Collection: Oscillators

A crystal oscillator is an electronic oscillator circuit that uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal of piezoelectric material to create an electrical signal with a precise frequency. This frequency is commonly used to keep time, as in quartz clocks, to provide a stable clock signal for digital integrated circuits, and to stabilize the frequencies of radio transmitters and receivers. The most common type of piezoelectric resonator used is a quartz crystal, hence oscillator circuits incorporating them became known as crystal oscillators, but other piezoelectric materials, such as polycrystalline ceramics, are used in similar circuits.