Microchip Technology has introduced SkyWire, a new time measurement technology embedded in its BlueSky Firewall 2200 device. The technology aims to make it easier for organizations with geographically dispersed operations to align and compare network clocks to within nanoseconds of each other, even over long distances.
The precise synchronization of clocks is critical for sectors such as data centers, power utilities, telecommunications networks, and financial institutions. These sectors require accurate timing to ensure reliable and resilient operations. SkyWire is designed to allow critical infrastructure operators to measure, align, and verify their clocks against an authoritative time source, such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
“With the new SkyWire technology solution, we’re making UTC more widely accessible so that large deployments of clocks can be independently measured and verified against each other across long distances,” said Randy Brudzinski, corporate vice president of Microchip’s frequency and timing systems business unit. “To ensure timing systems are delivering to stringent accuracy requirements, it’s important to measure and verify in an independent manner relative to UTC as managed by national laboratories and traceable to the Bureau International Poids et Mesures (BIPM).”
The technology builds on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Time Measurement and Analysis Service (TMAS), which is used by organizations that need to maintain accurate local time standards. The BlueSky GNSS Firewall 2200 with SkyWire technology is available as a commercial off-the-shelf product that enables operators to connect with the NIST TMAS Data Service for large-scale clock deployments.
“At NIST, our goal is to enable the most accurate time to support our country’s infrastructure,” said Andrew Novick, engineer at NIST. “Our TMAS Data Service in conjunction with commercial hardware, provides a scalable solution for anyone who needs traceable and accurate timing.”
The SkyWire technology can also be used internationally through Microchip’s TimePictra software suite, which offers similar features as the NIST TMAS Data Service. This allows metrology labs, government agencies, and enterprises worldwide to implement their own solutions for traceable time measurement, alignment, and verification.
Microchip has a history of over 75 years in timing technology and provides a range of products from small server cards to national time scale systems. Its solutions are used across various sectors, including industrial, automotive, aerospace, defense, communications, and computing. More information about its clock and timing systems can be found on the company’s website.
The BlueSky Firewall 2200 with SkyWire technology is now available for purchase. Customers interested in acquiring the product can contact Microchip sales representatives or authorized distributors.
