SMD Crystals & Oscillators

A crystal oscillator is an electronic oscillator circuit that uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal of piezoelectric material to create an electrical signal with a precise frequency.This frequency is commonly used to keep track of time, as in quartz wristwatches, to provide a stable clock signalfor digital integrated circuits, and to stabilize frequencies for radio transmittersand receivers. The most common type of piezoelectric resonator used is thequartz crystal, so oscillator circuits incorporating them became known as crystal oscillators, but other piezoelectric materials including polycrystalline ceramics are used in similar circuits.