Economical quartz crystals provide the time references in real-time clock circuits for computers and many other electronic systems. Unfortunately, the electromechanical sensitivities of these crystals can cause instabilities in their output frequencies. As a result, uncompensated crystals can cause system clocks to gain or lose as much as 100 minutes per year in operation over the industrial temperature range. With timed-access communications, there's a need for accuracy and synchronization. When a great deal of information is coming in and every system time-stamps it differently, more accurate references are needed.
Watches keep good time because they're trimmed to operate at body temperature.
If temperatures are hotter or colder, the clocks run more slowly. Accuracy over temperature typically depends on crystal characteristics, and higher accuracy over temperature is achievable by trimming the crystal. Accuracy needs to be repeatable day in and day out, Cole said. Timekeeping in remote applications that operate at elevated temperatures can be significantly inaccurate. The DS32KHz is an accurate, economical replacement for standard 32.768-kHz crystals and oscillators.