Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having resonators
First Claim
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1. A method of tuning a device having a mechanical resonator, the method comprising:
- receiving an output signal of the mechanical resonator operating in a resonance condition;
producing a phase-shifted signal from the output signal, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises generating, from the output signal, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount; and
inputting the phase-shifted signal to the mechanical resonator,wherein the output signal is a first end of a differential signal and wherein the method further comprises generating, from a second end of the differential signal, a third signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a third non-zero amount and a fourth signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a fourth non-zero amount.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having resonators are described. Phase shifters are included in the circuits and used to shift the phase of the output signal(s) of the resonators. In some implementations, the phase shifters are configured in a feedback loop with the resonators. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS).
65 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of tuning a device having a mechanical resonator, the method comprising:
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receiving an output signal of the mechanical resonator operating in a resonance condition; producing a phase-shifted signal from the output signal, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises generating, from the output signal, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount; and inputting the phase-shifted signal to the mechanical resonator, wherein the output signal is a first end of a differential signal and wherein the method further comprises generating, from a second end of the differential signal, a third signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a third non-zero amount and a fourth signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a fourth non-zero amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of tuning a device having a mechanical resonator, the method comprising:
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receiving an output signal of the mechanical resonator operating in a resonance condition; producing a phase-shifted signal from the output signal wherein, producing the phase-shifted signal comprises generating, from the output signal, a first signal to the phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount; and inputting the phase-shifted signal to the mechanical resonator, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises amplitude weighting the first signal and second signal by different amounts, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises combining the first signal and second signal subsequent to amplitude weighting the first signal and second signal by different amounts, and wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises limiting an amplitude of the first signal and/or the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of tuning a device having a mechanical resonator, the method comprising:
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receiving an output signal of the mechanical resonator operating in a resonance condition; producing a phase-shifted signal from the output signal, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises generating, from the output signal, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount; and inputting the phase-shifted signal to the mechanical resonator, wherein the output signal of the mechanical resonator is a multi-ended signal comprising a first end and a second end and wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises phase-shifting the first end relative to the second end, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises amplitude weighting the first end and second end by different amounts, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises limiting an amplitude of the first end and/or the second end. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of tuning a device having a mechanical resonator, the method comprising:
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receiving an output signal of the mechanical resonator operating in a resonance condition; producing a phase-shifted signal from the output signal, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises generating, from the output signal, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount; and inputting the phase-shifted signal to the mechanical resonator, wherein the output signal of the mechanical resonator is a multi-ended signal comprising a first end and a second end and wherein producing the phase-shifted signal comprises phase-shifting the first end relative to the second end, wherein producing the phase-shifted signal further comprises adding signals resulting from phase-shifting the first end relative to the second end using a differential summation circuit.
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16. A device, comprising:
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a mechanical resonator configured to operate in a resonance condition; and a processing circuit coupled to the mechanical resonator and configured to; receive an output signal of the mechanical resonator, produce a phase-shifted signal shifted in phase relative to the output signal by generating, from the output signal and using a phase shifter, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount, and provide the phase-shifted signal to an input of the mechanical resonator, wherein the output signal is a first end of a differential signal and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate, from a second end of the differential signal, a third signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a third non-zero amount and a fourth signal phase-shifted relative to the second end by a fourth non-zero amount. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 26)
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20. A device, comprising:
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a mechanical resonator configured to operate in a resonance condition; and a processing circuit coupled to the mechanical resonator and configured to; receive an output signal of the mechanical resonator, produce a phase-shifted signal shifted in phase relative to the output signal by generating, from the output signal and using a phase shifter, a first signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a first non-zero amount and a second signal phase-shifted relative to the output signal by a second non-zero amount differing from the first non-zero amount, and provide the phase-shifted signal of the mechanical resonator, wherein the processing circuit further comprises a gain circuit coupled to the phase shifter and configured to modify an amplitude of the first signal by a different amount than an amplitude of the second signal, wherein the processing circuit further comprises a combination circuit configured to combine the first signal and second signal subsequent to operation of the phase shifter and gain circuit, wherein the processing circuit further comprises a limiter configured to limit an amplitude of the first signal and/or the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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27. A device, comprising:
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a differential mechanical resonator having an output and configured to produce a differential output signal; and a processing circuit comprising a phase shifter coupled directly to the output of the differential mechanical resonator and configured to receive the differential output signal and generate a phase-shifted differential signal, the processing circuit further configured to provide the phase-shifted differential signal to a differential input of the differential mechanical resonator, wherein the phase shifter comprises; a first input port; a second input port, wherein the first and second input ports are configured to receive the differential output signal; and three output ports configured to provide three respective output signals of substantially equal amplitude and different phase, wherein the phase shifter comprises an RC network including a fixed value resistor and a fixed value capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the resistor is connected to a first terminal of the capacitor and to a first of the three output ports of the phase shifter, wherein a second terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first input port of the phase shifter and a second of the three output ports of the phase shifter, wherein a second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the second input port of the phase shifter and a third of the three output ports of the phase shifter, wherein the resistor has a resistance value approximately equal to a negative reactance of the capacitor.
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28. A device, comprising:
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a differential mechanical resonator having an output and configured to produce a differential output signal; and a processing circuit comprising a phase shifter coupled directly to the output of the differential mechanical resonator and configured to receive the differential output signal and generate a phase-shifted differential signal, the processing circuit further configured to provide the phase-shifted differential signal to a differential input of the differential mechanical resonator, wherein the phase shifter comprises; a first input port; a second input port, wherein the first and second input ports are configured to receive the differential output signal; and three output ports configured to provide three respective output signals of substantially equal amplitude and different phase, wherein the phase shifter does not include a variable capacitor.
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Specification