As an authorized distributor of Chengdu Crystal Frequency Technology Co., Ltd. (CREC), the Etamicro technical team has compiled this technical analysis based on publicly available information from Crystal Frequency's official website and authorized distribution materials. This article covers three major product lines: Quartz Crystal Resonator (passive crystal), Quartz Crystal Oscillator (active crystal), and Filter, as well as core information such as AEC-Q200 certification and IATF 16949 quality system, providing selection reference for automotive electronics engineers.
01 Company Overview: Founded in 2003, Recognized by 500+ Global Customers
Chengdu Crystal Frequency Technology Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as "Jingbao Shares", Brand CREC) was established in 2003, headquartered in Chengdu High-Tech Zone (Address: No. 8 Baiye Road, Chengdu High-Tech Zone). It is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D, production, and sales of quartz crystal frequency components.
The company has 32,000 square meters of production and operation area, serving customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Its products are widely used in automotive electronics, network communications, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, intelligent security, and smart healthcare.
The Vietnam factory is about to commence production, marking a new stage in Crystal Frequency's global capacity layout, providing more stable supply assurance for automotive electronics customers.
02 Quartz Crystal Resonator (Passive Crystal): Full Coverage of KHz and MHz
🔬 Working Principle
Quartz Crystal Resonator (Crystal Resonator) uses the inverse piezoelectric effect of quartz crystal to generate high-precision oscillation frequency. It requires external circuitry to oscillate (typically connected between the XTAL pins of an MCU/SoC). It is known as the "heart" of electronic systems.
📊 KHz Series (Low Frequency)
- • Nominal Frequency: 32.768 kHz (dedicated for real-time clock RTC)
- • Package Size: SMD3215, SMD2012, etc.
- • Applications: Automotive RTC, sleep/wake-up circuits, low-power timing
- • Load Capacitance: 6pF / 7pF / 9pF / 12.5pF optional
📊 MHz Series (High Frequency)
- • Nominal Frequency: 8MHz ~ 150MHz
- • Package Size: SMD7050, SMD5032, SMD3225, SMD2520
- • Applications: MCU main clock, communication modules, GPS/BDS clock
- • Frequency Stability: ±10ppm ~ ±50ppm
📋 Main SMD Package Sizes & Part Numbers
| Series Code | Package Size | Frequency Range | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMC-SMD3225 | 3.2×2.5mm | MHz Band | Automotive MCU Clock |
| OMB-SMD5032 | 5.0×3.2mm | MHz Band | Communication Module Clock |
| OMD-SMD2520 | 2.5×2.0mm | MHz Band | Compact Automotive Electronics |
| OMA-SMD7050 | 7.0×5.0mm | MHz Band | Industrial Grade Applications |
03 Quartz Crystal Oscillator (Active Crystal): Built-in Control Circuit, Plug and Play
⚡ Key Differences from Passive Crystals
Quartz Crystal Oscillator (Crystal Oscillator) integrates control circuitry (oscillation circuit, startup circuit, output buffer) inside the package. It can output clock signals without external circuitry, directly connecting to the system clock input pins. It offers higher reliability and superior phase noise performance.
Main Categories
🔥 OCXO — Oven Controlled Oscillator
Built-in oven maintains the crystal at a constant temperature, achieving the highest accuracy (±0.01ppm level), used in base stations and high-precision measurement equipment.
🌡️ TCXO — Temperature Compensated Oscillator
Built-in temperature sensor and compensation circuit offset frequency drift caused by temperature, ±0.5ppm accuracy, widely used in automotive GNSS and communication modules.
⚡ VCXO — Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Fine-tunes output frequency through external control voltage, used in phase-locked loop (PLL) systems, ±50ppm~±100ppm pull range.
📡 MHz Oscillator — General Purpose Active Crystal
Outputs CMOS/LVDS/PECL levels, frequency coverage 1MHz~200MHz, suitable for Automotive Ethernet and SerDes clock.
📋 Differential Oscillator
Supports differential output standards such as LVPECL, LVDS, HCSL, with strong anti-interference capability, suitable for high-speed automotive communication interfaces:
04 Filter: Ensuring Signal Purity in Automotive Communications
A Filter (Wave Filter) is an electronic component that selectively passes or blocks specific frequency components, used in automotive communication systems to suppress EMI interference and ensure signal integrity.
Crystal Frequency filter products are widely used in automotive infotainment systems (IVI), V2X communication modules, and automotive Bluetooth/WiFi modules, ensuring signal purity in RF signal chains.
For detailed selection parameters of Crystal Frequency filters, please contact the Etamicro FAE team for datasheets.
05 AEC-Q Certified System: AEC-Q200 + IATF 16949 Dual Assurance
AEC-Q200 Certification
AEC-Q200 is the stress test certification standard for automotive-grade passive electronic components, covering rigorous tests such as temperature cycling, mechanical shock, vibration, and moisture sensitivity.
✅ Crystal Frequency quartz crystal full series passed AEC-Q200 certification
Meets automotive electronics' high reliability requirements for passive components
IATF 16949 Quality System
IATF 16949 is the automotive industry quality management system standard developed by the International Automotive Task Force, serving as the entry threshold for the automotive supply chain.
✅ Crystal Frequency passed IATF 16949:2016 certification
Full-process automotive-grade quality control from wafer to finished product
Other System Certifications
06 Automotive Electronics Application Scenarios Full Analysis
Autonomous Driving GNSS Clock
High-precision positioning requires TCXO to provide ±0.5ppm level frequency stability, ensuring GNSS timing accuracy.
V2X Communication Module
V2X / Connected Car V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication requires high-stability clock sources to ensure low-latency communication.
In-Vehicle Infotainment System (IVI)
In-vehicle audio, Bluetooth, and WiFi modules require multiple clock signals. Crystals provide reference frequency for MCU and communication chips.
ADAS Domain Controller
Domain controller SoC requires high-speed differential clocks (LVDS/PECL), provided by automotive-grade differential oscillators.
BMS Battery Management System
BMS main control MCU requires precise clock for power measurement and balancing control. 32.768kHz crystal is used for low-power sleep/wake-up.
Automotive Ethernet
1000BASE-T1 automotive Ethernet requires 25MHz/50MHz high-precision differential clocks. Crystal Frequency differential oscillators meet automotive-grade EMI requirements.
07 Crystal Frequency vs Imported Brands: Localization Replacement Advantages
| Comparison Dimension | Crystal Frequency CREC | Imported Brands (EPSON/NDK, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Lead Time | Local production, 4-6 weeks | Import lead time, 12-20 weeks |
| Price Advantage | Localized, high cost-performance | Significant brand premium |
| Technical Support | Local FAE, 24h response | Through agents, slow response |
| AEC-Q Certified | AEC-Q200 ✓ / IATF16949 ✓ | AEC-Q200 ✓ / IATF16949 ✓ |
| Frequency Stability | ±10ppm (Industrial Grade) | ±10ppm (Industrial Grade) |
| Package Compatibility | BOM pin-to-pin compatible | — |
| Customization Capability | Supports specification customization | Standardized products mainly |
💡 Localization Replacement Value: Under the background of geopolitical tensions, choosing Crystal Frequency automotive-grade crystals not only ensures supply chain security but also enjoys fast-response local technical support services, making it an ideal choice for automotive electronics Tier 1 manufacturers.
08 Product Selection Quick Reference Table
| Product Category | Representative Series | Frequency Range | Package Size | AEC-Q Certified | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KHz Passive Crystal | OMC-SMD Series | 32.768kHz | SMD3215/2012 | AEC-Q200 | RTC, Sleep/Wake-up |
| MHz Passive Crystal | OMB/OMA/OMD Series | 8~150MHz | SMD7050~2520 | AEC-Q200 | MCU Clock, Communication Module |
| TCXO Temperature Compensated Oscillator | — | 10~52MHz | SMD5032/3225 | AEC-Q200 | GNSS, V2X Communication |
| OCXO Oven Controlled Oscillator | — | 10~100MHz | Through-hole/SMD | — | Base Station, High-Precision Measurement |
| VCXO Voltage Controlled Oscillator | — | 1~200MHz | SMD5032/7050 | — | PLL System, Clock Synchronization |
| Differential Oscillator | — | 25~200MHz | SMD5032/3225 | AEC-Q200 | Automotive Ethernet, ADAS |
| Filter | — | RF Band | Custom | AEC-Q200 | IVI, V2X RF Link |
Get Crystal Frequency Complete Product Information
As an authorized distributor of Crystal Frequency, Etamicro provides full-process services from product selection and sample application to mass production supply. Contact us to get datasheets, samples, or technical solution support.
📞 0512-67296568 | 📧 sales@etamicro.com
Authorization Certificate No.: KB20240008 | Authorization Period: 2025.11.01 ~ 2026.10.31
📌 This article is compiled based on publicly available information from Crystal Frequency's official website and authorized distributor materials, for selection reference only. Product parameters are subject to the original factory datasheet.
Source: Chengdu Crystal Frequency Technology Co., Ltd. (CREC) | Etamicro (Suzhou) Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. Compiled and Published