IDT ( www.idt.com ), an analog-digital company leading the core semiconductor solutions market, today introduced the industry's first CrystalFree™ piezoelectric MEMS (pMEMS™) LVDS/LVPECL oscillator for high-performance communications, consumer, cloud, and industrial applications. The new oscillator from IDT operates with phase jitter of less than 1 picosecond in a compact, industry-standard package, making it an effective replacement for existing 6-pin crystal oscillators (XO).
Thanks to the patented crystal-free pMEMS resonator technology applied to the 4M Series high-performance LVDS/LVPECL oscillators, IDT can rapidly program the desired output frequency at the time of shipment without the need for fine-tuning expensive crystals. Furthermore, because pMEMS have a much higher resonant oscillation frequency than quartz crystals, the 4M oscillator can achieve higher frequencies at a lower cost without compromising critical performance. The 4M Series is the first product in IDT's MEMS-based device portfolio, providing customers with a convenient and accurate low-wavelength timing reference.
Fred Zust, Vice President and General Manager of IDT’s Timing and Synchronization division, stated, “Our customers have been waiting for IDT, a leader in the timing sector, to introduce pMEMS technology to expand into high-performance applications such as communications. In particular, communications applications are a key segment of the $4 billion frequency control market.” He added, “IDT’s patented pMEMS resonator technology enables a simple and economical replacement of XOs based on superior performance and stability, thanks to the strong electromechanical coupling of piezoelectric materials and the stability and low damping characteristics of single-crystal silicon.” “These products will complement IDT’s award-winning semiconductor oscillators to form a comprehensive frequency control portfolio designed to replace quartz-based devices in increasingly segmented market areas,” the company stated.
IDT's 4M oscillators operate with a frequency accuracy of ±50 ppm over a wide industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C. These devices support Low-voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) and Low-voltage Positive Emitter-coupled Logic (LVPECL) at frequencies up to 625 MHz, meeting the stringent requirements of most communications, networking, and high-performance computing applications. IDT's pMEMS oscillators are available in a 7.0 x 5.0 mm (7050) package and a smaller 5.0 x 3.2 mm (5032) standard plastic package, reducing costs and minimizing board area for applications in high-density enclosures. They are also pin-compatible with existing XOs, making them ideal as replacement solutions for upgrades.

Price and supply
The IDT 4M oscillator is currently being sampled to select customers and is available in hundreds of configurations based on frequency, voltage, output type, and industry-standard package. More information about IDT's crystal-free pMEMS oscillators can be found at www.idt.com/go/MEMS .