Temperature controlled MEMS resonator and method for controlling resonator frequency
First Claim
1. A MEMS resonator having a resonant frequency defined in relation to an operating temperature, comprising:
- a first substrate anchor including a first electrical contact;
a second substrate anchor including a second electrical contact;
a beam structure disposed between the first and the second substrate anchors and electrically coupled to the first and the second electrical contacts; and
an electrical source, coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, to provide an electrical current to the beam structure and thereby heat the beam structure to maintain the temperature of the beam structure within a predetermined range of temperatures while the MEMS resonator is in operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a temperature compensated microelectromechanical resonator as well as fabricating, manufacturing, providing and/or controlling microelectromechanical resonators having mechanical structures that include integrated heating and/or temperature sensing elements. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to fabricate, manufacture, provide and/or control microelectromechanical resonators having mechanical structures that are encapsulated using thin film or wafer level encapsulation techniques in a chamber, and including heating and/or temperature sensing elements disposed in the chamber, on the chamber and/or integrated within the mechanical structures. Other aspects of the inventions will be apparent from the detailed description and claims herein.
311 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A MEMS resonator having a resonant frequency defined in relation to an operating temperature, comprising:
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a first substrate anchor including a first electrical contact; a second substrate anchor including a second electrical contact; a beam structure disposed between the first and the second substrate anchors and electrically coupled to the first and the second electrical contacts; and an electrical source, coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, to provide an electrical current to the beam structure and thereby heat the beam structure to maintain the temperature of the beam structure within a predetermined range of temperatures while the MEMS resonator is in operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A MEMS resonator having a resonant frequency defined in relation to an operating temperature, comprising:
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a first substrate anchor including a first electrical contact; a second substrate anchor including a second electrical contact; a first beam, comprising a conductive or semi-conductive material, electrically connected between first and second electrical contacts; a first moveable beam having a first end that is thermally coupled to the first beam; and an electrical source, coupled to the first electrical contact, to provide a controlled current to the first electrical contact and thereby heat the first beam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of controlling the resonant frequency of a MEMS resonator, wherein the MEMS resonator comprises a first substrate anchor comprising a first electrical contact, a second substrate anchor comprising a second electrical contact, and a beam structure fixed at a first end by the first substrate anchor and at a second end by the second substrate anchor, the method comprising:
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passing a heating current from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact in order to heat the beam structure; and adjusting the heating current in relation to an actual operating temperature for the beam structure. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of controlling the resonant frequency of a MEMS resonator, wherein the MEMS resonator comprises a first substrate anchor comprising a first electrical contact, a second substrate anchor comprising a second electrical contact, and a beam structure fixed at a first end by the first substrate anchor and at a second end by the second substrate anchor, the method comprising:
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passing a heating current from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact in order to maintain the temperature of the beam structure at the operating temperature or within a predetermined range of temperatures while the MEMS resonator is in operation; and adjusting the heating current in relation to a calculated resistance of the beam structure. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A method of controlling the resonant frequency of a MEMS resonator at an operating temperature, wherein the MEMS resonator comprises a first substrate anchor fixed between first and second electrical contacts and a beam structure comprising a first end thermally coupled to the first substrate anchor, the method comprising:
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heating the first substrate anchor to the operating temperature; and maintaining the operating temperature of the first substrate anchor in relation to a calculated resistance of the first substrate anchor. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification