SAN JOSE, USA: Discera, a recognized leader in MEMS oscillator technology, has expanded its PureSilicon product offering to include industrial temperature ranges with +/- 50ppm and +/- 25ppm frequency stability.

Designers of computing, communication, portable and other electronic systems, for both consumer and industrial applications, now have access to the significant cost and power advantages offered by MEMS oscillator technology.

Discera’s PureSilicon MEMS oscillators are pin-compatible with popular crystal oscillators and have low operating current specs (3mA typ. at 40MHz), while consuming just 1uA in standby mode. Discera oscillators are also practically impervious to shock, vibration and fractures that can affect crystal parts.

The combination of high reliability and very low power consumption make MEMS oscillators ideal for portable and battery operated applications. And with MEMS oscillators now costing 20 percent less than comparable crystal oscillators, they are also far more cost-effective for almost any application.

"2008 was long anticipated as the crossover year when MEMS oscillators would overtake crystal oscillators on a cost basis. Using industry standard CMOS processing techniques and plastic packaging, MEMS enjoy several important cost advantages over conventional crystal oscillators. As process geometries scale, these cost advantages will only grew more pronounced over time," said Rich Miller, Discera’s Vice President of Marketing. "With the addition of industrial temp ranges to Discera’s product line, all system manufacturers can now enjoy the cost, power, reliability and lead time benefits of MEMS oscillators."

According to a leading research firm, the market for MEMS oscillators is expected to grow at more 100 percent per annum through 2013 as this new technology rapidly expands its share of the $3 billion global frequency control market.