Murata Electronics Develops First Hybrid Crystal Resonator - New Resonator Combines Miniaturized, Low-Cost Ceramic Packaging Technology with the Precision of Quartz Crystal

Smyrna, GA, January 23, 2009 - Murata Electronics North America, a world-leading innovator in electronics and the largest global supplier of ceramic passive components, today introduced the XRCGA series, the company’s first hybrid crystal resonator (HCR). Taking crystal resonator design in a bold, new direction, Murata combined the space saving packaging technology currently used for ceramic resonators with a small quartz crystal element. The packaging technology allows for a miniature size and a low cost, while maintaining a total tolerance of +/-200ppm. The XRCGA series is ideal for Serial-ATA interfaces (hard disk drives, memory based drives, and optical disk drives), universal serial bus (USB 2.0) interfaces, and general microcontroller use.

"Murata’s pioneering hybrid crystal resonator provides customers with the best of what ceramic and quartz crystal technology have to offer,” said Peter Tiller, senior group product manager, device products group for Murata Electronics North America. “This ground-breaking design expands the company’s resonator market share and shows our customers that Murata is always striving to create high value cutting-edge products.”

Measuring only 2.0mm x 1.60mm x 0.7mm, the hybrid crystal resonator provides an initial tolerance of +/- 100ppm with both the frequency shift over temperature and the aging frequency shift at +/- 50ppm. This allows the total frequency tolerance to achieve +/- 200ppm. The resonator is also Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) and Halogen compliant and applicable to lead free soldering.

Murata’s new XRCGA crystal hybrid resonator series is available in 30MHz, 33.8688MHz, 40MHz and 48MHz for $0.65 (sample quantities). The 25MHz resonator will be available later this year. Lead times are approximately eight to 10 weeks.

Murata's ceramic processing technology and unique piezo-electric material has led to the development of a range of small and thin ceramic resonators "CERALOCK®", including the new hybrid crystal resonator XCRGA series. Murata also offers surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators for use at higher frequencies to complete the range of frequency control products.