Rakon Introduces New IC-OCXO Devices with Sampling Capabilities

Rakon, the New Zealand frequency control specialist, has announced the sampling of its first IC-OCXO products, the MercuryX series. These products combine Rakon's in-house designed Mercury ASIC and XMEMS resonators, offering ultra-high stability and an extended holdover of 8 hours in real-world conditions, all in a small form factor package.

The MercuryX OCXOs are specifically designed for timing and synchronization in various applications such as AI computing/data centers, 5G, 5G Advanced, and 6G telecommunications networks, as well as satellite terminals and instrumentation.

"The MercuryX products showcase the performance gains that are possible with next-generation quartz technology such as XMEMS," says Rakon's Reza Sedehi. "The initial 1000+ samples of MercuryX have generated high interest and positive feedback from tier-1 customers."

MercuryX is the latest addition to Rakon's AI computing product portfolio, following the successful launch of Niku, Rakon's ASIC for Ultra Stable TCXOs.

The MercuryX OCXOs offer a significant improvement in performance compared to the current IC-OCXO range. They provide stability of ±1.5 ppb, frequency slope of 0.05 ppb/°C, and ageing of 0.2 ppb/day. Most importantly, the MercuryX series satisfies the holdover requirements of 8 hours for data centers and advanced telecom networks.

Rakon's development of its own in-house resonator and chip technology allows the company to have full control over its product roadmap. This enables Rakon to independently manufacture chips in its factories located in New Zealand and India, ensuring customers have a secure supply chain.

The first product in the MercuryX range is the ROM1490X, which comes in a compact 14 x 9 mm package. Rakon plans to release a smaller 7 x 5 mm product in mid-2024. Additionally, Rakon is already working on the next iteration of the Mercury chip, with a new ASIC set to be released in 2025 for further performance gains.

Key Performance Parameters of the ROM1490X:

• Package: 14.2 x 9.2 x 6.5 mm, 6-pad, SMD
• Frequency (Fn): 10 to 50 MHz
• Operating temperature: -40 to 95°C
• Frequency stability (FvT): ±1.5 ppb
• Holdover: 8 hrs
• Frequency slope (ΔF/ΔT): 0.05 ppb/°C
• Ageing: 0.2 ppb/day
• G-sensitivity: 0.9 ppb/g

Custom MercuryX products with further optimized long-term stability through advanced I²C bus digital control, GNSS 1PPS input, and/or machine learning capabilities are available upon request.

The MercuryX ROM1490X is currently available for sampling. For more information on the new MercuryX IC-OCXO specifications and availability, please visit https://www.rakon.com/mercuryX.