en.Wedoany.com Reported - Microchip Technology officially released the EX-423 vacuum miniature crystal oscillator on May 14, a compact frequency reference device designed for low-power critical timing applications. Delivering high RF performance in a low-profile 13 mm × 13 mm package, the product is specifically developed for space-constrained and power-sensitive timing designs and is now available for purchase.
The core technology behind the EX-423 originates from Microchip's proprietary vacuum miniature crystal oscillator technology. This technology has previously been integrated into the company's chip-scale atomic clock product line, reducing the profile height of related models to under half an inch and keeping power consumption below 295 mW. The EX-423 continues this technological lineage, achieving an ultra-high vacuum seal in a standalone oscillator form factor. By replacing the traditional ovenized structure with a vacuum cavity, it leverages the extremely low thermal conductivity of the vacuum environment to maintain precise and stable temperature around the crystal resonator while eliminating the bulky oven. Its quartz crystal is mounted on a four-point bracket, reducing the disturbance of gravity sensitivity on output frequency and enhancing survivability under external shock.
Covering a frequency range of 10 to 20 MHz, this oscillator combines ultra-low phase noise, stringent temperature control, strong short-term stability, fast warm-up, and long-term frequency stability. Power consumption during the warm-up phase is 1 W, which can drop to as low as 0.2 W under steady-state conditions at 25 degrees Celsius. Randy Brudzinski, vice president of Microchip's Frequency and Time Systems business unit, stated that the team focused on the key parameters designers evaluate when considering high-performance reference oscillators, achieving this level of performance in a rugged and compact space to help customers simplify their designs without sacrificing timing accuracy.
GPS/GNSS tracking receivers require highly stable local oscillators to maintain lock on weak satellite signals, where low gravity sensitivity directly improves positioning accuracy. Man-portable military radios have extremely high demands on component size and battery life, and the device's 0.2 W steady-state power consumption helps extend mission duration. Ocean bottom node seismic systems rely on multiple time-synchronized sensor nodes for long-term autonomous data collection on the seabed, where battery replacement costs are extremely high; the low-power advantage can directly translate into an extended system deployment time window. Medical equipment and test and measurement instruments are sensitive to the phase noise specifications of reference clocks, and the ultra-low phase noise makes it suitable for high-quality signal acquisition chains. The satellite communications field has inherent requirements for component adaptability and reliability in vacuum environments, and the ultra-high vacuum sealed structural design makes the device highly compatible with the environmental characteristics of spaceborne equipment.
Microchip has recently been continuously expanding its manufacturing capacity for frequency and timing devices. In April 2026, the company opened a new facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, dedicated to the manufacturing of the MHM-2020 active hydrogen maser to increase production capacity and shorten lead times. The expansion also included production capabilities for the Auxiliary Output Generator and the ultra-high-performance 1000C-OCXO crystal oscillator. The EX-423 builds upon the company's existing EX-421 series. With this release, Microchip's timing product portfolio now covers the full spectrum from miniature low-power oscillators to chip-scale atomic clocks, providing a unified supply path for varying precision and power consumption requirements.
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