The specification relates to an RF filter in which characteristic filter variables have a decreased dependency on tuning. A filter in this case comprises series-interconnected basic elements that each have an electroacoustic resonator and impedance converters interconnected in series between the basic elements.

A filter circuit comprises a main operating unit (MU) arranged in the series signal line providing most of the filter function of the filter circuit. A micro acoustic last series resonator (RL.sub.s) as a last element of the main operating unit in the series signal line is prone to excite a spurious mode that is damped with a final series capacitance (CE.sub.s) circuited between the last element and the antenna terminal (AT).

RF filtering circuitry comprises a first node, a second node, and a series signal path between the first node and the second node. A number of acoustic resonators are coupled to one or more of the first node and the second node via the series signal path. A first one of the acoustic resonators is associated with a first quality factor and a first electromechanical coupling coefficient. A second one of the acoustic resonators is associated with a second quality factor and a second electromechanical coupling coefficient. The first quality factor is different from the second quality factor and the first electromechanical coupling coefficient is different from the second electromechanical coupling coefficient.

Acoustic resonator devices and filters are disclosed. An acoustic resonator includes a substrate and a piezoelectric plate supported by the substrate. A portion of the piezoelectric plate suspended across a cavity in the substrate forms a diaphragm. A decoupling dielectric layer is on a front surface of the diaphragm. An interdigital transducer (IDT) has interleaved fingers on the decoupling dielectric layer over the diaphragm. The IDT and piezoelectric plate are configured such that a radio frequency signal applied to the IDT excites shear acoustic waves in the diaphragm.

An RF diplexer circuit device using modified lattice, lattice, and ladder circuit topologies. The diplexer can include a pair of filter circuits, each with a plurality of series resonator devices and shunt resonator devices. In the ladder topology, the series resonator devices are connected in series while shunt resonator devices are coupled in parallel to the nodes between the resonator devices. In the lattice topology, a top and a bottom serial configurations each includes a plurality of series resonator devices, and a pair of shunt resonators is cross-coupled between each pair of a top serial configuration resonator and a bottom serial configuration resonator. The modified lattice topology adds baluns or inductor devices between top and bottom nodes of the top and bottom serial configurations of the lattice configuration. A multiplexing device or inductor device can be configured to select between the signals coming through the first and second filter circuits.

Acoustic resonators, acoustic filter devices and methods of making the same. An acoustic resonator device includes a piezoelectric plate having front and back surfaces, an interdigital transducer (IDT) on the front surface including interleaved fingers extending alternately from opposed first and second busbars, an overlapping distance of the interleaved fingers defining an aperture of the acoustic resonator device, and a dielectric layer formed over and between the interleaved fingers, wherein the dielectric layer extends from between an edge of the aperture and the first busbar to between the an opposite edge of the aperture and the second busbar.

An RF diplexer circuit device using modified lattice, lattice, and ladder circuit topologies. The diplexer can include a pair of filter circuits, each with a plurality of series resonator devices and shunt resonator devices. In the ladder topology, the series resonator devices are connected in series while shunt resonator devices are coupled in parallel to the nodes between the resonator devices. In the lattice topology, a top and a bottom serial configurations each includes a plurality of series resonator devices, and a pair of shunt resonators is cross-coupled between each pair of a top serial configuration resonator and a bottom serial configuration resonator. The modified lattice topology adds baluns or inductor devices between top and bottom nodes of the top and bottom serial configurations of the lattice configuration. A multiplexing device or inductor device can be configured to select between the signals coming through the first and second filter circuits.

An RF diplexer circuit device using modified lattice, lattice, and ladder circuit topologies. The diplexer can include a pair of filter circuits, each with a plurality of series resonator devices and shunt resonator devices. In the ladder topology, the series resonator devices are connected in series while shunt resonator devices are coupled in parallel to the nodes between the resonator devices. In the lattice topology, a top and a bottom serial configurations each includes a plurality of series resonator devices, and a pair of shunt resonators is cross-coupled between each pair of a top serial configuration resonator and a bottom serial configuration resonator. The modified lattice topology adds baluns or inductor devices between top and bottom nodes of the top and bottom serial configurations of the lattice configuration. A multiplexing device or inductor device can be configured to select between the signals coming through the first and second filter circuits.

Filter devices and methods of fabrication are disclosed. An acoustic filter device includes a substrate and a piezoelectric plate, a first portion of the piezoelectric plate spanning a first cavity in the substrate and a second portion of the piezoelectric plate spanning a second cavity in the substrate. A decoupling dielectric layer on a front surface of the first and second portions of the piezoelectric plate has a first thickness td1 on the first portion and a second thickness td2, greater than the first thickness, on the second portion. Interleaved fingers of a first interdigital transducer (IDT) are on the decoupling dielectric layer over the first portion of the piezoelectric plate, and interleaved fingers of a second IDT are on the decoupling dielectric layer over the second portion of the piezoelectric plate.

In an array of single crystal acoustic resonators, the effective coupling coefficient of first and second strained single crystal filters are individually tailored in order to achieve desired frequency responses. In a duplexer embodiment, the effective coupling coefficient of a transmit band-pass filter is lower than the effective coupling coefficient of a receive band-pass filter of the same duplexer. The coefficients can be tailored by varying the ratio of the thickness of a piezoelectric layer to the total thickness of electrode layers or by forming a capacitor in parallel with an acoustic resonator within the filter for which the effective coupling coefficient is to be degraded. Further, a strained piezoelectric layer can be formed overlying a nucleation layer characterized by initial surface etching and piezoelectric layer deposition parameters being configured to modulate a strain condition in the strained piezoelectric layer to adjust piezoelectric properties for improved performance in specific applications.