Epson Canada
Los Alamitos, Calif. – Oct.15, 2025 – Epson, a leading global supplier of high-performance components including quartz crystal-based inertial sensors and semiconductors, today announced the release of the FC1610BN 32.768 kHz crystal unit, the industry’s lowest-power, smallest ESR quartz crystal for next-generation wearable and IoT devices. Measuring just 1.6 × 1.0 × 0.5 mm, the new timing component addresses one of the toughest challenges in modern electronics: delivering accurate, stable timing in ever-shrinking devices without compromising power efficiency or reliability.
Crystals are indispensable for generating precise clock signals in microcontrollers, wireless interfaces, and sensors. Yet as devices get smaller and integrate more functionality, traditional crystals often struggle with higher resistance, unstable startup, and increased power draw — problems that can shorten battery life and constrain design options. The FC1610BN crystal unit breaks this tradeoff with an exceptionally low equivalent series resistance (ESR) of ~45 kΩ at +25 °C (and ≤70 kΩ across –40 °C to +105 °C), along with a ±20 ppm frequency tolerance.
This translates into:
- Ultra-low power consumption – lower ESR means reduced drive levels, less current draw, and longer battery life.
- Faster, more reliable startup – ensuring stable oscillation for Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), wireless links, and real-time system synchronization.
- Smaller, smarter designs – compact enough to fit between microcontroller pins, enabling tighter board layouts, slimmer form factors, or larger batteries.
- Robust stability – qualified for aging of ±3 ppm/year, ensuring dependable performance across years of use.
These advantages make the FC1610BN crystal ideal for wearables (rings, bracelets, smart glasses, hearing aids), portable medical devices (heart rate and blood pressure monitors), and compact IoT equipment where space, stability, and ultra-low power matter most.
“With the FC1610BN, Epson is enabling the next wave of IoT and wearable innovation,” said , Product Manager at Epson Microdevices. “Designers can now deliver devices that are smaller, smarter, and more responsive — without sacrificing reliability or battery life. By pushing the boundaries of ESR and power efficiency, we’re giving engineers new freedom to reimagine what’s possible in ultra-compact electronics.”
The FC1610BN crystal unit is available now in multiple load capacitance options (7 pF, 9 pF, 12.5 pF) to support diverse design requirements. Epson also provides 3D CAD models, footprints, IBIS data, evaluation tools, and RTC modules to accelerate time-to-market for developers.
Epson’s unique vertical integration — from raw quartz through advanced packaging — underpins the FC1610BN’s performance. Proprietary manufacturing innovations, including custom crystal shaping and optimized interconnect metallization, enable the crystal’s record-low ESR and stability across extended temperatures.
By minimizing resistive losses, enhancing startup reliability, and extending battery life, Epson’s new crystal empowers engineers to deliver smaller, more capable products that delight end users and stand the test of time.
About Epson Microdevices - Precision. Performance. Proven.
Epson Microdevices is a leading global supplier of high-performance components, including semiconductors and quartz crystal-based inertial sensors and timing devices such as crystal units and oscillators. Epson Microdevices integrates Japanese manufacturing excellence with marketing, sales, and engineering expertise to deliver world-class products and services. A pioneer in the crystal device market since the 1960s, Epson’s in-house production of raw quartz and semiconductors drives innovation in quality, power savings, miniaturization, and performance. For more information, visit https://epson.com/microdevices.
About Epson
Epson is a technology innovation and engineering company whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company uses technology and engineering ability to implement real-world solutions in precision innovation, industrial and robotics, office and home printing, and visual and lifestyle.
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