New products and technologies, supported by an every growing global supply chain, place AEL Crystals at the forefront of frequency control distribution Crawley-based AEL Crystals is one of Europes leading vendors of frequency control products. The company states its success is based on a foundation of solid engineering knowledge, while also providing customers with an efficient total supply chain management service. No matter where in the world customers design or production operations are located, they can be assured AEL will provide consistent quality, reliable service and globally competitive prices.
AEL recognises that many European customers are predominantly involved in research and development rather than production, thus requiring a different service to meet their needs. Experienced applications engineers are available to visit customers to discuss specifications and designs. Alternatively, AEL can assist from its UK-based head office. Sample production is scheduled on the same manufacturing lines as volume production. Once designs reach production, AEL offers continuity of product characteristics to avoid manufacturing issues in the transition from prototype to full production units.
AEL operates sales offices, offering design-in and production assistance, in the following locations: Kfar Saba (Israel), Shenzhen (China), Shanghai (China), Beijing (China), Penang (Malaysia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Plans are also in place to extend this network further into India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
AEL also offers strategic warehouse facility in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. This allows local stock holding for customers in South East Asia, helping AEL improve its service to these customers with significantly improved logistics costs and transit times. Product for high volume customers can be shipped directly from Hong Kong to global production facilities, again reducing lead-time and shipping cost.
There are currently many new and innovative developments in frequency control, helping design engineers exploit a greater degree of flexibility in frequency generation. AEL is developing a range of silicon based Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), offering alternative solutions for frequency generation. Parts will be released during 2009.
Development drivers such as improved cleanroon technology, power level reduction, increased silicon complexity, smaller PCBA size and increased RF density have led to new advances in AELs quartz-based product range.
Component size reduction continues to drive new product development, with crystals and oscillators now available in full volume production at 4.0 by 2.5mm, 3.0 by 2.5mm, 2.0 by 2.5mm and 2.0 by 1.6mm. Further reductions are being developed with 0.75mm high clock oscillators and 1.6 by 1.2mm crystals being sampled.
For tighter stability requirements 0.5ppm VCTCXO devices (predominantly for GPS or telecoms applications) have been released in the last 12-months. Also, 5ppm 5.0 by 3.2mm and 15ppm 3.2 by 2.5mm clock oscillators are available and being designed into high speed data communications applications.
Low power devices are sought by customer for battery powered devices. AEL offers a range including 1.5mA clock oscillators, 1.0V clock oscillators, 1.8V or 2.5V VCXO devices, plus 2.0V VCXO and VCTCXO parts. For designs requiring high frequency solutions, sine wave output devices to 700MHz, LVDS/LVPECL devices to 740MHz and ECL devices to 2.4GHz are available.