Epson Introduces New "Any-Rate" Programmable VCXOs

SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)--

Epson Electronics America, Inc., the world leader in quartz crystal technology, today introduces two low-jitter programmable voltage-controlled crystal oscillators. The new products, the VG7050EAN and VG7050ECN, can be programmed over a range of 50 MHz to 800 MHz and achieve the lowest jitter (0.27 ps at 622.08 MHz) and lowest power consumption (70 mA at 3.3V) of any programmable VCXO in the industry.

VG7050ECN (Photo: Business Wire)

Epson's VG7050EAN and VG7050ECN "Any-Rate" programmable VCXOs enable optical transmission equipment to support multiple protocols and line rates with a single oscillator. Earlier equipment used either a single fixed-frequency oscillator which had to be swapped out to change frequencies or multiple fixed-frequency oscillators which increased board space and cost.

Seeking to solve these problems, Epson created the new low-jitter low-power programmable VCXOs by combining a highly accurate and stable high-frequency fundamental (HFF) crystal that can oscillate at a fundamental frequency over 100 MHz with a low-jitter fractional-n PLL IC. Epson's HFF crystal technology is more reliable than 3^rd overtone crystals and achieves better phase noise and jitter than low-frequency fundamental crystals. As a result, Epson's VG7050EAN and VG7050ECN achieve the world's lowest jitter (0.27 ps) of any programmable VCXO at both SONET (622.08 MHz) and Ethernet (156.25 MHz) frequencies.

Both the VG7050EAN and VG7050ECN are factory programmed for frequency and absolute pull range (APR). The default settings can be overwritten using an I²C bus so users can program any output frequency and APR they require. To simplify multi-protocol designs, the VG7050ECN allows four frequencies to be pin-selectable.

Moving forward, Epson will leverage its unique technological strengths in crystal microfabrication and semiconducors to provide customers with device solutions that are safe, easy to use, and dependable.

Features and specifications

Product features

Low noise and low jitter
These products use an HFF crystal unit that is capable of oscillating at a fundamental frequency of 100 MHz or more. The HFF crystal unit is combined with Epson's own fractional-N PLL IC to achieve low jitter, optimize the frequency of the crystal unit, and control integer-boundary spurs.
Low current consumption
The maximum current consumption is 90 mA (including LVPECL terminal load drive current). Epson's VG7050EAN and VG7050ECN are the industry's lowest power devices in this class.
Frequency programmable
The output frequency can be set to any frequency between 50 MHz and 800 MHz.
APR programmable
Users can select the desired absolute pull range (APR) from among 12 steps within the range of 0 to ±180 × 10^-6.

About Epson

Epson is a global innovation leader whose product lineup ranges from inkjet printers and printing systems, 3LCD projectors and industrial robots to sensors and other microdevices. Dedicated to exceeding the vision of its customers worldwide. Epson delivers customer value based on compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies in markets spanning enterprise and the home to commerce and industry.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 73,000 employees in 94 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates.
http://global.epson.com/

About Epson Electronics America, Inc.

Epson Electronics America, Inc. (EEA), is a subsidiary of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation (SEC (News - Alert)) and is responsible for sales, marketing and engineering of the product lines of SEC's Microelectronics Device Division in the America's. EEA provides a wide array of timing and frequency control products, integrated circuits, sensing device and system solutions for customer products and applications that require high levels of accuracy, reliability, stability, energy efficiency and compact design. Based in San Jose, California, the EEA Group has three regional offices, more than 40 sales offices in the U.S. and a growing network of exclusive distributors.
http://www.eea.epson.com/