August 27, 2007 -- Discera, Inc. today announced that its MEMS-based oscillators have successfully passed a series of frequency stability and standard semiconductor qualification and reliability tests. The testing was designed to prove the frequency stability, reliability and durability of silicon-based MEMS resonators compared to quartz for timing devices. Key target applications for MEMS-based timing devices can be found throughout the consumer, computing, industrial, and military markets.
"We have received positive market feedback on the commercial viability of MEMS-based timing," said Ed Grant, Vice President of North American products and operations for Vectron International, a strategic partner of Discera. "Now that Discera's components have passed these stringent qualifications they will continue to enhance that viability as we move into high volume production."
"This qualification is a major milestone towards the commercialization of MEMS oscillators," said Jeremie Bouchaud, head of market research at the Munich market research and consulting company WTC. "While the image of some MEMS devices has suffered as a result of reliability issues, these MEMS oscillators are actually more reliable than the incumbent quartz technology. This qualification removes the reliability questions marks and will help designers to fully embrace this technology."
The promise of reduced costs and smaller product footprint offered by MEMS, has, until now, been offset by concerns about silicon resonators and reliability. These concerns included frequency stability over variable temperatures, aging, vibration operation and shock resistance. Discera tested and passed the MOS1 oscillators in seven different categories. The tests indicated that silicon-based MEMS resonators are ready for deployment in electronics products, including those designed for military use.
Discera's technology consists of a silicon MEMS resonator and an ASIC embedded within a conventional QFN package or ceramic package. The MOS1 oscillator family generates frequencies from 1 to 125MHz with excellent temperature and jitter performance and is packaged in a tiny industry standard IC package, providing a significant cost advantage.
Discera's product has met all XO requirements with the following features:
- Using high volume, scaleable CMOS manufacturing processes, Discera is able to track the cost reduction curves of the semiconductor industry, providing a long term solution to customers on an ongoing basis.
- Provides a unique way to define the oscillator frequency anywhere between 1 and 125MHz with a resolution of 1ppm. Unlike most of the programmable oscillators, which only provide a limited number of frequencies, Discera can provide virtually any frequency.
- Better reliability: Testing shows Discera's resonators survived 30,000g of shock with no degradation in performance and can be even more robust with industry standard packaging techniques.
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Availability
The MOS1 is available from 1 to 125MHz at optional frequency tolerances of up to ±50ppm across a temperature range of -40°C to 85°C plus one year aging, low jitter, 25,000 centrifuge acceleration and 50G vibration operation with a frequency deviation within 2ppm. The product is available now in production quantities.
Go to the Discera, Inc. website to find additional information.
