Are BAW Resonators Replacing Crystals in High-Frequency Equipment? (.PDF Download)

Is the end of the quartz crystal near? Probably not. However, with the availability of new integrated bulk-acoustic-wave (BAW) devices, crystals are going to be replaced in many clock and timing circuits. This is something you should look into given that most engineers have to address or deal with clocks and timing circuits at some point.

Bulk Acoustic Wave Background

BAW devices have been used for years as high-frequency filters. Their small size and high Q selectivity have made them a competitor with surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) filters in cell-phone front-ends. SAW filters are good for frequencies up to about 1.5 GHz. Above that frequency, BAWs are superior up to 6 GHz or so, making them good candidates for the higher-frequency LTE and 5G cellular bands as well as Wi-Fi applications.