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

3 PCB Design Considerations

The MSP430 MCU LFXT1 32-kHz crystal oscillator is designed for ultra-low-power consumption. According to the data sheets, most MSP430 MCU derivatives consume less than 1 µA when the 32-kHz oscillator, the clock signal (ACLK), and a timer are running. Hence, the current flowing between the MSP430 MCU pins, the crystal and, if used, the external capacitors is extremely low. Long signal lines make the oscillator very sensitive to EMC, ESD, and crosstalk. Even the best components cannot solve problems caused by a poor layout.

The crystal oscillator is an analog circuit and must be designed according to analog-board layout rules:

  • Signal traces between the MSP430 MCU pins, the crystal and, if used, the external capacitors must be as short as possible. This minimizes parasitic capacitance and sensitivity to crosstalk and EMI. The capacitance of the signal traces must be considered when dimensioning the load capacitors.
  • Keep other digital signal lines, especially clock lines and frequently switching signal lines, as far away from the crystal connections as possible. Crosstalk from digital signals may disturb the small-amplitude sine-shaped oscillator signal.
  • Reduce the parasitic capacitance between XIN and XOUT signals by routing them as far apart as possible.
  • The main oscillation loop current is flowing between the crystal and the load capacitors. Keep this signal path (crystal to CL1 to CL2 to crystal) as short as possible and use a symmetric layout. Hence, both capacitors' ground connections should always be as close together as possible. Never route the ground connection between the capacitors or all around the crystal, because this long ground trace is sensitive to crosstalk and EMI.
  • Guard the crystal traces with ground traces (guard ring). This ground guard ring must be clean ground. This means that no current from and to other devices should be flowing through the guard ring. Connect this guard ring to AVSS of the MSP430 MCU with a short trace. Never connect the ground guard ring to any other ground signal on the board. Also avoid implementing ground loops.
  • With 2-layer boards, do not route any digital-signal lines on the opposite side of the PCB under the crystal area. In any case, it is good design practice to fill the opposite side of the PCB with clean ground and also connect this ground to AVSS of the MSP430 MCU.
  • Connect the crystal housing to ground.

    • Before soldering the crystal housing, contact the crystal manufacturer to make sure not to damage the crystal. Overheating the crystal housing could lead to destruction of the crystal.

  • In LF mode, the LFXT1 oscillator of MSP430x1xx requires a ≥5.1-MΩ resistor from XOUT to VSS when VCC < 2.5 V. This is used to increase the drive level of the MSP430 MCU amplifier at low VCC. Refer to the data sheet for details.

Making use of the MSP430 MCU built-in capacitors gives a simple layout, with only the crystal connected to the XIN and XOUT pins of the MSP430 MCU. The traces between the MSP430 MCU and the crystal should be as short as possible, and a ground area should be placed under the crystal oscillator area. When using external capacitors instead of the internal capacitors, the traces between the crystal and the capacitors and the trace between the two capacitors should be as short as possible. Examples for recommended layouts are shown in Figure 7. An additional ground guard ring could improve the performance.

layout_wo_w_ext_ld_cap.gifFigure 7. Layout Without and With External Load Capacitors
(XIN and XOUT Neighboring Pins Are Standard Function Pins)

Some of the MSP430 MCU have NC (not connected) pins neighboring the XIN and XOUT crystal connection pins. In that case, it is recommended to make use of the situation and add a ground guard ring around the crystal signals. This ground guard ring should have a short connection to the MSP430 MCU VSS pin. Layout examples for this scenario are shown in Figure 8. In all these examples, the section between crystal and the load capacitors is laid out symmetrically.

layout_w_ext_cap_grd_ring.gif
A. The layout on the right side includes a resistor between XOUT and VSS. The LFXT1 oscillator of MSP430x1xx (see data sheet) in LF-mode requires a resistor of ≥5.1 MΩ from XOUT to VSS when VCC < 2.5 V, to compensate for decreasing drive level with lower supply voltages.
Figure 8. Layout With External Capacitors and Ground Guard Ring
(XIN and XOUT Neighboring Pins Are NC Pins)
Examples for MSP430F41x and MSP430F1232IRHB