Strengthening leadership in silicon timing with a new 3LG silicon-based differential oscillator family that consumes up to 75% less power than crystal-based oscillators

IDT ( www.idt.com , Country Manager for Korea: Sang-Yup Lee), an analog-digital company leading the core mixed-signal semiconductor solutions market, today unveiled the industry's first CMOS oscillator featuring innovative ±50 ppm frequency accuracy and ultra-low power consumption. This new device replaces existing quartz crystal-based oscillators (XOs) and is characterized by providing up to 75% power savings in a wide range of applications requiring ±50 ppm timing references, such as computing, communications, and consumer markets.

IDT’s newly introduced 3LG CrystalFree CMOS oscillator family guarantees frequency accuracy of ±50 ppm over its lifecycle. Because it is pin-compatible with existing quartz-based solutions, users can also achieve power savings by switching to CMOS-based oscillators. These devices support Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS), Low Voltage Positive Emitter Coupled Logic (LVPECL), and Host Clock Signal Level (HCSL) standards to ensure compatibility across various applications. Designed using standard silicon manufacturing processes and supplied in industry-standard plastic packages, IDT’s 3LG devices offer advantages over other existing crystal oscillators in terms of time to delivery, reliability, and cost of ownership. The 3LG product family utilizes the basic technology of the successful 3CN ±100ppm product family currently in mass production.

Fred Zust, Vice President and Head of IDT’s Communications Business Unit, stated, “The movement to replace quartz-based oscillators has already begun,” adding, “IDT, a global leader in silicon timing solutions, will continue to develop high-performance, low-power solutions to meet market demands.” He pointed out that “quartz-based oscillators have disadvantages in terms of power, cost, availability, and reliability,” and stated that “IDT’s crystal-free oscillators reduce power consumption by up to 75% compared to corresponding quartz-based products and offer distinct advantages in terms of simplified design, short delivery times, and superior reliability.”

Sergis Mushell, a senior research analyst at Gartner, analyzed, “One thing that has remained unchanged over the past 50 years in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry is the use of quartz crystals as the fundamental frequency source for electronic devices.” He predicted, “To date, semiconductor-based frequency control products have not possessed the accuracy to challenge the role of quartz in mass production. These semiconductor-based frequency sources will have a significant impact on the crystal oscillator market by offering superior price and performance compared to crystal-based solutions.”

The new device generates a stable frequency of up to 125 MHz and provides high-performance phase jitter of less than 1 picosecond over a wide frequency offset of 12 kHz to 20 MHz. It also features semiconductor-grade shock and vibration resistance, maintaining extremely high stability throughout the device's lifespan, and its very small package size and thin thickness save valuable board area in compact designs.

Supply Status
The IDT 3LG CrystalFree ±50ppm oscillator is currently being sampled to select customers. The IDT 3CN CrystalFree ±100ppm oscillator is currently in mass production and supplied in industry-standard packages. For high-volume applications, IDT's CrystalFree oscillators can support all frequency requirements based on rapid mass production with short lead times of less than four weeks on average. Further information on IDT's CrystalFree CMOS oscillators can be found at www.idt.com/go/CrystalFree .