Aging
It is the Change of nominal frequency and
/ or the resistance of a quartz crystal
unit through the time.
Angle
It is the angle at which a resonator plate
is cut from the quartz stone in relation
to the original crystallographic axes. The
angle of cut is critical to the performance
of the crystal unit, particularly for frequency
deviation over a temperature range.
AT cut
The commercial designation for a specifically
oriented resonator plate, having desirable
and repeatable operating characteristics.
The "AT cut" is the most popular thickness-shear
crystal unit manufactured today.
AT
Strip
AT-cut crystal but in the shape of a rectangular
strip. It has a higher ESR than a round
AT-cut crystal but is smaller in size, thus
allowing smaller crystal packages.
Axis
Direction in quartz stone. The plural is
"axes."
Base
Base is the lower portion of a crystal holder.
The base incorporates a resonator mounting
structure and leads or pins to connect the
device to an external circuit. Please also
refer to "Holder."
Bevel
Modification to one or both of the major
faces of a resonator plate, in which the
face is altered for a partially spherical
configuration. Please also refer to "Contour."
Blank
Quartz resonator plate. Also known as "wafer,"
"plate," or "resonator."
BT
cut Commercial designation for a specifically
oriented resonator plate, having well known
and repeatable characteristics. "AT-cut"
is more popular than "BT-cut"
C0
Also known as "Shunt Capacitance."
C1
Also known as "Motional Capacitance." Often
also abbreviated as "Cm."
Capacitance
Property exhibited by two conductors separated
by a dielectric where an electric charge
becomes stored between the conductors. Measured
in "farads" and identified with the letter
"C."
Capacitor
Passive electronic circuit component in
its simplest form; consists of two metal
electrodes separated by a dielectric.
Can
Please refer to "Cover"
C.I.
Abbreviation for "crystal impedance," sometimes
also known as "resistance."
C.I.M.
Abbreviation for "crystal impedance meter."
Please refer to "Test Set"
Cold
Weld
Consist of a procedure in which the base
and can are dissimilar metals that are pressed
together to form one metal.
Contour
Modification to one or both of the major
faces of a resonator plate, where the face
is altered to have a completely spherical
configuration. Please also refer to "Bevel."
Coupled
Mode
An unwanted mode that is energized at the
same frequency as the wanted mode; thus,
draining energy from the desired mode.
Cycle
A complete repetition of an event
Deviation
Amount by which a quantity differs from
its nominal value. In this case, the amount
by which a frequency differs from the nominal
or specified frequency.
Dew
Point
The temperature at which components of a
gas material starts to condense into liquid.
Dip
Term used to describe a sudden increase
of activity, followed by a return to the
previous level of the activity of a crystal
unit.
Drive
Level
Amount of power dissipated by the oscillating
crystal unit. Expressed in terms of mW.
Equivalent
Circuit
Vibration of a crystal is actually a mechanical
vibration. However, the crystal unit can
be expressed by two terminal networks if
its behavior is electrically converted.
The series circuit consisting of L1, C1
& R1 is related to elastic vibration, while
the element C0 is connected in parallel
to the series arm as a capacitance attributable
to the dialectic body of a quartz crystal
plate. The resistance R1 is a resonance
resistance of the crystal unit at the series
resonance frequency.
ESR
It is the abbreviation for "Equivalent Series
Resistance." A crystal unit has a resistive
element. This term is required to define
and quantify that characteristic.
Etch
A process crystal manufacturers use to improve
the surface condition of a crystal and to
increase the frequency of a blank. The word
"etch" is used to describe the material
used in the etch process, as well as the
process itself.
Frequency
It is a periodic repetition of an event
within a unit of time. In an electrical
circuit, it is the number of waves that
pass through a given point in one second.
In other words, it is the number of times
a resonator plate oscillates or vibrates
in one second. The customer usually specifies
the nominal or desired frequency.
Frequency
Stability
The acceptable deviation usually represented
in parts per million (PPM), over a specified
temperature range. Deviation is referenced
to the measured frequency at +25? C.
Frequency
Tolerance
The acceptable deviation from nominal frequency
usually represented in parts per million
(PPM), at a specific temperature, usually
+25? C.
Fundamental
Lowest frequency a resonator plate will
oscillate. Usually set by the physical dimensions
of the plate.
Geometry
Shape of the resonator plate in a crystal
unit. There are 3 geometrical forms available:
Flat, Contoured, and Beveled.
Henry
Basic unit of inductance, represented by
the letter "H." One henry of inductance
is produced in a closed circuit by changing
current uniformly at the rate of one Ampere
per second.
Hertz
(Hz)
Basic unit of measurement of frequency,
"Hertz" used instead "cycle per second".
Also used to denote one complete occurrence
of an event in 1 second.
Impedance
Total opposition presented by a circuit
or device to the flow of alternating current.
Impedance is measured in "ohms", denoted
by the letter "Z."
Inductance
In a conductor, or circuit, the inertial
property that opposes the flow of current
when a voltage is applied. Inductance is
identified by the letter "L" and measured
in "henries."
Inductor
Electronic component used to introduce inductance
into a circuit.
Insulator
Any material that does not allow electricity
to pass though easily
ISO
Abbreviation for "International Organization
for Standardization."
Kilo
A prefix abbreviated "k," used to denote
units of thousands. One "Kilo" is one thousand.
In our industry, a frequency of one kilohertz
is a frequency of one thousand hertz (cycles
per second).
KHz
Abbreviation for "kiloHertz," used to describe
the frequency of a crystal or oscillator
in terms of thousands of Hertz (cycles per
second).
Load
Capacitance
It is the value of capacitance used in conjunction
with the crystal unit. Load capacitance
is a parameter normally set by the customer,
typically expressed in pF (picoFarads).
Load
Resonance
Term used to describe a crystal unit operating
in conjunction with load capacitance.
Mega
Abbreviated with the capital letter "M,"
and used to denote units of millions, 106.
One "Mega" is equal to one million. In this
industry, one Mega hertz is a frequency
of one million hertz (cycles per second).
Milli
Abbreviated "m," used to denote units of
thousandths, 10-3. One "milli" is exactly
the same as 1/1000th of a unit.
MHz
Abbreviation for "MegaHertz," describes
the frequency of a crystal or oscillator
in terms of millions of Hertz (cycles per
second). A frequency denoted as "10.0 MHz"
is the same as frequency of 10,000,000 Hertz
(cycles per second).
Motional
Capacitance
Abbreviated as "Cm" or "C1", it is the parameter
associated with a quartz crystal unit, illustrates
the electronic equivalence of the mechanical
elasticity of the unit.
Motional
Inductance
Abbreviated as "Lm" or "L1", it is the parameter
associated with a quartz crystal unit, illustrates
the electronic equivalence of the mechanical
mass of the unit.
OEM
Abbreviation for "Original Equipment Manufacturer."
Operating
Temperature Range
Temperature range at which the crystal's
characteristics are guaranteed.
Oscillation
Mode
A quartz crystal is designed to vibrate
either on its fundamental frequency or one
of its overtones. Deciding which oscillation
mode to use becomes critical as frequency
becomes higher. Fundamental vibration mode
normally can go as high as 40MHz; although
it may be more precise, cost can be an issue.
Using overtones for high frequencies can
be cost savings, however, it might not be
as precise as desired.
Overtone
Odd numbered multiple of the fundamental
frequency.
Package
Holder used to contain the crystal blank.
Parabolic
Temperature Curve
BT-cut and Tuning Fork crystals' frequencies
follow a parabolic curve over temperature.
The frequency will change or decrease as
the temperature goes above or below the
turnover temperature.
Parallel
Resonant
Oscillator circuit is normally uses a crystal
unit that is designed to operate with a
specified value of load capacitance. Resulting
in a crystal frequency higher than the series
resonant frequency, but lower than the true
parallel resonant frequency.
PF
Abbreviation for "picoFarad," used to describe
a fractional part 10-12, (one trillionth)
of one Farad.
Pico
A prefix used to describe a sub-multiple
of a number. One pico is one trillionth,
10-12, of a unit.
Plate
A
quartz blank or resonator.
Polish
Polish is a term used to describe the process
used in the manufacture of some types of
quartz crystals. Which results in a very
fine surface finish. Polish is also used
to denote the material used in this process.
PPM
Abbreviation for "Parts Per Million," a
method of calculation used to specify the
acceptable frequency deviation of a crystal
or oscillator.
Pullability
Change in frequency of a crystal unit; either
from the natural resonant frequency (Fr)
to a load resonant frequency (FL); or from
one load resonant frequency to another.
Frequency can be pulled in a parallel resonant
circuit by changing the value of load capacitance.
Quartz
It is the crystalline form of Silicon Dioxide
(SiO2). Material from which a blank is made.
Quartz
Crystal Unit
A finished quartz crystal; consists of a
resonator plate with electrodes, holder
with suitable mounting structures, and a
permanently sealed cover. Usually referred
simply as a "crystal."
Reactance
Opposition to an alternating current presented
by inductance, capacitance, or a combination
of the two. Measured in "ohms" and denoted
with the letter "X."
Resistance
The opposition to current flow in a circuit
represented by the letter "R" and is measured
in "ohms."
Resistance
Weld
Procedure involving pressure sealing with
electricity and back filling with nitrogen
to force out oxygen and moisture. This process
provides superior aging characteristics.
Resistor
Component used to introduce resistance into
a circuit.
Resonant
Frequency
Natural frequency at which a device vibrates.
Abbreviated as "Frq" or "frq."
Resonance
Creation of vibrations in a system by applying
periodic force; which is present when the
frequency of the applied force is equal
to the natural frequency of the system.
Resonator
Part that is capable of being set into resonance
by the application of a periodic force.
Second
Basic unit of measurement of time, for our
purposes, one "second" is 1/60th of a minute.
Series
Resonance
Condition when a crystal unit is operated
without the presence of load capacitance.
"Series Resonance" is usually described
as "series."
Shunt
Capacitance
Parameter associated with a quartz crystal
unit, used to denote capacitance resulting
from the presence of the electrodes plus
stray capacitance associated with the holder.
SMD
Abbreviation for "Surface Mount Device."
Spur
Substitution for the term "Spurious Frequency
Response." Spur is used to describe a frequency
occurring at some point higher than the
desired mode but lower than the next overtone.
Tape
and reel
A packaging style which, can accommodate
automated pick & place equipment.
Test
Set
Measures the frequency and resistance characteristic
of a quartz crystal unit. Also referred
as "crystal impedance meter," abbreviated
as "C.I.M."
Trim
Sensitivity
Measurement of the incremental fractional
frequency change for an incremental change
in the value of load capacitance. Trim sensitivity
(S) is expressed in terms of PPM/pF and
is calculated as follows:
Where (Ct) is the sum of the shunt capacitance
(CO) and the load capacitance (CL).
Turnover
Temperature
Temperature at which, the nominal frequency
is at the up-most part of the parabolic
curve.
Twinning
A condition within quartz stone where the
optic and/or the electric axis suddenly
reverse its natural order of polarity.
Volt
Basic practical unit of difference of (electrical)
potential.
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