SLAA322D August   2006  – July 2017 MSP430BT5190 , MSP430F1101 , MSP430F1101A , MSP430F1111A , MSP430F112 , MSP430F1121 , MSP430F1121A , MSP430F1122 , MSP430F1132 , MSP430F122 , MSP430F1222 , MSP430F123 , MSP430F1232 , MSP430F133 , MSP430F135 , MSP430F147 , MSP430F1471 , MSP430F148 , MSP430F1481 , MSP430F149 , MSP430F1491 , MSP430F155 , MSP430F156 , MSP430F157 , MSP430F1610 , MSP430F1611 , MSP430F1612 , MSP430F167 , MSP430F168 , MSP430F169 , MSP430F2001 , MSP430F2002 , MSP430F2003 , MSP430F2011 , MSP430F2012 , MSP430F2013 , MSP430F2013-EP , MSP430F2101 , MSP430F2111 , MSP430F2112 , MSP430F2121 , MSP430F2122 , MSP430F2131 , MSP430F2132 , MSP430F2232 , MSP430F2234 , MSP430F2252 , MSP430F2252-Q1 , MSP430F2254 , MSP430F2272 , MSP430F2272-Q1 , MSP430F2274 , MSP430F233 , MSP430F2330 , MSP430F235 , MSP430F2350 , MSP430F2370 , MSP430F2410 , MSP430F2416 , MSP430F2417 , MSP430F2418 , MSP430F2419 , MSP430F247 , MSP430F2471 , MSP430F248 , MSP430F2481 , MSP430F249 , MSP430F2491 , MSP430F2616 , MSP430F2617 , MSP430F2618 , MSP430F2619 , MSP430F412 , MSP430F413 , MSP430F4132 , MSP430F415 , MSP430F4152 , MSP430F417 , MSP430F423 , MSP430F423A , MSP430F425 , MSP430F4250 , MSP430F425A , MSP430F4260 , MSP430F427 , MSP430F4270 , MSP430F427A , MSP430F435 , MSP430F4351 , MSP430F436 , MSP430F4361 , MSP430F437 , MSP430F4371 , MSP430F438 , MSP430F439 , MSP430F447 , MSP430F448 , MSP430F4481 , MSP430F449 , MSP430F4491 , MSP430F4616 , MSP430F46161 , MSP430F4617 , MSP430F46171 , MSP430F4618 , MSP430F46181 , MSP430F4619 , MSP430F46191 , MSP430F47126 , MSP430F47127 , MSP430F47163 , MSP430F47166 , MSP430F47167 , MSP430F47173 , MSP430F47176 , MSP430F47177 , MSP430F47183 , MSP430F47186 , MSP430F47187 , MSP430F47193 , MSP430F47196 , MSP430F47197 , MSP430F477 , MSP430F478 , MSP430F4783 , MSP430F4784 , MSP430F479 , MSP430F4793 , MSP430F4794 , MSP430F5232 , MSP430F5234 , MSP430F5237 , MSP430F5239 , MSP430F5242 , MSP430F5244 , MSP430F5247 , MSP430F5249 , MSP430F5252 , MSP430F5253 , MSP430F5254 , MSP430F5255 , MSP430F5256 , MSP430F5257 , MSP430F5258 , MSP430F5259 , MSP430F5304 , MSP430F5308 , MSP430F5309 , MSP430F5310 , MSP430F5324 , MSP430F5325 , MSP430F5326 , MSP430F5327 , MSP430F5328 , MSP430F5329 , MSP430F5333 , MSP430F5336 , MSP430F5338 , MSP430F5340 , MSP430F5341 , MSP430F5342 , MSP430F5418 , MSP430F5418A , MSP430F5419 , MSP430F5419A , MSP430F5435 , MSP430F5435A , MSP430F5436 , MSP430F5436A , MSP430F5437 , MSP430F5437A , MSP430F5438 , MSP430F5438A , MSP430F5500 , MSP430F5501 , MSP430F5502 , MSP430F5503 , MSP430F5504 , MSP430F5505 , MSP430F5506 , MSP430F5507 , MSP430F5508 , MSP430F5509 , MSP430F5510 , MSP430F5513 , MSP430F5514 , MSP430F5515 , MSP430F5517 , MSP430F5519 , MSP430F5521 , MSP430F5522 , MSP430F5524 , MSP430F5525 , MSP430F5526 , MSP430F5527 , MSP430F5528 , MSP430F5529 , MSP430F5630 , MSP430F5631 , MSP430F5632 , MSP430F5633 , MSP430F5634 , MSP430F5635 , MSP430F5636 , MSP430F5637 , MSP430F5638 , MSP430F6433 , MSP430F6435 , MSP430F6436 , MSP430F6438 , MSP430F6630 , MSP430F6631 , MSP430F6632 , MSP430F6633 , MSP430F6634 , MSP430F6635 , MSP430F6636 , MSP430F6637 , MSP430F6638 , MSP430F6720 , MSP430F6720A , MSP430F6721 , MSP430F6721A , MSP430F6723 , MSP430F6723A , MSP430F6724 , MSP430F6724A , MSP430F6725 , MSP430F6725A , MSP430F6726 , MSP430F6726A , MSP430F6730 , MSP430F6730A , MSP430F6731 , MSP430F6731A , MSP430F6733 , MSP430F6733A , MSP430F6734 , MSP430F6734A , MSP430F6735 , MSP430F6735A , MSP430F6736 , MSP430F6736A , MSP430F6745 , MSP430F67451 , MSP430F67451A , MSP430F6745A , MSP430F6746 , MSP430F67461 , MSP430F67461A , MSP430F6746A , MSP430F6747 , MSP430F67471 , MSP430F67471A , MSP430F6747A , MSP430F6748 , MSP430F67481 , MSP430F67481A , MSP430F6748A , MSP430F6749 , MSP430F67491 , MSP430F67491A , MSP430F6749A , MSP430F6765 , MSP430F67651 , MSP430F67651A , MSP430F6765A , MSP430F6766 , MSP430F67661 , MSP430F67661A , MSP430F6766A , MSP430F6767 , MSP430F67671 , MSP430F67671A , MSP430F6767A , MSP430F6768 , MSP430F67681 , MSP430F67681A , MSP430F6768A , MSP430F6769 , MSP430F67691 , MSP430F67691A , MSP430F6769A , MSP430F6775 , MSP430F67751 , MSP430F67751A , MSP430F6775A , MSP430F67761 , MSP430F67761A , MSP430F6776A , MSP430F67771 , MSP430F67771A , MSP430F6777A , MSP430F67781 , MSP430F67781A , MSP430F6778A , MSP430F67791 , MSP430F67791A , MSP430F6779A , MSP430FE423 , MSP430FE4232 , MSP430FE423A , MSP430FE4242 , MSP430FE425 , MSP430FE4252 , MSP430FE425A , MSP430FE427 , MSP430FE4272 , MSP430FE427A , MSP430FG4250 , MSP430FG4260 , MSP430FG4270 , MSP430FG437 , MSP430FG438 , MSP430FG439 , MSP430FG4616 , MSP430FG4617 , MSP430FG4618 , MSP430FG4619 , MSP430FG477 , MSP430FG478 , MSP430FG479 , MSP430FW423 , MSP430FW425 , MSP430FW427 , MSP430G2001 , MSP430G2101 , MSP430G2102 , MSP430G2111 , MSP430G2112 , MSP430G2121 , MSP430G2131 , MSP430G2132 , MSP430G2152 , MSP430G2201 , MSP430G2201-Q1 , MSP430G2211 , MSP430G2212 , MSP430G2221 , MSP430G2231 , MSP430G2231-Q1 , MSP430G2232 , MSP430G2252 , MSP430G2302 , MSP430G2312 , MSP430G2332 , MSP430G2352 , MSP430G2402 , MSP430G2432 , MSP430G2452 , MSP430L092

 

  1.   MSP430rep%#8482; 32-kHz Crystal Oscillators
    1.     Trademarks
    2. 1 The 32-kHz Crystal Oscillator
      1. 1.1 The Crystal
      2. 1.2 The Oscillator
    3. 2 Crystal Selection
      1. 2.1 Effective Load Capacitance
      2. 2.2 ESR Value
      3. 2.3 Tolerance
      4. 2.4 Start-up Time
    4. 3 PCB Design Considerations
    5. 4 Testing the Crystal Oscillator
      1. 4.1 Oscillator Frequency vs Load Capacitance
      2. 4.2 Negative Resistance Method
      3. 4.3 Relationship Between Crystal ESR and Safety Factor
    6. 5 Crystal Oscillator in Production
      1. 5.1 PCB Material, Quality, and Cleaning
      2. 5.2 Soldering and Contact Impedance
      3. 5.3 Environmental Influences, Temperature, and Humidity
      4. 5.4 Device-Specific Features to Support Better Start-up Behavior
    7. 6 Hardware Troubleshoot for Crystal-Oscillator Start-up in Production
    8. 7 References
  2.   Revision History

4.2 Negative Resistance Method

The negative resistance method is also called the Oscillation Allowance test or safety margin test. With this test, the ESR safety factor is measured. As already stated in previous sections, the ESR value in the equivalent circuit of a crystal (see Figure 2) represents the losses. These losses must be compensated by the amplifier in the MSP430 MCU. If the losses exceed the drive capabilities of the amplifier, the oscillation amplitude starts decreasing until it finally dies away, or the oscillator does not even start up. The ESR value of a crystal increases with temperature. Thus, the oscillator may be working fine at room temperature but may fail at higher temperatures. Also, higher humidity can increase the losses in the oscillator, due to lower parasitic resistive values. To avoid time-consuming oscillator tests over all possible environmental situations, the negative resistance test has been established. It gives a SF (Safety Factor) value that allows the designer to assess, relatively easily, the safety margin of a particular oscillator setup.

For the negative resistance test, an additional resistor is added in series with the crystal, as shown in Figure 9. The additional serial test resistance, RQ, is increased until the oscillator does not start up or a running oscillation stops. It is good practice to lower the resistance until the oscillator works again, to determine the critical value. This can be done using an SMD potentiometer that is suitable for RF, to add as few parasitic values as possible. Because all parameters and the parasitic values of this potentiometer contribute to the resulting parameters of the oscillator circuit, the final value of RQmax should be verified with an SMD resistor.

neg_resist.gifFigure 9. Negative Resistance Method With Added Resistor RQ

The test can be done during the oscillator start (Start Allowance) and it can be repeated for a running oscillator to determine when oscillation dies away (Stop Allowance).

  • Start Allowance: Resistor RQ is placed in series to the crystal. The power is then turned on, and it is checked if the oscillator starts. For each new resistor value, the MSP430 MCU must be powered down and powered up again. The highest resistor value with which the oscillator still starts is the Start Allowance.
  • Stop Allowance: When the oscillator is running, the RQ potentiometer is increased until the oscillator stops. The potentiometer can then be reduced again until the oscillation starts again. The highest resistor value with which the oscillator still runs and does not stop is the Stop Allowance.

After the critical values of RQ are measured, the OA and the SF should be calculated to allow a judgment of the oscillator stability, as shown in Equation 4 and Equation 5.

Oscillation Allowance (OA)

Equation 4. eq_oa.gif

Safety Factor (SF)

Equation 5. eq_sf.gif

Table 2 gives a qualification of the SF and is based on the experience of major crystal manufacturers. If the outcome of the investigations is a sufficient SF, then the assumption can be made that all reasonable tolerances and variations of the parameters of the oscillator externals should be covered.

Table 2. Safety Factor

QUALIFICATION OF THE SAFETY FACTOR (SF) QUALIFICATION
SF < 2 Unsafe
2 ≤ SF < 3 Suitable
3 ≤ SF < 5 Safe
SF ≥ 5 Very safe