The development history of crystal oscillators

Crystal oscillator, also known as "crystal oscillator", is an electronic component that can generate a certain frequency oscillation signal. It is used as a clock signal generator in many circuits and can provide stable clock frequency. Its development history can be divided into the following three important stages:

1. Enlightenment period: In the late 19th century, the Curie brothers discovered the piezoelectric effect of quartz crystals, which laid the foundation for the fundamental principles of crystal oscillator operation. In the 20th century, Walter Guyton Cady manufactured the first quartz crystal oscillator, marking the birth of crystal oscillator technology. In addition, the industrial production of artificial crystals has solved the key material problem in manufacturing quartz crystal components, promoting the rapid development of crystal component manufacturing technology.

2. Development period: From the 1960s to the 1990s, quartz crystals achieved mass production and were mainly used in the military field, gradually expanding to the civilian market. During this period, Harvard University professor GW Pierce developed a crystal oscillator circuit, which was the predecessor of the Pierce oscillator configuration. This circuit places the crystal between the gate and anode of a valve/vacuum tube.

3. Development period: By the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, the application of crystal oscillators became more widespread and diversified. With the popularization of electronic products, crystal oscillators have become indispensable components in various electronic devices, such as automotive electronics, consumer electronics, industrial electronics, network communication, medical systems, smart homes, etc.

Overall, as an important component in electronic products, crystal oscillators have undergone years of development, innovation, and improvement. From the initial simple oscillator to the current high-precision and high stability crystal oscillator, it has provided reliable clock signals for the development of electronic products. With the advancement of technology, the performance of crystal oscillators continues to improve, and their application scope is also expanding. I believe that crystal oscillators will continue to play an important role in promoting further development of electronic technology in the future.