Size counts

Technology is shrinking and, as with any other component, the electronics industry is being driven to reduce product footprint for a number of reasons. But miniaturisation comes with a price, and nowhere is the effect felt more keenly than in frequency control product (FCP) manufacture. However, innovative techniques have shown that suppliers are tuning into increasing customer demands for a smaller footprint, without compromising performance. A glance at the latest trends confirms that miniaturisation is a big deal. Stefan Hartmann, senior manager of Epson Electronics Europe’s QD division, begins: “There is an increasing trend towards miniaturisation as manufacturers pack more functionality into smaller devices such as mobile phones. This places certain manufacturing demands on the physical size of quartz devices, crystal oscillators and filters.” Manufacturers are then faced with a number of exacting requirements in size and performance. But, because many of the applications are now handheld and certainly very mobile, the effect of both shock and vibration must be considered in the specifications.