Apparatus for adjusting the resonance frequency of a microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonator using tensile/compressive strain and applications therefor
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- manufacturing a resonator beam having a first end and a second end, said resonator beam suspended above a substrate by said first end and said second end, said resonator beam having a first end connected to an actuator; and
using said actuator to applying an actuation force to resonator beam to apply strain onto said resonator beam.
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Abstract
A method for varying the resonance frequency of a resonator beam is disclosed. The method comprises first manufacturing a resonator beam having a first end and a second end. The resonator beam is suspended above a substrate by the first end and the second end. At least one end of the resonator beam is connected to an actuator that applies an actuation force to the resonator beam to apply tensile strain or compressive strain onto said resonator beam. By varying the amount of actuation force, the resonance frequency of the resonator beam may be tuned. Additionally, by varying the magnitude and direction of the actuation force, the resonator beam may be used as a temperature sensor or a temperature compensated resonator.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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manufacturing a resonator beam having a first end and a second end, said resonator beam suspended above a substrate by said first end and said second end, said resonator beam having a first end connected to an actuator; and
using said actuator to applying an actuation force to resonator beam to apply strain onto said resonator beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a resonator beam having a first end and a second end, said resonator beam suspended above a substrate by said first end and said second end; and
an actuator connected to said first end of said resonator beam, said actuator applying an actuation force to said resonator beam to apply strain onto said resonator beam. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A temperature compensated resonator comprising:
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a resonator beam having a first end and a second end, said resonator beam suspended above a substrate by said first end and said second end; and
an actuator connected to said first end of said resonator beam, said actuator applying an actuation force to said resonator beam to apply a tensile strain onto said resonator beam, said actuation force dependent upon a temperature. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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48. A temperature sensor comprising:
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a resonator beam having a first end and a second end, said resonator beam suspended above a substrate by said first end and said second end; and
an actuator connected to said first end of said resonator beam, said actuator applying an actuation force to said resonator beam to apply a compressive strain onto said resonator beam, said actuation force dependent upon a temperature.
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Specification