Rakon expands precision timing for AI infrastructure

Rakon has expanded its precision timing portfolio for artificial intelligence data centres, introducing a digitally controlled crystal oscillator and outlining higher-frequency reference clock products for optical communications, network synchronisation, and computing infrastructure.

The range includes oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXOs), temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXOs), and conventional crystal oscillators (XOs), addressing different requirements for frequency stability, phase noise, and electronic control.

Its latest addition is the Vulcan ROV7050XD, a digitally controlled OCXO currently sampling. The device supports programmable output frequencies up to 1 GHz, with stated frequency stability of ±10 parts per billion (ppb) and a frequency-versus-temperature slope of ±0.5 ppb/°C.

The oscillator incorporates an I²C control interface within a hermetic package in the 7 × 5 mm size class. Its digital architecture allows the frequency to be adjusted electronically, while oven control is used to maintain the quartz resonator within a defined temperature range.

Precision timing components serve several functions within computing and communications equipment. High-speed electrical links require reference clocks with sufficiently low timing jitter, while network infrastructure may need stable frequency and time references to coordinate data transfers between connected devices.

These requirements become more demanding as data rates increase and equipment incorporates additional high-speed interfaces. Optical transceivers, network switches, and serializer-deserializer (SerDes) circuits depend on clock signals whose characteristics influence the electrical timing margins available for communication.

Jitter describes short-term variations in the timing of clock transitions. Where those variations become excessive, a receiver has less margin in which to distinguish the intended data signal from timing uncertainty and other electrical impairments.

The effect is particularly relevant to serial interfaces operating at high data rates because the interval allocated to each transmitted bit becomes shorter. Reference clock phase noise contributes to the overall timing behaviour, alongside transmitter circuitry, receiver design, signal integrity, and the characteristics of the communication channel.

Rakon is addressing these applications with its High Frequency Ultra Low Jitter XO series. The existing RXO2520NT and RXO2016NT devices support frequencies reaching 500 MHz, with the company specifying 30 femtoseconds of RMS phase jitter and frequency variation over temperature of ±10 parts per million.

The two oscillators use surface-mount packages measuring 2.5 × 2.0 mm and 2.0 × 1.6 mm respectively. Their compact dimensions are intended for densely populated circuit boards, including optical modules and other equipment where component area and signal routing are constrained.

The company plans to extend the range with 625 MHz and 1.25 GHz devices during 2027. A smaller 1.2 × 1.0 mm package is also targeted for late 2027, extending the available mechanical options for applications requiring high-frequency reference signals.

Those higher-frequency devices remain on the development roadmap. The published 30 fs jitter specification relates to the existing oscillator series and should not be assumed to apply unchanged to every future frequency or package configuration.

Low phase noise and long-term frequency stability address different aspects of oscillator performance. A reference clock may provide low short-term timing variation without delivering the frequency accuracy required for prolonged network synchronisation, while a highly stable oscillator may not provide the lowest jitter across the frequency offsets relevant to a particular interface.

OCXOs use temperature control to reduce changes in quartz resonator frequency caused by variations in the surrounding environment. The resonator is maintained within a controlled thermal region, limiting one source of frequency drift and supporting applications requiring greater stability.

The approach introduces power consumption and warm-up considerations because the temperature-control system requires energy to establish and maintain its operating conditions. Those characteristics must be considered alongside frequency accuracy, mechanical size, and operating temperature.

TCXOs provide an alternative by using compensation circuitry to correct frequency changes associated with temperature variation. They can offer a different balance of stability, power consumption, and physical dimensions, making them suitable for equipment where the requirements do not justify an oven-controlled reference.

Rakon’s latest portfolio addresses communications, synchronisation, and processing equipment with these different oscillator technologies. Optical transceivers and high-speed networking interfaces are served by low-jitter XOs and precision TCXOs, while network synchronisation applications use digitally controlled and long-holdover OCXOs.

Network synchronisation involves distributing a frequency or time reference between equipment. Grandmaster clocks, switching devices, and network interfaces can participate in that process, depending on the system architecture and the timing protocol used.

When an external reference is interrupted, local oscillator stability influences how quickly a network element’s timing estimate drifts. A suitable holdover oscillator can help maintain acceptable timing behaviour for a limited period, although the duration depends on the oscillator, environmental conditions, and the system’s permitted error.

The Vulcan ROV7050XD addresses this part of the infrastructure through digital frequency adjustment and an oven-controlled reference. Its I²C interface enables a compatible controller to configure the oscillator frequency, providing flexibility where the timing subsystem requires electronic adjustment.

Such control can be incorporated into a wider synchronisation architecture involving phase-locked loops, reference monitoring, and software responsible for managing timing conditions. The oscillator’s published stability does not independently establish the timing accuracy of the completed system.

The company is also extending precision timing towards computing equipment, including network interface cards, data processing units, and AI accelerator assemblies. Its portfolio for these applications includes digitally controlled oscillators, compact TCXOs, and products based on Rakon’s Niku Ultra Stable TCXO technology.

These components provide reference signals for the interfaces and timing functions within processing infrastructure. The relationship between clock quality and overall computational throughput depends on the equipment architecture and the timing requirements of the associated interfaces.

AI training and inference systems also depend on network bandwidth, memory access, workload scheduling, and communication between processing resources. Improvements to reference timing can address specific communication or synchronisation constraints without removing unrelated limitations in those systems.

Wil Hsieh, Head of Products in Rakon’s Commercial Business Unit, said: “Our Vulcan ASIC platform with Digital Control brings greater flexibility to precision network timing.”

Rakon, which became part of Bourns in May 2026, continues to develop proprietary timing integrated circuits, XMEMS resonator technology, and digital control capabilities for different oscillator architectures.

The ROV7050XD is currently sampling, while the planned 625 MHz and 1.25 GHz oscillators are scheduled for 2027. Rakon has not disclosed final commercial pricing or complete device-level specifications for those forthcoming configurations.

Selection of the new timing components will depend on the required output frequency, phase-noise performance, stability, power consumption, temperature conditions, and the characteristics of the clock distribution system in which they operate.