APPLICATION NOTE #803 REV.

TCXO Application vs. OCXO Application

Dave Kenny

Advances in IC technology have led to enhancements in both OCXO’s and TCXO’s that have
blurred their historical differences. As technology has improved, the functionality of both types of
oscillators has made it difficult for many designers to determine which technology is appropriate
for a particular application. This application note seeks to provide the designer with a compari-
son of OCXO’s and TCXO’s to assist in making smarter selections and achieve the optimal per-
formance for a given application.

The current dividing line between OCXO and TCXO technology is about the level of 0.28 PPM
over the desired temperature range. The development of TCXO’s for Stratum 3 applications has
led to advances in stability over temperature range – approaching the stabilities traditionally
achieved by OCXO’s. With both technologies available for the application, it can be confusing to
decide which is the most appropriate for a given application.

TCXO Technology:

A TCXO is a voltage controlled crystal oscillator with a correction voltage applied to the voltage
control pin. This voltage changes with temperature to bring the frequency back to nominal. This
application exercises the crystal over the entire frequency range of the specification. Any crystal
related issues such as coupled modes cannot be corrected for and are superimposed on the result-
ing frequency-temperature curve. This makes the design and manufacturing of the crystal a diffi-
cult and critical part of the TCXO.

The majority of TCXO’s require a voltage control function. This allows for exact setting of fre-
quency, adjustments for long-term aging and the ability to phase lock the device to other sources.
This function VCTCXO, (voltage controlled temperature compensated crystal oscillator) works
by adjusting the load capacitance presented to the crystal. The changes made by these adjust-
ments should be taken into account for tight tolerance TCXO’s. The capacitors used to adjust fre-
quency have a temperature coefficient, and this temperature coefficient changes the nominal
value of the capacitors over temperature. This change has an effect on the compensation of the
crystal. In lower precision TCXO’s this is usually ignored, but as TCXO precision meets and ex-
ceeds 0.5 ppm levels, these effects can no longer be ignored. In a typical application the units will
need to be adjusted from 0.5-2 ppm for exact calibration. The device will then need adjustment
for long term stability, (aging).

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PH: (425) 776-1880 FX: (425) 776-2760
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 APPLICATION NOTE #803 REV. 1

TCXO Application vs. OCXO Application

Dave Kenny

Figure # 1 shows a frequency-temperature data of a device calibrated to exact frequency. The fre-
quency was then adjusted +/- 4 and +/-8 ppm. The plots were then offset for comparison. This
effect from the capacitors has a rotation effect on the crystal curve, and the level of compensation
is changed. The plots show the wider the temperature range: the more precise the application, the
greater the effect from the voltage control function.

Adjusting a TCXO for 1.0 ppm of calibration and 3 ppm of long term aging can change the com-
pensation by 50-125 ppb. This starts to approach 50% of the compensation limits when the speci-
fication is near or below 0.25 ppm. This can be a significant issue when using TCXO’s in high
precision applications.

TCXO-Frequency Change With controll Voltage

0.60

0.50
0.40

0.30
Nom
0.20
Plus 4
0.10
Plus 8
PPM

0.00 Minus 4
-0.10 Minus 8
-0.20

-0.30

-0.40

-0.50

-0.60
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Temp

FIG #1

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PH: (425) 776-1880 FX: (425) 776-2760
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 APPLICATION NOTE #803 REV. 1

TCXO Application vs. OCXO Application

Dave Kenny

OCXO Technology:

Ovenized Crystal Oscillators are typically used for high precision frequency applications. This
approach heats the crystal and associated oscillator circuitry to the upper turning point of the
crystal. Figure # 2 shows the part of the upper turning point used in the OCXO application.

OCXO Crystal Curve

25.0

15.0

5.0
PPM

-45 -40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90

-5.0

-15.0

-25.0
Temp

FIG #2

The crystals for these oscillators are manufactured so the upper turning point is above the highest
specified temperature range. The crystal and associated circuitry is heated to and maintains a nar-
row temperature window around that point on the crystal, and the device is tuned to frequency at
that temperature.

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PH: (425) 776-1880 FX: (425) 776-2760
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 APPLICATION NOTE #803 REV. 1

TCXO Application vs. OCXO Application

Dave Kenny

The temperature stabilized environment has some inherent advantages. This approach greatly re-
duces the temperature coefficient effects talked about previously. Figure # 3 shows the fre-
quency-temperature characteristic for the OCXO when the EFC is changed +/-4 ppm and +/- 8
ppm similar to the TCXO. The data shows the OCXO’s stability related to control voltage
changes is in the range of 5-10 ppb, as compared to the TCXO which is 50-100 ppb.

OCXO-Frequency Change with Controll voltage

0.30

0.20
Nom
Plus 4
PPM

0.10 Plus 8
Minus 4
Minus 8
0.00

-0.10
-10.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00

Temp

Fig # 3

The OCXO has the added advantage of exercising the crystal over a very narrow temperature
window, typically a couple degrees or less. This greatly reduces the chances of exciting unwanted
modes in the crystal. The greatest drawbacks to this approach are the size of the devices and the
power requirements. As technology moves forward, both the size and power requirements of
these devices continues to decrease.

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PH: (425) 776-1880 FX: (425) 776-2760
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 APPLICATION NOTE #803 REV. 1

TCXO Application vs. OCXO Application

Dave Kenny

Summary:

The data presented in this application note was taken from commercially available, off-the-shelf
products. The exact numbers will differ between vendors, but the general trends and approximate
magnitudes should be similar. The key issues to review before choosing the appropriate device is
the change in frequency stability with the adjustments necessary for calibration and long term sta-
bility, (aging). The OCXO has only a quarter of the sensitivity to these effects as the TCXO. This
should be taken into account when considering the lifetime of the product.

The following table outlines differences to be considered between OCXO and TCXO products. In
general, TCXO’s are preferred when size and power are critical to the application. These tend to
be hand held or battery operated devices. OCXO’s are a more robust product in terms of fre-
quency stability. This type product tends to be better suited for communication/network applica-
tions. Table #1 should help guide the designer to choosing the most appropriate technology for
there application.
TCXO OCXO
Current draw 1-3 ma typical typ. 250-400 ma at startup, 70
to 165 ma @ 25°
Size Typ. 5X7 or smaller Typ. 9X14 or larger
Cost Lower Higher
Stabilization Time 0.1-2 sec. 30 sec. to 4 min
VCC 3 &5 volt available 3 &5 volt available
Sensitivity to other crys- Higher, crystal excited Lower, crystal excited
tal modes over entire temp range over narrow temp range
Sensitivity to changes by Higher, see fig#1 Lower, see fig #3
EFC/Voltage control
Long Term Stability similar similar
(Aging)
Mechanical Complexity Simple, IC & Crystal Complex, IC, Crystal,
Heater & Controller
Phase Noise Similar for fund, overtone Similar for fund, better
not typically used for overtone
EFC/Voltage control +/-4 to +/- 8ppm +/-4 to +/- 8ppm

Table #1

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19013 36th Ave. W
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PH: (425) 776-1880 FX: (425) 776-2760
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