Crystal oscillator facts for kids

A crystal oscillator, or system crystal, is a part of a computer. The computer uses it like a clock to keep track of time.

Images for kids

Quartz crystal resonator (left) and quartz crystal oscillator (right)
100 kHz crystal oscillators at the US National Bureau of Standards that served as the frequency standard for the United States in 1929
Very early Bell Labs crystals from Vectron International Collection
A crystal used in hobby radio control equipment to select frequency.
Inside a modern DIP package quartz crystal oscillator module. It includes a ceramic PCB base, oscillator, divider chip (/8), bypass capacitor, and an AT cut crystal.
Internals of a quartz crystal.
25 MHz crystal exhibiting spurious response
Common package types for quartz crystal products
Cluster of natural quartz crystals
A synthetic quartz crystal grown using hydrothermal synthesis, about 19 cm long and weighing about 127 g
Tuning-fork crystal used in a modern quartz watch
Simple quartz crystal
Inside construction of an HC-49 package quartz crystal
Flexural and thickness-shear crystals