The application of crystal oscillator in optical modules

With the continuous advancement of AI technology and the expansion of application scenarios, the demand for data transmission between data centers is also rapidly increasing. As a key component for data center interconnection, the demand for optical transceiver modules has also surged. A technology company has pointed out that in the future, data transmission between AI servers will rely on a large number of high-speed optical transceiver modules, which are responsible for converting electrical signals into optical signals for transmission, and then converting optical signals back into electrical signals for reception.

The application of crystal oscillator in optical modules

Crystal oscillator, also known as quartz crystal oscillator, is a component used in electronic devices to generate stable oscillation signals. In the optical module, the main function of the crystal oscillator is to provide high-precision clock signals and frequency control, ensuring the stability and reliability of the optical module during high-speed transmission. The performance of crystal oscillators directly affects key parameters such as transmission rate, transmission distance, power consumption, and volume of optical modules.

High speed and low jitter

With the popularization of 5G and the Internet of Things, the requirements for the transmission speed of optical modules are becoming increasingly high. To meet this requirement, the crystal oscillator used inside the optical module must have the characteristics of high rate and low jitter. Differential crystal oscillators with a frequency of 156.25MHz are widely used in high-speed optical modules due to their low jitter and high stability, to ensure the stable operation of digital signal processors (DSPs).

Small Package and Integration

With the trend of miniaturization in electronic products, the packaging types of optical modules are becoming smaller and the designs are becoming more sophisticated. To save PCB space, small-sized packages such as 3225/2520 are preferred for crystal oscillator selection, which not only meet the requirements of high speed and low jitter, but also provide multiple package sizes to adapt to the design needs of different optical modules.

Industrial grade temperature stability

The working environment of optical modules is complex and varied, which puts higher demands on the temperature stability of crystal oscillators. Industrial grade crystal oscillators can typically operate stably within a temperature range of -40 ℃ to+85 ℃ or even higher, ensuring that optical modules can operate normally in various extreme environments. EPSON differential active crystal oscillators not only have low phase jitter, but also meet industrial temperature requirements and are widely used in high-speed optical modules.