With the rise of Industry 4.0, precise timing is central to coordinating everything from the motors to the sensors used in industrial automation. Timing synchronization is vital for electronic systems, including robotics, accurate sensor measurements, functional safety mechanisms, resolving issues on the factory floor and much more. In fact, any malfunctioning of timing devices can lead to delays, errors, equipment failures and downtime. Precision timing ensures that industrial applications operate efficiently, safely and reliably.

Historically, quartz timing devices were the standard technology used for timing electronic circuits in industrial applications. While Quartz oscillators (XOs) have been the defacto timing solution, it’s well known that quartz material is vulnerable to environmental stressors such as temperature variation, shock, vibration and electrical noise, leading to malfunction and even failures. Advancements in automation sophistication drives the need for more precision and significantly increases the amount of data needed to be transmitted within a factory environment.