Discera unveils world’s first portable handheld programmer for oscillator frequencies

SAN JOSE, USA: Discera, a leader in MEMS oscillator technology, has announced the world’s first truly portable handheld programmer for oscillator frequencies.

Used in conjunction with Discera’s programmable DSC8002 MEMS oscillators, the Dragonfly allows designers to modify oscillator frequencies from 1MHz to 150MHz in real-time for system verification and optimization in the lab or in the field.

With a Dragonfly handheld programmer, engineers can instantly modify the oscillator frequencies for their new designs, optimizing performance or verifying reliability by up-clocking systems 5 percent or 10 percent.

Engineers can also experimentally suppress interference from troublesome harmonics by easily tweaking system clock frequencies. With the Dragonfly’s easy to use GUI interface that installs on any Windows-based PC, designs using custom frequency oscillators can begin production immediately, without the special ordering and lengthy lead-times that crystal oscillators normally require.

"MEMS oscillators have significant cost and reliability advantages over traditional crystal parts over an extended temperature range. Discera’s new Dragonfly programmer demonstrates that MEMS oscillators can also enhance the design experience itself," said Kevin Keefer, Discera’s Marketing Manager, Programmable Products.

"With MEMS oscillators, engineers can pick-a-frequency to optimize system performance at the very end of the design cycle. Don’t try this with your father’s crystal oscillator."

Discera’s PureSilicon MEMS oscillators are pin-compatible with popular crystal oscillators and have low operating power specs (4mA typ. at 40MHz, and just 1uA in standby mode).

Practically impervious to shock, vibration and fractures that can damage crystal parts, MEMS oscillators now cost 20 percent less than comparable crystal oscillators and boast production quantity lead-times of one to three weeks. Discera offers MEMS oscillators in a wide range of operating voltages, temperature ranges, package footprints and frequencies from 1 MHz to 150 MHz.

According to a leading research firm, the market for MEMS oscillators is expected to grow at more 100 percent per annum through 2013 as this new technology rapidly expands its share of the $3 billion global frequency control market.

Pricing and availability
Discera’s Dragonfly Programmer is available now. Each Dragonfly Deluxe kit includes one programmer, two socket adapters, USB cable, tweezers, 200 DSC8002 programmable blanks and installation CD-ROM.

The Dragonfly Standard kit includes one programmer, one socket adapter, USB cable, tweezers and 50 DSC8002 programmable blanks and installation CD-ROM. The Deluxe kit costs $499 and the Standard entry-level kit costs $299.