A clock chip, also known as a clock circuit, is an oscillating circuit that can generate accurate motion like a clock. Clock chips are to electronic systems, just like the heart's position in the human body, to generate stable and reliable reference frequency signals for SoC, CPU, MCU, and other purposes such as computation or data transmission. Providing stable clock signals for various SoC chips has broad application prospects in fields such as 5G communication, servers, consumer electronics, and electric vehicles. The components that make up a clock circuit generally include a crystal oscillator control chip, a crystal oscillator, and a capacitor. The timing accuracy error of the clock chip originates from the frequency error of the crystal oscillation circuit, and the crystal oscillation frequency is affected by the ambient temperature. For example, when the clock chip experiences a sudden temperature drop, the frequency of the crystal will undergo a significant change. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately test the timing error of the clock chip at different temperatures. If the performance at different temperatures is not verified during the design process, there will be significant timing accuracy errors within the extreme temperature range, which will affect the accuracy of the clock in use.
To analyze the various characteristics of clock chips, a high and low temperature cycling impact machine is paired with its testing equipment to provide a fast and reliable temperature environment. The temperature range required for the clock chip is -40 to 90 ℃. The ThermoTST TS560, a high and low temperature cycling impact machine, can quickly simulate the required temperature testing environment. The temperature conversion ranges from -55 ℃ to+125 ℃ for about 10 seconds, providing strong temperature conversion testing capabilities. It can also conduct targeted testing on the required chip separately, greatly improving testing efficiency. TS560 is a pure mechanical refrigeration system that does not require liquid nitrogen or any other consumable refrigerants.
Test steps for ThermoTST TS560 high and low temperature cycle impact machine:
1. Start ThermoTST TS560, use an air compressor to pass dry and clean air into the refrigeration unit for low-temperature treatment, and then the air will reach the interior of the equipment through external pipelines for heating or cooling.
According to the testing requirements, set the ThermoTST TS560 to Air or DUT mode. In environmental reliability testing, the clock chip usually requires a testing temperature range of -40 ℃ to 90 ℃ under normal atmospheric pressure.
3. In the test, after setting the required high temperature, room temperature, and low temperature, click the Head button to lower the height of the insulation hood, so that the insulation hood can lower and completely cover the test area. At this point, the corresponding temperature range of the test begins.
4. The ThermoTST TS560 display screen can monitor the current circulating impact airflow temperature in real time, and it comes with an overshoot temperature protection system. The factory set temperature is+225 ° C. The operator can set high and low temperature limit points according to actual needs. When the temperature reaches the set temperature, the test will proceed normally.
