Controllable SAW oscillator component

• US 6,653,906 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Knecht, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Terry D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRA, ANH QUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/178,108
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 331/177.V, 331/108.C, 331/107.A, 331/107.DP, 331/154, 331/68
• US Class Current: 331/107.0DP
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16 of an individual bump connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01019 Potassium [K]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0102 Calcium [Ca]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01078 Platinum [Pt]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01087 Francium [Fr]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1627 stacked type assemblies, e.g. stacked multi-cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 2201/0208 the means being an element with a variable capacitance, e.g. capacitance diode
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/326 the resonator being an acoustic wave device, e.g. SAW or BAW device

Abstract

A frequency-adjustable oscillator suitable for digital signal clock synchronization comprises a SAW oscillator circuit for generating an analog controlled-frequency signal and a sinewave-to-logic level translator circuit in a double-sided package. The SAW oscillator circuit includes a tunable SAW resonator, a gain stage for energizing the SAW resonator, a voltage-variable control input for adjusting a frequency of the controlled-frequency signal, and a voltage-variable capacitive element operably linked to the SAW resonator and responsive to the control input. The sinewave-to-logic level translator circuit is operably linked to the SAW oscillator circuit and configured to generate a digital logic output signal having substantially the same frequency as the controlled-frequency output signal. The double-sided package includes a platform with sidewalls extending substantially upwardly to form a first cavity adapted to receive and electrically connect the SAW resonator and sidewalls extending substantially downwardly to form a second cavity adapted to receive and electrically connect at least one electronic component. A cover is coupled with the first cavity to create an isolated environment for containing the SAW resonator.

Claims

1. A controllable oscillator suitable for digital signal clock recovery, the oscillator comprising:

a SAW oscillator circuit for generating a controlled-frequency output signal and having a voltage-variable control input for adjusting a frequency of the controlled-frequency output signal, the oscillator circuit including a voltage variable capacitive element responsive to the control input, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator operably linked to the voltage variable capacitive element, and a gain stage for energizing the SAW resonator;

a sinewave-to-logic level translator circuit operably linked to the SAW oscillator circuit for generating a digital logic output signal having substantially the same frequency as the controlled-frequency output signal;

a double-sided package including a platform having a central portion and an outer portion, sidewalls extending substantially upwardly and substantially downwardly from the outer portion of the platform,

the upwardly extending sidewalls and the platform forming a first cavity adapted to receive and electrically connect the SAW resonator,

the downwardly extending sidewalls and the platform forming a second cavity adapted to receive and electrically connect at least one electronic component; and

a cover coupled with the first cavity defining a hermetic environment for containing the SAW resonator.

2. The oscillator according to claim 1 exhibiting an operating frequency for the digital output within the area defined between the following two equations:

3. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the digital logic output has a controllable operating frequency in the range from at least about 622,048 kilohertz to at least about 622,111 kilohertz.

4. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the digital logic output has a controllable operating frequency in the range from about 622,018 kilohertz to about 622,142 kilohertz.

5. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the digital logic output has a controllable operating frequency in the range from about 644,466 kilohertz to about 644,595 kilohertz.

6. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the digital logic output has a controllable operating frequency in the range from about 666,447 kilohertz to about 666,580 kilohertz.

7. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the digital logic output has a controllable operating frequency in the range from about 669.259 kilohertz to about 669.393 kilohertz.

8. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the translator circuit is a differential receiver adapted to generate the digital output signal at voltage levels conventional for positive-referenced emitter coupled logic (PECL) complementary.

9. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the translator is a differential ECL driver.

10. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the differential receiver is adapted for creating a digital output signal oscillating between voltage levels conventional for 10K PECL or 100K PECL.

11. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the translator circuit is adapted for creating a digital output signal oscillating between voltage levels conventional for a semiconductor circuit technology selected from the group connoting essentially of transistor-transistor logic, emitter coupled logic, CMOS, MOSFET, GaAS field effect, HCMOS, MESFET, HEMT, PHEMT, CML and LVDS.

12. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein voltage variable capacitive element is a discrete varactor received in the second cavity and operably linked to the SAW resonator.

13. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the gain stage and the voltage variable capacitive element are received in the second cavity.

14. The oscillator according to claim 1 further comprising a laminate substrate coupled with the second cavity.

15. The oscillator according to claim 14 wherein the platform has a second-cavity side, and at least one electronic component is mounted on the second-cavity side and at least one electronic component is mounted on the laminate substrate.

16. The oscillator according to claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board coupled with the second cavity, the printed circuit board having a cavity facing surface adapted to receive at least one electronic component and an outward facing surface having a plurality of integral contacts adapted to facilitate electrical surface mountable connection to an electrical device.

17. The oscillator according to claim 1 wherein the SAW resonator is tunable and the second cavity includes contacts conductively linked to the resonator for tuning.

18. The oscillator according to claim 1 having a substantially rectangular footprint of about 5 millimeters by 7 millimeters.

19. The oscillator according to claim 1 having a footprint of an area less than about 40 square millimeters.

20. The oscillator according to claim 1 having a substantially rectangular footprint of about 3.2 millimeters by 5 millimeters.

21. The oscillator according to claim 1 having a footprint of an area less than about 20 square millimeters.

22. The oscillator according to claim 1 exhibiting an operating frequency for the digital output within the area defined between the following two equations: