Micro-machined resonator oscillator

• US 5,339,051 A
• Filed: 03/30/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bivens, Hugh M., Koehler, Dale R., Sniegowski, Jeffry J., Wessendorf, Kurt O.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US08/039,638
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 331/65, 331/66, 331/116 R, 331/116 FE, 331/116 M, 331/158, 331/185, 331/D163, 331/68, 331/74, 331/108 C, 310/318, 310/319, 324/652, 324/727, 343/718, 455/92, 455/100, 455/128, 455/129
• US Class Current: 331/65
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/1035 the enclosure being defined by two sealing substrates sandwiching the piezoelectric layer of the BAW device

Abstract

A micro-miniature resonator-oscillator is disclosed. Due to the miniaturization of the resonator-oscillator, oscillation frequencies of one MHz and higher are utilized. A thickness-mode quartz resonator housed in a micro-machined silicon package and operated as a "telemetered sensor beacon" that is, a digital, self-powered, remote, parameter measuring-transmitter in the FM-band. The resonator design uses trapped energy principles and temperature dependence methodology through crystal orientation control, with operation in the 20-100 MHz range. High volume batch-processing manufacturing is utilized, with package and resonator assembly at the wafer level. Unique design features include squeeze-film damping for robust vibration and shock performance, capacitive coupling through micro-machined diaphragms allowing resonator excitation at the package exterior, circuit integration and extremely small (0.1 in. square) dimensioning. A family of micro-miniature sensor beacons is also disclosed with widespread applications as bio-medical sensors, vehicle status monitors and high-volume animal identification and health sensors. The sensor family allows measurement of temperatures, chemicals, acceleration and pressure. A microphone and clock realization is also available.

Claims

1. A resonator-oscillator apparatus, remote from a data receiving apparatus, comprising:

a micro-machined housing comprising a resonator-oscillator means with a frequency of oscillation of greater than approximately one (1) MHz;

means for activating a power source of said resonator-oscillator means; and

sensor apparatus output means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said resonator-oscillator means comprises quartz resonator-oscillator means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises circuit means fabricated into said resonator-oscillator means.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising measuring means comprising means for changing a frequency of said resonator-oscillator means caused by environmental changes to said resonator-oscillator means.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises means for quantifying a perturbance of a frequency of oscillation of said resonator-oscillator means.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means for quantifying a perturbance comprises means for changing a capacitance of an oscillator circuit.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises acceleration measurement means.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said acceleration measurement means comprises means for affixing a predetermined mass on a diaphragm means.

9. The invention of claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises pressure measurement means.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said pressure measurement means comprises a diaphragm means exposed to an environment to be measured.

11. The invention of claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises chemical measurement means.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said chemical measurement means comprises means for coating at least one vibrating surface of said resonator-oscillator means with a chemically sensitive film.

13. The invention of claim 4 wherein said measuring means comprises temperature measurement means.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said temperature measurement means comprises a frequency-temperature sensitive resonator plate means.

15. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for activating further comprises means for activating said power source on a duty cycle.

16. The invention of claim 1 further comprising an energy source affixed to said resonator-oscillator means.

17. The invention of claim 1 further comprising an external energy source independent of said resonator-oscillator means.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor apparatus output means comprises means for radiating electro-magnetic energy.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said means for radiating electro-magnetic energy further comprises antenna means.

20. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor apparatus output means comprises sonic wave transmission means.

21. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor apparatus output means comprises tag means.

22. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor apparatus output means comprises clock means.

45. A method of measuring parameters of and providing for identification of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the apparatus of claim 1 to an object;

b) generating an output from the apparatus indicating at least one predetermined parameter.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of providing an apparatus comprises providing the apparatus to an animate object.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of generating an output comprises measuring parameters.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of generating an output comprises sending data identifying the object.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of generating an output comprises at least one of the following steps:

a) identifying a tire;

b) measuring a pressure of the tire;

c) measuring a temperature of the tire; and

d) counting revolutions of the tire.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of generating an output comprises at least one of the following steps:

a) measuring a pressure in a well;

b) measuring acceleration in the well;

c) measuring temperature in the well; and

d) measuring chemicals in the well.

51. The invention of claim 45 wherein the step of generating an output comprises monitoring a site for chemical quantification.

23. A method of utilizing a resonator-oscillator remote from a data receiving apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a micro-machined housing comprising a resonator-oscillator with a frequency of oscillation of greater than approximately one (1) MHz to an object;

b) activating a power source of the resonator-oscillator; and

c) providing a sensor apparatus output.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a micro-machined housing comprising a resonator-oscillator to an object comprises providing a quartz resonator-oscillator.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of activating a power source comprises integrating a power source circuit into the resonator-oscillator.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of measuring a change in frequency of the resonator-oscillator caused by environmental changes to the resonator-oscillator.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of measuring comprises quantifying a perturbance of a frequency of oscillation of the resonator-oscillator.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of quantifying a perturbance comprises changing a capacitance of an oscillator circuit.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of measuring comprises measuring acceleration.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of measuring acceleration comprises affixing a predetermined mass on a diaphragm.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of measuring comprises measuring pressure.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of measuring pressure comprises exposing a diaphragm to an environment to be measured.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of measuring comprises measuring for a chemical.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of measuring for a chemical comprises coating at least one vibrating surface of the resonator-oscillator with a chemically sensitive film.

35. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of measuring comprises measuring a temperature.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of measuring a temperature comprises utilizing a frequency-temperature sensitive resonator plate.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of activating a power source comprises activating the power source on a duty cycle.

38. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of utilizing an internal energy source affixed to the resonator-oscillator.

39. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of utilizing an external energy source independent of the resonator-oscillator.

40. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a sensor apparatus output comprises providing radiated electro-magnetic energy.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of providing radiated electro-magnetic energy further comprises utilizing an antenna.

42. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a sensor apparatus output comprises utilizing sonic wave transmission.

43. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a sensor apparatus output comprises providing a tag.

44. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a sensor apparatus output comprises providing a clock.