Essential Electronic Components for Vehicles, Including Crystal Oscillators
Learn About the Small Parts that Make a Big Difference in Your Automobile
Electronic component manufacturers and distributors can dependably rely upon the automotive industry as a key partner. Automotive applications make up a significant portion of the electronics business, given that so many electronic components are required for the successful operation of motor vehicles, whether they’re electric cars or gas-powered.
This symbiotic relationship between the electronics and automotive industries was laid bare in 2020, when the global pandemic shifted manufacturing priorities, and supply-chain issues further exacerbated what became popularly known as a “chip shortage.” The chips, of course, refer to semiconductors necessary for several modern automotive functions. As this chip shortage progressed, and automotive manufacturing slowed to a near-halt, it has become startlingly clear that high-tech plants for the designing and building of electronic components is more essential than ever, especially as global vehicle sales are predicted to reach their peak in 2023.
There many “moving parts” required for the electronics systems in new cars, regardless of the make or model, and the engineering work behind these components – and their essentiality – in preventing another car shortage, can’t be understated. Aside from semiconductors, there are several electronic products needed for automotive manufacturing that begin with one highly abundant mineral that is as easily to collect on a hike as it is to find in a technologically sophisticated circuit board: quartz.
Learn about Electronic Components that Begin with Quartz as a Resonator Surface
Quartz – the second most abundant mineral on Earth – is known for its high quality as a resonator, meaning that it can maintain a frequency precisely and – with the proper optimizations – limit the potential disruptions and drifts that other resonators experience when trying to generate a consistent frequency. Although these drifts are experienced at infinitesimally small increments, this is more than enough for engineers to prefer quartz as a resonating surface for high performance components.
Quartz, therefore, is used in the production of oscillators which provide frequency control, as well as power, and timing solutions, for several automotive applications. A sophisticated oscillator must meet AEC-Q200 standards (standards that are required for stress resistance if a component is to be used in auto manufacturing). Additionally, crystal oscillators used for automotive applications must include quartz crystal oscillators that operate at various voltages with no disruption in service, even as battery life deteriorates.
These oscillators are used for a significant number of familiar vehicle technology, not limited to:
- Sensors that monitor vehicle performance
- A wireless link between smartphone and in-vehicle interfaces
- Road sensors, which activate safety warnings, including weather alerts
- Hands-free driving technology
Drivers who have purchased or leased a vehicle in the past five years may be surprised at how much connective technology the typical car possesses. Now that these technological advances are available in basic trim levels, the demand for these components has grown exponentially. Safety and IoT features are no longer a luxury in the typical vehicle on the lot; therefore, electronic component manufacturers of quartz crystal products will continue to be in high demand.
How to Connect with a Leading Global Manufacturer of Quartz-Based Electronic Components
When seeking electronic components that rely on quartz – the most reliable, precise, and high- quality surface for oscillators used in a variety of applications, including the automotive industry – it is important, firstly, to explore global manufacturers that have a deep list of distribution hubs that can meet your needs efficiently.
Secondly, engineers will want to work with a supplier who designs specifically for the auto industry. This will ensure that the chosen manufacturer is able to develop high-quality products tailored to automotive systems and can ensure durable electronic performance under the variable circumstances in which a car may find itself, including designing products
that are AEC-Q200 compliant for their ability to withstand adverse conditions on the road due to speed, terrain, and other forms of vehicle stress.
Lastly, go with a manufacturer, supplier, and distributor that can meet your needs quickly because they’ve produced components with foresight during the past three years and won’t have the kinds of supply-chain shortages that plagued the automotive industry during the global pandemic. This will also indicate that the manufacturing firm operates with strategic business acumen, which they likely also apply to their approach to engineering superior products. Ultimately, engineers that purchase electronic components to build the systems that vehicles today require need to be able to rely on their manufacturing partners from the ground up, so that auto companies’ customers – the drivers of the world – can remain safe and secure on the road.
