Oscillator device

• US 8,717,111 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Phan Le, Kim, Van Beek, Jozef Thomas Martinus, Steeneken, Peter Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US13/122,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 331/116.M, 331/116.R, 331/154, 310/311, 310/312, 333/186, 333/200, 333/219
• US Class Current: 331/154
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/30 with frequency-determining element being electromechanical resonator

Abstract

An oscillator device comprises a resonator mass which is connected by a spring arrangement to a substrate and a feedback element for controlling oscillation of the resonator mass, which comprises a piezoresistive element connected between the resonator mass and the substrate. The invention provides an oscillator device in which the two parts (resonator and circuit to close the oscillation loop) are combined inside one single oscillator device, which can be a MEMS device.

Claims

1. An oscillator device, comprising:

a resonator mass connected by a spring arrangement to a substrate;

a feedback element for controlling oscillation of the resonator mass, which comprises a piezoresistive element connected to the resonator mass and which is arranged such that strain in the piezoresistive element varies in response to movement of the resonator mass, and a change in strain in the piezoresistive element causes a change in electrical resistance, wherein the feedback element comprises at least two arms separately configured and arranged for connection to the resonator mass;

a driver for driving a current through the feedback element; and

an actuator for controlling the oscillation which actuator includes terminals for driving the current through the feedback element.

2. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver comprises one of a current source and a voltage source for supplying, respectively, one of a current and a voltage to the piezoresistive element.

3. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two said resonator masses coupled together by the feedback element which is in the form of a first arm of the at least two arms, wherein each resonator mass has a respective second arm of the at least two arms, one of which comprises a current input arm and the other of which comprises a current output arm.

4. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resonator mass has rotational symmetry, with at least first and second feedback elements in the form of the arms connecting the resonator mass to the substrate, at different angular positions around the resonator mass.

5. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one output arm extends from the resonator mass, for providing an output voltage.

6. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein opposite edges of one of the at least two arms define a pair of piezoresistive elements.

7. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resonator mass and the feedback element are at least a part of a single body.

8. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resonator mass and the spring arrangement are at least a part of a single body.

9. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resonator mass is a silicon body.

10. An oscillator device, comprising:

a resonator mass connected by a spring arrangement to a substrate;

a feedback element for controlling oscillation of the resonator mass, which comprises a piezoresistive element connected to the resonator mass and which is arranged such that strain in the piezoresistive element varies in response to movement of the resonator mass, and a change in strain in the piezoresistive element causes a change in electrical resistance;

a driver for driving a current through the feedback element; and

an actuator for controlling the oscillation which actuator includes terminals for driving the current through the feedback element, wherein the resonator mass is connected to the substrate by at least two arms which together form the spring arrangement, wherein a first arm comprises the piezoresistive element and a second arm comprises a current return path for the piezoresistive element, and the second arm forms part of the feedback element from which any piezoresistive effect is negligible relative to a piezoelectric effect due to the first arm.

11. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising two said resonator masses coupled together by the at least two arms, with a mid point of each arm being coupled to the substrate.

12. An oscillator device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first, piezoresistive element arm is smaller in cross section than the second arm.

13. An oscillator device comprising:

a resonator mass;

a spring arrangement that connects the resonator mass to a substrate, the spring arrangement having a first arm including a piezoresistive element connected to the resonator mass and a second arm providing a current return path for the piezoresistive element, the first arm being doped with a first doping level, and the second arm being doped with a second, higher doping level;

a feedback element configured and arranged to control oscillation of the resonator mass, the feedback element including the piezoresistive element and configured and arranged to exhibit a change in electrical resistance in response to strain in the piezoresistive element that varies in response to movement of the resonator mass;

a driver configured and arranged to drive a current through the feedback element; and

an actuator including terminals for driving the current through the feedback element to control the oscillation.

14. A method of generating an oscillating signal, comprising:

driving a current through a piezoresistive element using terminals which function as an actuator controlling oscillation;

controlling oscillation of a resonator mass using the piezoresistive element using a feedback arrangement in which at least two arms are separately configured and arranged for connection to the resonator mass, which is arranged such that strain in the piezoresistive element varies in response to movement of the resonator mass, and a change in strain in the piezoresistive element causes a change in electrical resistance and thereby controlling oscillation of the resonator mass; and

sensing a movement of the resonator mass to derive the oscillating signal.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a resonator connected to a substrate by a spring arrangement having first and second arms, the first arm having a piezoresistive feedback circuit, the second arm being larger in cross section than the first arm, the piezoresistive feedback circuit being configured and arranged to regulate oscillation of the resonator by changing in electrical resistance in response to strain variations caused by movement of the resonator; and

an actuator circuit having terminals connected to the first and second arms and configured and arranged to oscillate the resonator by driving a current through the feedback circuit, the current being returned to the actuator circuit via second arm.