Crystal oscillator failure refers to the situation where the crystal oscillator cannot work properly, causing the electronic device to malfunction. The crystal oscillator plays a crucial role in electronic devices as it is the core component for generating clock signals. Crystal oscillator failure can lead to inaccurate timing or even the cessation of device operation, severely affecting the normal operation of the device. Interquip will introduce to you the causes and solutions of crystal oscillator failure from three aspects:
 
I. Environmental Factors
Environmental factors are a common cause of crystal oscillator failure. Some harsh environmental conditions, such as high temperature, high humidity, and highly corrosive gases, can have a negative impact on the crystal oscillator.
In a high - temperature environment, the crystal inside the crystal oscillator becomes unstable, resulting in distorted oscillation frequency. In addition, high temperature may also accelerate the aging of device components, leading to crystal oscillator failure.
In a high - humidity environment, the metal pins of the crystal oscillator may oxidize, causing unstable connections and thus failure. Moreover, moisture can erode the internal structure of the crystal oscillator, destroying the stability of the crystal and causing the crystal oscillator to stop working.
The presence of highly corrosive gases will accelerate the corrosion rate of the crystal oscillator pins and may corrode the crystal oscillator itself. This will cause the crystal oscillator to fail.
To avoid the negative impact of environmental factors on the crystal oscillator, Interquip recommends the following measures:
Ensure that the operating environment temperature of the device is appropriate and avoid excessive temperatures. The ambient temperature can be reduced by adding a heat - dissipation device and ensuring air circulation.
Avoid exposing the device to a humid environment, such as placing the device in a sealed box or using a desiccant to absorb moisture.
For occasions with special environmental requirements, special materials or anti - corrosion coatings can be used to protect the crystal oscillator pins or the entire crystal oscillator.
 

II. Circuit Immunity
Poor circuit immunity is also one of the common causes of crystal oscillator failure. Poor circuit immunity means that the electronic device is vulnerable to interference, which directly affects the operation of the crystal oscillator.
Power supply noise is an important factor in poor circuit immunity. Power supply noise can cause frequency changes in the crystal oscillator, leading to crystal oscillator failure. In addition, power supply noise can also cause abnormal operation of other components in the circuit, further exacerbating the failure.
Electromagnetic interference is another common circuit immunity problem. High - frequency signal sources present in electronic devices may cause electromagnetic interference, thus interfering with the operation of the crystal oscillator.

Improving the circuit immunity is the key to solving the problem of crystal oscillator failure. Interquip recommends the following measures:
Strengthen the filtering and comprehensive protection of the power supply circuit to reduce power supply noise. Devices such as filter capacitors and voltage - regulating circuits can be used to reduce power supply noise.
Design a good layout of the ground wire and power supply circuit to reduce electromagnetic interference. Measures such as using a shielding cover and isolation layer can be taken to avoid electromagnetic interference.
Disconnect other interference sources related to the crystal oscillator, such as keeping away from high - frequency signal sources and electromagnetic radiation sources.