Ceramic resonator

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4 MHz Ceramic Resonator.

A ceramic resonator is an electronic component that when combined with other appropriate components, can produce oscillations at a specific frequency. It consists of a voltage-variable capacitor that acts in some ways like a quartz crystal. Ceramic resonators are made of highstability piezoelectric ceramics, generally lead zirconium titanate (PZT) which functions as a mechanical resonator. When voltage is applied, its piezoelectric "vibration behavior" causes an oscillating signal. The thickness of the ceramic substrate determines the resonance frequency of the device.
Contents
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1 Packages 2 Applications 3 Ceramic filters 4 See also 5 References

Packages[edit source | editbeta]

A typical ceramic resonator package has either two or three connections. They come in both surface mount and through-hole varieties with a number of different footprints. The oscillation takes place across two of the pins (connections). The third pin (if present; typically the center pin) is connected to ground.[1][2]

Applications[edit source | editbeta]

Ceramic resonators can be found in many circuit boards as they can be used as the source of the clock signal for digital circuits such as microprocessors where the frequency accuracy is not critical.[3] Quartz has a 0.001% frequency tolerance, while PZT has a 0.5% tolerance. They are also likely to be found in timing circuitry for a wide array of applications such as TVs, VCRs, automotive electronic devices, telephones, copiers, cameras, voice synthesizers, communication equipment, remote controls and toys. A ceramic resonator is often used in place of quartz crystals as a reference clock or signal generator in electronic circuitry due to its low cost and smaller size.

Ceramic filters[edit source | editbeta]

Ceramic resonators look similar to ceramic filters. Ceramic filters are frequently used in the IF stages of superheterodyne receivers.

Both ceramic resonators and quartz crystals work on the same principle: the vibrate mechanically when an AC signal is applied to them. Quartz crystals are more accurate and temperature stable than ceramic resonators. The resonator or crystal itself has two connections. On the left the crystal, right the ceramic resonator.

Like you say the oscillator needs extra components, the two capacitors. The active part which makes the oscillator work is an amplifier which supplies the energy to keep the oscillation going.

Some microcontrollers have a low-frequency oscillator for a 32.768 kHz crystal, which often has the capacitors built-in, so that you only need two connections for the crystal (left). Most oscillators, however, need the capacitors externally, and then you have thee connections: input from the amplifier, output to the amplifier, and ground for the capacitors. A resonator with three pins has the capacitors integrated. The function of the capacitors: in order to oscillate the closed loop amplifier-crystal must have a total phase shift of 360. The amplifier is inverting, so that's 180. Together with the capacitors the crystal takes care of the other 180. edit When you switch a crystal oscillator on it's just an amplifier, you don't get the desired frequency yet. The only thing that's there is a low-level noise over a wide bandwidth. The oscillator will amplify that noise and pass it through the crystal, upon which it enters the oscillator again which amplifies it again and so on. Shouldn't that get you just very much noise? No, the crystal's properties are such that it will pass only a very small amount of the noise, around its resonance frequency. All the rest will be attenuated. So in the end it's only that resonance frequency which is left, and then we're oscillating. You can compare it with a trampoline. Imagine a bunch of kids jumping on it randomly. The trampoline doesn't move much and the kids have to make a lot of effort to jump just 20cm up. But after some time they will start to synchronize and the trampoline will follow the jumping. The kids will jump higher and higher with less effort. The trampoline will oscillate at its resonance frequency (about 1Hz) and it will be hard to jump faster or slower. That's the frequencies that will be filtered out.

The kid jumping on the trampoline is the amplifier, she supplies the energy to keep the oscillation going.

To answer your question, a resonator is essentially a low-budget crystal. An oscillator is an amplifier circuit, with feedback so that it oscillates, and a "frequency determining element" that keeps it oscillating at the desired frequency. A crystal can be made for a precise frequency, and it will drift very little if the temperature or stray capacitance changes. It is also very efficient and requires very little power to keep it oscillating. Crystals are usually made of quartz, and you pay for all the above features. Resonators are made from ceramic elements rather than quartz. They do not hold their frequency as well. This may not be important for a microprocessor, but will be important if the circuit is used in a radio, a clock, or other timing-critical applications. They cost less and so are used where stability isn't as important. Microprocessors will often have the "amplifier part" built in, so that all you need to do is add the resonator or crystal. Otherwise, you either build an oscillator circuit, or you can buy an "oscillator module", which has all the necessary components in a can. You have to supply power to an oscillator module. For "don't care" levels of timing, some microprocessors allow the use of an RC circuit (resistor and a capacitor) as the frequency determining element. The Microchip PIC even has the whole thing built in.

The job of both the crystal oscillator and the ceramic resonator is to measure time. When an electrical current is sent through either one of the devices, they respond by creating an oscillation with a certain frequency, a very detailed response that scientists can use to measure time by measuring the frequency of the oscillations. These devices are used to measure time for a wide range of devices, including clocks and circuit boards.

Process

Certain types of crystal oscillators and ceramic resonators are made to produce different ranges of frequencies for the electronic components to which they are connected. The process is usually referred to as a piezoelectric reaction, which means that both the resonator and the crystal of the oscillator can take electrical energy and change it to vibration or take vibration and change it into an electrical force.
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Quartz Oscillator

The quartz oscillator is made of natural crystal, which vibrates at a certain frequency depending on the quality of crystal. The oscillator has other components, usually a transistor or inverter to manage the incoming and outgoing signals, but the crystal is at the heart of the device and serves as the "clock" for the device. The quartz is usually shaped into a disc or plate.

Ceramic Resonator

A ceramic resonator is also a piezoelectric device, but it is made of doped ceramic material and does not have natural oscillation properties. This means that the clay was combined with other elements in very precise measurements to give it properties like the quartz. These resonators are usually manufactured in strips instead of plates and produce slightly different types of frequencies.

Considerations

Generally, ceramic resonators are cheaper and stronger than crystal oscillators but not as accurate and not as long-lasting. Because a crystal oscillator has the natural ability to vibrate according to electrical input, it can be used as long as the device lasts, but the ceramic versions tend to wear out more quickly, although they can resist impact more easily than the more delicate quart crystals.