By Graham K. Rogers

Many of today's communication devices, like smartphones, tablet computers and digital cameras will include quartz crystal technology, which is typically used for clock and sub-clock (sleep and timer) applications. The 32.768-kHz crystal oscillators made by Epson are widely used by manufacturers of such devices.

The company has recently announced its newest integrated crystal resonator and oscillation circuit: the SG-3030CM. This solution consumes the same amount of current and has a 50% smaller footprint and 65% smaller cubic volume than its predecessor, the Epson SG-3030LC. The SG-3030CM measures 3.2 mm x 1.5 mm and has a maximum thickness of 0.9 mm.

Masayuki Kitamura, chief operating officer of Epson's Microdevices Operations Division said, "We are delighted to announce the SG-3030CM, and are confident that it meets the needs of our customers," adding, "As a leader in crystal devices, Epson will continue to provide the kind of compact, accurate, stable products required in electronics and social infrastructures"

Epson has provided online information and specifications about the SG-3030CM at its website.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.