Replacing well-established technology is always a tricky proposition. Researchers have been trying to displace quartz crystals with Micro-Electromechanical system (MEMS) resonators for more than 40 years. Based on a new wafer encapsulation approach, SiTime Corp. may finally have a viable solution. The company’s MEMS-First wafer-level encapsulation and packaging technology addresses the stability and low cost required for high-frequency oscillator applications.
Built in epitaxially sealed epipoly (epitaxially grown polysilicon) chambers buried under the wafer surface, the MEMS resonator structure is isolated from external contamination prior to packaging. A vacuum of approximately 10 mT seals out water and other high- vapor pressure contaminants at the wafer level. After dicing, the resonators are molded into standard plastic IC packages.
Testing showed a total frequency error of less than 100 ppb under a measurement noise floor of 200 ppb and a specified measurement error of 30 ppb. Measurements were made of the compensated frequency stability for the resonator in a plastic molded package as it was swept twice from 40 to +85C and back to 40C. The hysteresis was less than about 50 ppb. Over a one year timeframe, the MEMS resonator drifts less than 1ppm compared to typical small quartz crystals that drift 3- to 5ppm.
Specified in the frequency range of 1- to 125 MHz, initial production fixed frequency and programmable oscillators have a frequency tolerance of ±50 to ±100 ppm and aging of ±2ppm/year. The units are specified at ±150 psec of peak to peak jitter. Four-pin QFN type packaging options for the MEMS resonators include: 2.0 × 2.5 × 0.85 mm, 2.5 × 3.2 × 0.85 mm, 3.2 × 5.0 × 0.85 mm, and 5.0 × 7.0 × 0.85 mm packages.
For more information on SiTime oscillators, go to http://rbi.ims.ims.ca/4928-504.
INTEGRATED STRUCTURE
Fabricating the MEMS mechanical resonator in a standard CMOS process allows the integration of additional circuitry on the surface to provide further system cost reduction and improved performance.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
INTEGRATED STRUCTURE 
0 
