What is a MultiVolt™ oscillator?

The ECS Inc. International MultiVolt™ quartz-based oscillators utilize a cutting-edge small form factor high-performance ASIC. The oscillator circuit stage uses a low-current linear voltage regulator. This significantly reduces current consumption compared to traditional oscillator designs. This regulation allows MultiVolt™ oscillators to operate over a wide deteriorating battery supply or a traditional fixed supply which all but eliminated the traditional characteristic of oscillator supply voltage dependency.

MultiVolt™ oscillators offer better jitter and phase noise performance compared to SAW or MEMS-based oscillators, and traditionally they do this at a lower cost point. These MultiVolt™ oscillators can serve multiple platforms to aid your design efforts. Most MultiVolt™ oscillator lines will operate across supply voltages of 1.6V ~ 3.6V and on a static supply compatible with 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.0V, and 3.3V. They come in industry standard packages and footprints from 1.6 x 1.2 mm up to 7.0 x 5.0 mm.

ECS Inc. International offers a wide variety of MultiVolt™ oscillator classifications:

Choosing a MultiVolt™ Oscillator vs. MEMs Oscillator

When designing in any oscillator, it is important to keep in mind a variety of performance characteristics such as jitter, phase noise, stability, and power consumption. Based on these specific characteristics, quartz-based oscillators will have the advantage over MEMS based oscillators. Traditionally, crystal oscillators have a much lower power consumption, consistently better jitter, lower phase noise, and a much more stable frequency over time.

See below for two case studies from 2020 on MEMS vs. crystal MultiVolt™ oscillators comparing cost and performance advantages.

MEMS vs. Crystal MultiVolt™ Oscillators | Cost and Performance Advantage Case Studies