ST offers a wide portfolio of clocks and timers, including legacy timers as well as parallel- and serial-interface real-time clock (RTC) ICs. These devices provide best-in-class performance for accuracy and ultra-low power consumption to address communication, networking, industrial and battery-powered applications.
Why use a standalone RTC?
A standalone real-time clock (RTC) offers significantly higher performance than an embedded RTC in the standard MCU. With a standalone RTC, an application consumes roughly 3 times less, compared to a standard MCU used to retain time. This is important in systems powered by coin cells or disposable batteries.
In a system powered by disposable batteries, a standalone RTC can keep the time using a small capacitor, when the battery is being replaced. An RTC can also be connected directly to the battery and provide all the functionalities using limited space on the PCB also improving the system security and safety.
Product types:
The industry-standard frequency generators are circuits designed in bipolar technology, low frequency and with high power consumption, while ST low power products are designed in CMOS technology, low power and low consumption and they can reach high frequency operation up to 2.7 MHz.