SMD crystal resonators, oscillators still increasing in supply

Steady drive toward miniaturization has led to the release of 1.2x1mm crystal resonators from large mainland China companies.

Mobile electronics applications continue to fuel initiatives for greater miniaturization in electronic components. In mainland China's manufacturing sectors for crystal resonators and oscillators, companies have been boosting the ratio in favor of SMD types. Combined, the share totals 50 percent and is projected to rise to 60 percent in the next one or two years, unseating traditional DIP units.

Suppliers such as Strong Electronics & Technology Ltd and UTech have developed and introduced resonators in 1.2x1mm or the 1210 package size. This beats the 1612 achieved in the local oscillator segment in 2018. In coming years, more companies are expected to gain capability to turn out units in these ultrasmall dimensions.

The trend for smaller components has put MEMS on the R&D roadmap. With the technology, 0.25mm thickness can be realized. Even at such a dimension, high precision of 10ppm, quick start-up time of 3ms and low power dissipation of 3.5mA are delivered. These miniaturized structures have wide application in consumer and automotive electronics, networking and communication equipment, and industrial products. Globally, the MEMS oscillators line is anticipated to have a market share of $1.5 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 50 percent from 2014, according to elecfans.com.

Due to the high technology threshold, however, only large domestic companies are pursuing this in product development. They include Hubei TKD, a major supplier of resonators. In oscillators, there are no other makers that have introduced compliant models except Shenzhen Yangxing. The manufacturer has a cooperation with SiTime, the leading supplier of MEMS-based timing solutions.

On the production side, many companies plan an increase amid climbing demand. Strong Electronics will continue to raise volume by about 5 percent this year and in 2020. It ships 70 percent of yield and sees a similar growth rate in exports.

In terms of sales, the mainland's crystal resonators and oscillators sectors will maintain an annual increase of 10 percent until 2020. The top applications are smartphones and the automotive industry, which have an aggregate shipment share of nearly 50 percent. In coming years, local companies look to benefit from the 5G deployment as well.

Worldwide, the industry will have an aggregate sales value of upto $3 billion in 2020, with 5 percent CAGR from 2015, according to OFweek. In the Asia-Pacific region, it will be as much as $1.8 billion at a yearly rate of 9 percent.

By shipment, Japan-based makers lead with about 60 percent share. They include NDK, TXC, Epson, Toyocom and Kyocera.

The mainland is a major production base for the categories, responsible for about 20 percent of global deliveries.

Hundreds of suppliers make up the pool, with more than 60 percent locally owned catering mainly to the entry- and midlevel segments. The major players include Zhejiang East Crystal, Tangshan Jingyuan, Nanjing Hualianxing and Shenzhen ZKJ.

The rest of the companies have investment from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. This group owns approximately 70 percent of the mainland market, especially the high end.

The production hubs are in the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta regions, and the Bohai Bay Rim Economic Region. The key sites are the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Zhuhai in Guangdong province, Tangshan in Hebei, Jinhua in Zhejiang and Nanjing in Jiangsu.

Mainstream types

Besides SMD crystal resonators and oscillators, mainland manufacturers keep DIP variants in their regular selections.

Crystal resonators come in OSC, TCXO, VCXO and OCXO types. The SMD segment includes mostly 1612, 2012, 2016 and 2025 units, while the DIP range has HC-49U, HC-49/S, UM-1, UM-4 and UM-5.

Based on load capacitance and drive level, the choices are 8, 12, 15, 20, 30, 50 and 100pF, and 0.1, 1, 10, 20, 50µW, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 and 2mW models.

In crystal oscillators, the options include mostly SPXO, TCXO, VCXO, OCXO and LPXO. The typical sizes of SMD models are 1612, 2012, 2016, 2025, 3225, 4025, 5032 and 6035, while DIP counterparts are in HC-49U, HC-33U, HC-49U/S, HC-49USMD, UM-1, UM-5, full-size or DIP-14 and half-size or DIP-8.

Widely available units have frequency of 0.5 to 800MHz and rated voltage of 1.8, 2.5, 2.8, 3.3, 5 or 12V.

Depending on the requirement, mainland suppliers turn to local or foreign providers for crystal components, bases, cases and adhesives. Kyocera and NTK are among their major sources.

The cost of manufacturing inputs is expected to remain stable throughout the year, and will keep the prices of crystal resonators and oscillators unchanged.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our mainland China-based market analyst for representing current trends in crystal resonators and oscillators from mainland China and Taiwan makers.

Up to 0.5mm-thick SMD crystal resonator

For mobile phones, Bluetooth and WLAN devices, ISM band radios and MPU clocks, the model FA-128 SMD crystal resonator from Argo Technology Co. Ltd has 16 to 54MHz nominal frequency range. Its maximum thickness is 0.5mm.

The minimum order is negotiable. Delivery is within 7 days.

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400 to 500MHz SMD crystal oscillator

The model CKJ-VC0450 SMD crystal oscillator from Ching Kong Technology Co. Ltd has a frequency range of 400 to 500MHz and 3 to 5V operating voltage. The 8x6x2.5mm unit suits signal amplifiers and shielding devices, RFID products, and wireless cards and microphones. It operates in -25 to 75 C.

The negotiable minimum order is for delivery within 7 days.

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SMD crystal oscillator with 16 to 72MHz

This RoHS-compliant SMD crystal oscillator from Strong Electronics & Technology Ltd, S2016 model, has a frequency range of 16 to 72MHz and tolerance of ±10 or ±30ppm. At maximum, the drive level is 100µW and the shunt capacitance 3pF, while the load capacitance is 8 or 10pF. The 2x1.6X0.45mm unit ages at ±2 or ±5ppm per year.

The 1,000-unit minimum order has a delivery lead time of 7 days.

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Crystal oscillator for industrial automation equipment

Zhejiang A-crystal Electronic Co. Ltd's model 4 crystal oscillator for 1 to 125MHz has a supply voltage of 3.3 or 5V. The 1.15mm-thick unit suits industrial automation equipment.

The supplier requires an order of at least 3,000 units. Delivery is within 45 days.

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