News

EM Microelectronic announces very low-power Crystal oscillator IC
More on this news or product: EM7604-C7 - EM7604
The EM7604 uses ten times less power than comparable circuits;

MARIN, Switzerland – December 11th, 2006 – EM Microelectronic, an electronic systems company of the Swatch Group, introduces the EM7604, a low-power CMOS crystal oscillator circuit. The EM7604 is intended to be used with a 32.768 kHz tuning fork crystal as a low frequency clock oscillator – with no other external components required. The IC is also available as the EM1564, which combines the oscillator circuit with a tuning fork crystal in a single, very low footprint ceramic package.

The EM7604 is ideal for precision time references in real time clocks, timekeeping in network servers and computers, in mobile phones and as an improved alternative to embedded quartz oscillators. The IC also works well for metering electricity, gas and water. The small size and efficiency of the EM7604 makes it a perfect fit as a general purpose clock oscillator circuit for digital systems and in portable field communication applications.

"The EM7604 uses up to ten times less power than similar circuits from the competition," says Mougahed Darwish, president of the management board of EM Microelectronic. “This ultra-low power circuit can be operated with a supply voltage ranging from 1.2V to 5.5V and power consumption as low as 250nA. Additionally, the on-chip integrated oscillation capacitor provides excellent oscillator stability and tight frequency tolerance at an extended temperature range of up to 125°C."

The circuit is available in a small SOT23-6 package and is matched with low-cost SMD quartz available from Micro Crystal, and is also compatible to crystals with high series resistance.

Combined product
The already announced EM1564 – containing the EM7604 combined with a 32.768 kHz tuning fork crystal in a specially designed package – is a result of the joint effort of Micro Crystal and EM Microelectronic, two companies of the Swatch Group Electronic Systems (SGES). The EM1564 package can replace standard quartz as a solution to limitations of miniaturization. It is also a convenient solution when application difficulties arise with quartz or on-chip embedded oscillators.

Availability
The EM7604 circuit is available in the SOT23-6 package from EM Microelectronic and its authorized distributors. More information about this circuit is available at here.