A method for the batch production of acoustic wave filters comprises: synthesizing N theoretical filters, each filter defined by a set of j theoretical resonator(s) having a triplet C.sub.0ij,eq, .sub.rij,eq and .sub.aij,eq, these parameters grouped into subsets; determining a reference resonator structure for each subset, naturally having a resonant frequency .sub.r,ref, where .sub.aij,eq<.sub.r,ref<.sub.rij,eq; determining, for each theoretical resonator, an elementary building block comprising an intermediate resonator R.sub.ij, a parallel reactance Xp.sub.ij and/or a series reactance Xs.sub.ij, the intermediate resonator R.sub.ij having a triplet C.sub.0ij, .sub.r,ref and .sub.a,ref, the parameters C.sub.0ij, Xpij and/or Xs.sub.ij defined so the elementary building block has a triplet: C.sub.0ij,eq, .sub.rij,eq and .sub.aij,eq; determining the geometrical dimensions of the actual resonators R.sub.ij of the filters so they have a capacitance C.sub.0ij; producing each actual resonator; associating series and/or parallel reactances with actual resonators in order to form the elementary building blocks.

A voltage sensor device includes an oscillator unit, the oscillator unit having a tunable bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device and an oscillator core. The voltage sensor device also includes a frequency analyzer configured to obtain frequency measurements for the oscillator unit and to determine a voltage sense value based on a comparison of at least some of the obtained frequency measurements. The voltage sensor device also includes an output interface configured to store or output voltage sense values determined by the frequency analyzer.

A system includes a tunable bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device and a direct-current (DC) tuning controller coupled to the tunable BAW resonator device. The system also includes an oscillator circuit coupled to the tunable BAW resonator device. The DC tuning controller selectively adjusts a DC tuning signal applied to the tunable BAW resonator device to adjust a signal frequency generated by the oscillator circuit.

The present invention provides tunable film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) with the resonant frequency of the acoustic wave to be excited and to be transmitted tuned by digital to analog converters which convert an input digital signal to an output DC voltage and provide DC bias voltages to the FBARs through integrated thin film biasing resistors. The polarity and the value of the output DC voltage are controlled by the input digital signal to achieve selection and tuning of the resonant frequency of the FBARs. A plurality of the tunable FBARs are connected to form microwave filters with tunable bandpass frequencies and oscillators with selectable resonating frequencies by varying the input digital signals applied to the digital to analog converters.

In wireless communications, many radio frequency bands are used. For each frequency band, there are two frequencies, one for transmitting and the other for receiving. As the band widths are small and separation between adjacent bands is also small, many band pass filters with different band pass frequencies are required for each communication unit such as mobile handset. The invention provides tunable film bulk acoustic resonators TFBARs containing semiconducting piezoelectric layers and methods for tuning and adjusting the resonant properties. When a DC biasing voltage is varied, both the depletion region thickness and neutral region thickness associated in the semiconducting piezoelectric layers varies leading to changes in equivalent capacitances, inductance and resistances and hence the resonance properties and frequencies. A plurality of the present TFBARs are connected into a tunable oscillator or a tunable and selectable microwave filter for selecting and adjusting of the bandpass frequency by varying the biasing voltages.

A tunable BAW filter device operating in an allocated channel of a predetermined frequency band includes a voltage source and multiple BAW resonators. The voltage source selectively provides non-zero DC bias voltage based on a location of the allocated channel within the frequency band. Each BAW resonator has a resonance frequency, and includes a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer and a top electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer, the top electrode being electrically connected to the voltage source via a resistor. The voltage source is activated, applying the non-zero DC bias voltage to the top electrode of each BAW resonator, when the location of the allocated channel is near an upper or lower corner of the frequency band. The resonance frequency of each BAW resonator is shifted in response to the non-zero DC bias voltage toward a center of the frequency band, improving insertion loss of the BAW filter device.

A tunable BAW filter device operating in an allocated channel of a predetermined frequency band includes a voltage source and multiple BAW resonators. The voltage source selectively provides non-zero DC bias voltage based on a location of the allocated channel within the frequency band. Each BAW resonator has a resonance frequency, and includes a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer and a top electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer, the top electrode being electrically connected to the voltage source via a resistor. The voltage source is activated, applying the non-zero DC bias voltage to the top electrode of each BAW resonator, when the location of the allocated channel is near an upper or lower corner of the frequency band. The resonance frequency of each BAW resonator is shifted in response to the non-zero DC bias voltage toward a center of the frequency band, improving insertion loss of the BAW filter device.

In wireless communications, many radio frequency bands are used. For each frequency band, there are two frequencies one for transmit and the other for receive. As the band widths are small and separation between adjacent bands is also small, many band pass filters with different band pass frequencies are required for each communication unit such as mobile handset. The present invention provides frequency tunable film bulk acoustic resonators (FBAR) with different structures. Thin film biasing resistors are integrated into the FBAR structure for DC biasing and RF isolation. A plurality of the present tunable FBARs are connected to form microwave filters with tunable bandpass frequencies and oscillators with selectable resonating frequencies by varying DC biasing voltages to the resonators.

In wireless communications, many radio frequency bands are used. For each frequency band, there are two frequencies one for transmit and the other for receive. As the band widths are small and separation between adjacent bands is also small, many band pass filters with different band pass frequencies are required for each communication unit such as mobile handset. The present invention provides frequency tunable film bulk acoustic resonators (FBAR) with different structures. Thin film biasing resistors are integrated into the FBAR structure for DC biasing and RF isolation. A plurality of the present tunable FBARs are connected to form microwave filters with tunable bandpass frequencies and oscillators with selectable resonating frequencies by varying DC biasing voltages to the resonators.

A method for the batch production of acoustic wave filters comprises: synthesizing N theoretical filters, each filter defined by a set of j theoretical resonator(s) having a triplet C.sub.0ij,eq, .sub.rij,eq and .sub.aij,eq, these parameters grouped into subsets; determining a reference resonator structure for each subset, naturally having a resonant frequency .sub.r,ref, where .sub.aij,eq<.sub.r,ref<.sub.rij,eq; determining, for each theoretical resonator, an elementary building block comprising an intermediate resonator R.sub.ij, a parallel reactance Xp.sub.ij and/or a series reactance Xs.sub.ij, the intermediate resonator R.sub.ij having a triplet C.sub.0ij, .sub.r,ref and .sub.a,ref, the parameters C.sub.0ij, Xpij and/or Xs.sub.ij defined so the elementary building block has a triplet: C.sub.0ij,eq, .sub.rij,eq and .sub.aij,eq; determining the geometrical dimensions of the actual resonators R.sub.ij of the filters so they have a capacitance C.sub.0ij; producing each actual resonator; associating series and/or parallel reactances with actual resonators in order to form the elementary building blocks.