Welcome to our site! EDAboard.com is an international Electronics Discussion Forum focused on EDA software, circuits, schematics, books, theory, papers, asic, pld, 8051, DSP, Network, RF, Analog Design, PCB, Service Manuals... and a whole lot more! To participate you need to register. Registration is free. Click here to register now.
A xtal need to be inserted in an active circuit made of logic gates or transistor. Such a circuit is called an oscillator. You can build your own oscillator with discret componants (gates, capcitors, resistance etc.) or another solution is to buy one. Generally, it looks like a metallic case in DIP8 or DIP14 format for the more common of them. Smaller SMD form factor are also available.
Go on an oscillator provider site to see what it looks like :
take a look at this simple oscillator circuit:
**broken link removed**
It mainly consists of the crystal (1MHz) and the inverter. OUT is the clock output. That's what i meant: not only the crystal is needed but also the active part (inverter) pumping energy into the circuit to compensate the losses in the right moment and amplify the signal.
A xtal is the habitual stupid way yankees like to write the correct word crystal, and often found written that way in schematic references.
It is a thin slice of quartz crystal, exhibits the property of vibrating mechanically when alternating voltage is applied to it, and vibrates the most at its resonant frequency dependent on its thickness.
If you dislike that, what are your emotional reactions to TX and RX as contractions? Or to 1 and 0 for on and off?
Back to the crystal, it has a non symmetrical lattice structure and is therefore piezoelectric. There are many other materials that exhibit this, all of them cheaper than quartz. Some of them are used in microphones. Many years ago they were used in headphones. The irritating buzzers used as alerts in products use the same effect.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
