What is a TCXO used for?

A TCXO is a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator that is used whenever particularly high stability within a variant temperature environment is required, i.e. when the frequency deviation of the oscillator must be minimal over its entire operating temperature range.

What is a compensated crystal?

A TCXO (Temperature compensated crystal oscillator) is a crystal oscillator with a temperature-sensitive reactance circuit in its oscillation loop to compensate the frequency-temperature characteristics inherent to the crystal unit. Epson’s are classified into two types.

How do timing crystals work?

Inside a quartz clock or watch, the battery sends electricity to the quartz crystal through an electronic circuit. The quartz crystal oscillates (vibrates back and forth) at a precise frequency: exactly 32768 times each second.

What is the difference between oscillator and crystal?

Summary. The crystal and the oscillator are both components of the clock processor. The oscillator is configured with a buffer, which means it is capable of high output drive tasks. The crystal is only a part of the oscillator.

What is basic principle of oscillation?

Oscillation is defined as the method of repeating variations in time of any sum or measure of its equilibrium value. It is also possible to describe oscillation as a periodic variation of a matter between two values, or of its central value.

What is OCXO oscillator?

An OCXO is an “Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator”, which is a kind of crystal oscillator that has higher frequency stability. OCXOs work by heating the crystal beyond a temperature which it would normally encounter, thus helping to maintain the temperature of the crystal at a constant level.

How does temperature compensation work in a TCXO?

In a TCXO, its temperature compensation network, also known as a thermistor network, identifies temperature changes outside of the specified range and initiates a frequency stability mechanism in response. The Temperature change causes the thermistors to vary, which causes a change in the equivalent capacitance of network.

What does TCXO stand for in crystal oscillator?

As the name indicated a temperature compensated crystal oscillator provides a means of counteracting the frequency change caused by temperature change in a crystal oscillator. The letters TCXO stand for Temperature Compensated Xtal Oscillator – Xtal is short from crystal and implies a quartz crystal resonator.

Which is better a TCXO or an OCXO?

TCXOs are ideal for portable electronic devices that require a stable frequency source. OCXOs are larger than TCXOs and standard crystal oscillators because they require a heater for the oscillator.

Which is a typical field of application for TCXO?

TCXO: Typical Fields of Application Thanks to their enormous frequency stability, TCXOs are particularly suitable for wireless applications in telecommunications. The components are also in great demand in the IoT sector, GPS-applications and numerous consumer products.