What is Clock Oscillator?
A clock oscillator is an electronic device that generates a clock signal (known as a timing signal) for a circuit/application. A crystal oscillator is typically used as a clock oscillator to generate the clock signal. Clock oscillators can generate signals with a choice of output waveforms, including CMOS, LVPECL, LVCMOS, LVDS, HCMOS, CMOS, TTL, ACMOS, ECL, sine wave, and other output forms.
Clock oscillators are available with key features such as user-selectable rise/fall options, excellent short-term stability, long-term aging, industry-standard footprints, low period jitter, and low power consumption.
Key Features of Clock Oscillator
- Operating Frequency: It is the operating frequency range of the oscillator
- Output Waveform: Represents the output waveform of the clock oscillator. Clock oscillators can provide multiple output waveforms which include sine-wave, CMOS, TTL, etc.
- Frequency Stability: It represents the variation of the output frequency of the clock oscillator due to conditions like temperature variation, voltage variation, output load variation, and crystal aging. It is usually represented in ppm.
- Jitter: It represents the timing variations of the clock signal edge from the ideal value. Jitters in clock signals are typically caused by noise or other disturbances in the system. It is usually in ps (picoseconds).
- Rise Time: It refers to the time taken by the leading/rising edge of the clock to rise from 10 % to 90 % of its final value.
- Fall Time: It refers to the time taken by the amplitude of the clock pulse to decrease from 90% to 10% of its peak value.
