Sunnyvale, Calif. — Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the DS4100H 100-MHz, HCSL-output crystal oscillator (XO) for PCI Express applications. Touted as the industry's first XO to provide a high-speed, current-steering logic (HCSL) output, the DS4100H eliminates the need to translate from CMOS, LVDS, or LVPECL formats to HCSL.

Manufactured using fundamental AT-cut crystal technology, it integrates a low-noise, PLL-based oscillator designed using Maxim's proprietary SiGe process. Available in a 5 x 3.2-mm package, the DS4100H is fifty-five percent smaller than SAW-based or third-overtone designs, and competes against SAW-based oscillators, which are typically housed in 5 x 7-mm ceramic packages without a HCSL output, said Maxim.

The XO provides jitter performance of less than 1 ps RMS (12 kHz to 20 MHz) over the -40° to +85°C extended temperature range, while delivering much higher frequency stability (±39 ppm versus ±100 ppm or greater) than SAW-based devices. The frequency control device also provides ±7 ppm aging over 10 years, whereas SAW-based oscillators typically provide ±1 ppm aging per year, according to Maxim.

The DS4100H is also said to outperform third-overtone designs, which require additional components in order to translate from other output formats to HCSL. Integrating a LC-PLL circuit that uses a fundamental AT-cut crystal, this XO eliminates the spurious modes of operation typically found in third-overtone designs. The DS4100H is available in a 5.0 x 3.2 x 1.49-mm, 10-pin LCCC surface-mount ceramic package.

Pricing: Starts at $6.50 (1000-up, FOB USA).
Availability: Samples are available.

Datasheet: DS4100H

Maxim Integrated Products , 1-800-998-8800, www.maxim-ic.com