SiTime Debuts Programmable Spread Spectrum Clock Oscillators

SiTime, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced a new family of programmable spread spectrum clock oscillators based on MEMS resonator technology. The new devices offer the smallest footprint in the industry and the lowest cycle to cycle jitter. The devices are especially aimed at applications where system designers need to reduce electro-magnetic interference (EMI) in order to pass environmental testing standards. As a drop-in replacements for standard oscillators, the new MEMS-based devices can significantly lower EMI without the system designer needing to redesign the system board, adopt a metal enclosure for the product or implement other costly noise shielding changes to the design. SiTime said its new programmable spread spectrum clock oscillators are typically delivering an EMI reduction of 6-12 dB. The company also expects its MEMS technology to offer 10 times better robustness and reliability than existing, quartz-based solutions.

The SiT9001 is available in a standard footprint four-pad 2.5 x 2.0 mm package, the smallest in the industry for spread spectrum oscillators. The device also is available in larger, standard-footprint surface-mount packages that can replace existing oscillators without an expensive board redesign. The solution delivers a programmable frequency range of 1 MHz to 200 MHz and programmable operating voltages of 1.8V, 2.5V or 3.3V. Cycle to cycle jitter is rated at less than 30 ps.

The SiT9002 is optimized for high-performance networking and computing applications and offers low voltage differential signaling (LVDS), low voltage positive emitter coupled logic (LVPECL) and current mode logic (CML) outputs. The device is available in six pad, 5.0 x 3.2 mm and 7.0 x 5.0 mm packages, which are compatible with industry-standard footprints. The SiT9002 is programmable, with a frequency range from 10 MHz to 220 MHz and programmable operating voltages of 1.8V, 2.5V or 3.3V. It offers frequency tolerance of 25 PPM or 50 PPM when spread spectrum is turned off. And, like the SiT9001, the device delivers cycle to cycle jitter of less than 30 ps.

http://www.sitime.com

• SiTime is headed by Rajesh Vashist (CEO), who previously served as CEO and chairman of the board at Ikanos Communications. SiTime’s executive team also includes Aaron Partridge (who previously coordinated the MEMS resonator research at Robert Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto), Markus Lutz (also previously with Bosch), Fari Assaderaghi (previously with Rambus and HP), Narayanan Bharath (previously with Ikanos), and Piyush Sevalia (previously with Ikanos).