Reference timing components, such as resonators and oscillators, are used in electronic medical devices to synchronize all signals to a clock source. In a sense, they provide the heart beat of the system. Traditional timing components are based on quartz crystals which are inherently inflexible compared to newer MEMS (micro-electro mechanical systems) timing components. Flexible and feature-rich MEMSbased timing products are rapidly replacing quartz because of the benefits they offer including higher reliability and robustness, smaller size, lower power and lower cost.
