Abstract:
A method and apparatus for enhancing the sensitivity of an oscillator circuit functioning, in use, to sense changes in the inductance of inductive elements and/or the capacitance of capacitive elements coupled to said oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit is coupled to a nonlinear resonator for generating a comb of frequencies in response to a drive frequency generated by the oscillator circuit, the comb of frequencies having at least a portion of at least one tooth for which an absolute value of the first derivative of the drive frequency with respect to said comb frequency is less than 1.0, comparing an output of the nonlinear resonator with an output of a reference oscillator for detecting changes in the drive signal of the oscillator circuit as enhanced by the slope of the at least a portion of at least one tooth for which the absolute value of the first derivative of the drive frequency with respect to said comb frequency is less than 1.0.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for enhancing the stability of an oscillator circuit by generating a comb of frequencies in a non-linear resonator member in response to a drive frequency, the oscillator circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator which is locked to a particular tooth of the comb of frequencies produced by the non-linear resonator member at a drive frequency for which the absolute value of the first derivative of the drive frequency versus said comb frequency is greater than 1, and wherein the second voltage controlled oscillator is coupled with a phase locked loop circuit which controls the locking of the second voltage controlled oscillator to said particular tooth of the comb of frequencies.
Abstract:
An antenna system having at least one active element with a first end thereof for connection to a radio receiver, transmitter or transceiver and at least one electromechanical resonator connected in series with (i) at least portion of said at least one active element and at least another portion of said at least one active element or (ii) said at least one active element and said radio receiver, transmitter or transceiver. The at least one active element exhibits capacitive reactance at an intended frequency of operation and the at least one electromechanical resonator exhibits inductive reactance at the intended frequency of operation, the inductive reactance of the at least one electromechanical resonator offsetting or partially offsetting the capacitive reactance of the at least one antenna element at the intended frequency of operation.
Abstract:
A MEMS resonator comprising a baseplate wafer; a piezoelectric HF-VHF resonator that comprises a monolithic piezoelectric member having at least two separate spring piezoelectric support members integrally extending therefrom, each spring piezoelectric support member having at least a rounded corner; said piezoelectric resonator being attached to the baseplate wafer by said support members; wherein said monolithic piezoelectric member comprises first and second main surfaces joined by side edges; at least one of said side edges forming an angle of between 90 and 105 degrees with one of the first and second main surfaces.
Abstract:
A RF field sensor in which a magnetostrictive film is deposited on one or more electrodes of one or more quartz resonator(s) in which an electric field of the RF field is detected along one axis of the RF field sensor and a magnetic field of the RF field is detected along an orthogonal axis of the RF field sensor simultaneously.
Abstract:
A sensor includes an acceleration or magnetic field sensitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonator, configured to oscillate in at least a first normal mode and a second normal mode. The sensor further includes: a coarse readout circuit configured to drive the first normal mode, measure a motion of the first normal mode, and derive from the measured motion a coarse measurement of the true acceleration or true external magnetic field; and a fine readout circuit configured to drive the second normal mode, measure a motion of the second normal mode, and derive from the measured motion and the coarse measurement a measurement of the difference between the true acceleration or true external magnetic field and the coarse measurement.
Abstract:
A high quality-factor electromechanical resonator that includes a tapered quartz crystal member having a first tapered portion, a second tapered portion, and an active portion between the first and second tapered portions, the active portion having a first edge portion and a second edge portion extending from the first tapered portion to the second tapered portion, each of the first and second portions being tapered along a longitudinal axis away from the active portion, a first electrode coupled to the first edge portion of the active portion and configured to apply a first voltage to the active portion, and a second electrode coupled to the second edge portion of the active portion and configured to apply a second voltage to the active portion, wherein the first and second electrodes are spaced apart along a lateral axis.
Abstract:
A resonator assembly comprising a semiconductor substrate, a resonator gyroscope, the resonator gyroscope including a first resonator formed in a layer of a first material, and an oscillator on the semiconductor substrate, the oscillator including a second resonator formed of a second material, wherein the second resonator is attached in a cavity; the cavity comprising a first recess in said layer of a first material and the edges of the first recess being attached to the substrate, or the cavity comprising a second recess in said substrate and the edges of the second recess being attached to said layer of a first material.