By Graham K. Rogers

Deep inside some of our digital devices are oscillators that respond to electrical signals and vibrate, giving a signal that is extremely accurate and can be used in digital circuits for radio applications, computers and other equipment that needs such output. Many of the oscillators in use today are comparatively large and are around 7mm x 5mm

Epson are reporting the development of three new crystal oscillators in the SG-210S*H series with a size of 2.5mm x 2.0mm that produce signals in a range between 80MHz and 170MHz.

Epson has developed these smaller crystal oscillators by using its QMEMS technology: Quartz micro electro mechanical systems. The creation of the new products uses a photolithographic QMEMS process, "to thin a limited area within the crystal blank near the excitation source (electrodes) to create an inverted-mesa structure."

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Epson's Microdevices Operations Division, Masayuki Morizumi, says that "The new series of oscillators will help enable stable, high-capacity, high-speed communication networks. Going forward, Epson will continue to leverage its QMEMS technology to provide customers with powerful, easy-to-use device solutions - and the ease of mind that goes with them."

Production of the series is expected to begin in April this year. Specifications are also available in a PDF file on the Epson site.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.