The ceramic resonators "CERALOCK®" utilize the mechanical resonance of piezoelectric ceramics, typically of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which provide various vibration behaviors (modes) depending on the resonance frequency.
Conventionally, quartz crystal resonators are well known mechanical resonators. On the other hand, CR and LC oscillation circuits are resonators utilizing electrical resonance.
In terms of oscillation accuracy, the "CERALOCK®" is ranked between quartz resonators and LC/CR oscillation circuits.
Quartz resonators' temperature coefficient of oscillation frequency is 10-6/°C or less, and LC/CR oscillation circuits' temperature coefficient is approx. 10-3 to 10-4/°C. On the other hand, ceramic resonators provide a temperature coefficient of 10-5/°C in the range of -20 to +80°C.
The ceramic resonators are approximately half the size of general quartz resonators.
The ceramic resonators have been designed for use in mass production by customers'. Unlike the CR/LC circuits that use electrical resonance, the ceramic resonators use mechanical resonance. Therefore, in principle, the ceramic resonators are hardly affected by fluctuations in external circuit or power supply voltage, providing highly stable oscillation without the necessity of adjustment.
The features of each type of resonator
| Name | Symbol | Price | Size | Adjustment | Initial frequency tolerance |
Long-term stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC |  |
Inexpensive | Large | Necessary | +/-2.0% | Not so good |
| CR |  |
Inexpensive | Small | Necessary | +/-2.0% | Not so good |
| Quartz crystal resonator |
 |
Expensive | Large | Unnecessary | +/-0.001% | Excellent |
| Ceramic resonator | |
Inexpensive | Small | Unnecessary | +/-0.5% | Excellent |
Basic Knowledge of Ceramic Resonators "CERALOCK®"
