to October 6, 2012 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Source: Kyocera