El Segundo, CA – December 9, 2008
–
Epson Toyocom Corporation’s U.S.-based Timing Products Division has announced the development
of
the world's smallest* real-time clock modules. The maximum dimensions of the new RTC modules, known as the RX-4571BD and RX-8571BD, are just 3.4 mm x 1.7 mm x 1.0t mm.
With a footprint and cubic volume that are 43% and 52% smaller, respectively, than those of conventional real-time clock modules in an LC package, the new real-time clock modules will help electronic equipment manufacturers further downsize their products
while boosting performance. Samples of the new RX-8571BD will be available in April 2009.
In recent years, all manner of electronic equipment, from compact portable devices such as digital cameras and personal healthcare products to office and factory automation equipment, have seen explosive growth in functions, features and performance, coup
led with lower power budgets. Not coincidentally, there is strong—and growing—market demand for thin, space-saving, low-power components.
To meet this demand, Epson Toyocom has developed and is on target to commercializing the RX-4571BD and RX-8571BD real-time clock modules, which are in high demand for time and date data management applications.
The RX-4571BD supports a 3-wire serial interface, while the RX-8571BD is I
2
C-Bus
(*1)
interface compliant.
The RX-4571BD and RX-8571BD, equipped with an ultra-compact QMEMS
(*2)
crystal chip, are the world's smallest real-time clock modules with built-in crystal units. Epson Toyocom was able to diminish the size of these modules by using a new structure that applies Epson Toyocom's original NPO (New Platform Oscillator) structur
e
(*3)
, wherein a crystal unit in a ceramic package is sealed together with an oscillation circuit in a molded plastic housing. Combining a compact crystal unit with a real-time clock IC, rather than providing them separately, significantly shrinks the module's
real estate requirements.
With a crystal unit built into an ultra-compact package along with clock and calendar circuitry that operates at low voltage, the modules provide and manage the clock and calendar data for electronic devices at low power. In Standby, the RX-4571BD consume
s 0.32 µA of current, while the RX-8571BD consumes just 0.22 µA (at 3 V, respectively).
The RX-4571BD and RX-8571BD help customers add value to their systems by using space more efficiently in feature-rich electronic equipment and by helping extend the time their equipment can run on a battery or charge. The modules will also pay dividends i
n the form of greater system reliability and quality, since the crystal unit's characteristics are assured prior to shipment, alleviating the need for customers to design oscillation circuits or adjust output frequencies.
About Epson Toyocom
Epson Toyocom Corporation (Epson Toyocom) is the global leader in quartz devices. Epson Toyocom maintains its leadership position through technological innovation and expertise in three critical device categories—timing, sensing, and optical devices; and
through the development of combinations of products in each of these segments. The company and its more than 12,000 employees market its products to customers worldwide through sales and marketing affiliates around the world including Epson Electronics Am
erica, Inc. in El Segundo, California.
About Epson Electronics America, Inc.
The Timing Products Business Unit of Epson Electronics America, Inc. (EEA) is the North American sales, marketing, and engineering arm of Epson Toyocom Corporation (Epson Toyocom) and provides a wide array of crystals, oscillators, real-time clock modules
, SAW products, optical devices and gyro sensors. Based in El Segundo, California, the EEA group has more than 40 sales representative offices nationwide and a growing network of exclusive distributors. For more information, please visit
www.eea.epson.com
and click on the Epson Toyocom center box. Both Epson Toyocom and EEA are part of the Seiko Epson Group, which consists of 109 companies around the world.
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