Epson presents its new RA8900 and RX8900 RTC series

The RA8900 series and RX8900 series of real-time clock modules. Shown: SA package and CE package
Photo by EPSON EUROPE ELECTRONICS GmbH

Seiko Epson Corporation, the world leader in quartz crystal technology, introduced its new RA8900 series and RX8900 series of real-time clock (RTC) modules with built-in digital temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (DTCXO).

There are two products in each series. All of the new products, samples of which are now shipping, boast high accuracy, low-current consumption, and a small form factor. The modules in the RA8900 series are designed for automotive applications and are AEC-Q200 compliant. The modules in the RX8900 series are for use in consumer electronics. The new RTC modules come in two different package sizes to meet the requirements of customers in a wide range of markets who need highly accurate timekeeping/clock functions. The RA8900CE and RX8900CE are housed in Epson’s smallest-ever RTC package, a package whose maximum dimensions are 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.0t mm. The RA8900SA and RX8900SA, meanwhile, measure a maximum of 10.1 x 7.4 x 3.3t mm, making them size-compatible with earlier Epson RTC modules having a model number ending in SA.

Today’s smart meters, banking systems, security systems, and countless other consumer systems and applications run on the basis of time information, making it essential to keep accurate track of time. Furthermore, automotive customers are demanding clocks that maintain accurate time for their car audio systems, dashboard clocks, and other applications that are subject to harsh environments with temperature extremes. Accelerating integration and downsizing of electronic equipment and a growing desire on the part of companies to reduce their environmental footprints are also driving market demand for smaller, more accurate RTCs that consume less current. Maintaining and improving the accuracy of real-time clocks which are built by combining a crystal unit, oscillation circuit, and timekeeping IC, is more difficult as component sizes shrink.

Epson has responded to this challenge by leveraging its state-of-the-art QMEMS fabrication technology to manufacture high-precision tuning-fork crystal units and its semiconductor technology to fabricate circuits that drive the crystal units at very low power. The combination of these technologies enabled Epson to reduce the size of its latest RTCs while maintaining high accuracy and low current consumption. (At 0.70 µA, current consumption matches Epson’s existing product, the RX-8803SA, and is the lowest in the industry for a DTCXO RTC.)

Epson will adjust and guarantee the frequency of these four new products at the factory before shipping them to customers. Factory adjustment alleviates users of the burden of tuning the frequency themselves, thus greatly improving design efficiency and quality.

“Our new RTCs offer accurate time information to electronic equipment, while their small size helps enable electronics manufacturers to reduce the size and current consumption of their systems,” said Masayuki Kitamura, chief operating officer of Epson’s Microdevices Operations Division. “Going forward, Epson will continue to leverage its unique technologies to provide customers with reliable, easy-to-use, industry-leading crystal device products.”

For more information, please visit http://www.epson-electronics.de

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