GPS remains the principal source of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for defense operations, making it a target for adversaries. Trustworthy and precise PNT is vital for radio communications, network synchronization, surveillance, threat detection, countermeasures and manned and unmanned system operations. To help combat threats, new PNT architectures will need ultra-stable clocks.
The new SiTime Endura Epoch™ MEMS oven-controlled oscillator (OCXO) offers you a novel ruggedized precision timing solution for PNT systems that need to operate during GPS signal disruptions while optimizing SWaP (Size Weight and Power) for harsh environments.
Introducing Endura Epoch OCXO
The new SiTime Endura Epoch OCXO uses a silicon MEMS resonator and advanced control architecture, delivering ± 1 ppb frequency stability over -40°C to 95°C temperature range in a 9.0 x 7.0 x 3.6 mm3 surface-mount package. It consumes only 420 mW power and rated an industry benchmark g-sensitivity of 0.01 ppb/g without vibration compensation. Endura Epoch OCXOs mark a significant advancement over quartz OCXOs, offering improvements in SWaP and reliability.
Delivering precision timing when the GPS signal is compromised
During GPS disruption, PNT performance is driven by the stability of the local clock without GPS synchronization. The time during which the local clock is not synchronized to the reference clock is referred to as holdover. The performance for the local clock during holdover is measured as a time error, which is the integration of the frequency drift during the holdover period. When the time error becomes too large, the system performance rapidly degrades or the system fails.
With a time error of only 3 µs over 24 hours, the Endura Epoch OCXO extends the PNT performance during GPS disruption, a capability over quartz OCXO. This time error is achieved due to low 5E-12 Allan Deviation and low aging of 0.1 ppb/day, specifications that are not otherwise achieved in this class of ± 1 ppb OCXO. The time error can be further improved with aging compensation done through the digital frequency pull of the device which has a ±800 ppm frequency tuning with 5e-14 resolution, lower than the Allan Deviation.
The Endura Epoch MEMS OCXO surpasses vibration-rated quartz OCXOs in performance, offering superior functionality with reduced SWaP requirements.
Robust and reliable
The MEMS resonator is about 3,000 times smaller than a typical quartz resonator, and is made of high-strength silicon material encapsulated in an ultra-clear, low-pressure cavity, eliminating contaminations that cause frequency jumps, aging or failure. The small weight and material strength of the MEMS resonator allows oven-controlled oscillator designs that are resistant to shock and vibrations. Endura Epoch OCXO can be trusted in high-vibration missions due to its remarkable g-sensitivity of 0.01 ppb/g.
Endura Epoch silicon MEMS OCXOs leverage high-purity semiconductor processes for unmatched quality and reliability. Manufacturing is managed according to statistical process control and Six Sigma specifications to deliver part-to-part consistency that customers see in their system performance.
Endura Epoch OCXO comes in a compact surface-mount package of 9 x 7 x 3.6 mm3, designed to be reflowed with other components on the board. With its small size and low weight of 0.35 g, and because you don’t need to compensate for vibration, this device can save you up to 100 g compared to quartz OCXO. This new device provides flexibility in board layout due to its small size, low power requirement and its low sensitivity to vibrations, temperature transients and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can be experienced close to power supplies or high-power ASICs. Endura Epoch OCXOs are factory programmable over a frequency range of 10 to 220 MHz, eliminating long lead times for custom frequencies and simplifying qualification.
Endura Epoch OCXO offers performance and reliability in a compact easy-to-use package that promises to enable a new level of PNT system performance in GPS-denied environments.
Learn more about the Endura Epoch Platform OCXO.