A mechanical resonator includes a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material. The mechanical resonator typically comprises an electrical circuit portion, coupled to the phase-change material to alter a phase configuration within the phase-change material. Methods of operation are also disclosed.

A resonant member of a MEMS resonator oscillates in a mechanical resonance mode that produces non-uniform regional stresses such that a first level of mechanical stress in a first region of the resonant member is higher than a second level of mechanical stress in a second region of the resonant member. A plurality of openings within a surface of the resonant member are disposed more densely within the first region than the second region and at least partly filled with a compensating material that reduces temperature dependence of the resonant frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance mode.

A resonant member of a MEMS resonator oscillates in a mechanical resonance mode that produces non-uniform regional stresses such that a first level of mechanical stress in a first region of the resonant member is higher than a second level of mechanical stress in a second region of the resonant member. A plurality of openings within a surface of the resonant member are disposed more densely within the first region than the second region and at least partly filled with a compensating material that reduces temperature dependence of the resonant frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance mode.

A piezoelectric resonator is provided that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second main surfaces; a first electrode including a first excitation electrode on the first main surface and a first extended electrode coupled to a first outer peripheral portion of the first excitation electrode; and a second excitation electrode provided on the second main surface. At least one cavity is in at least one of the first electrode and the second excitation electrode in the region where the first electrode overlaps the second excitation electrode and is within a range of a distance of four times or less a thickness of the piezoelectric element from a boundary between the first excitation electrode and the first extended electrode.

A MEMS (microelectromechanical system) resonator assembly (100), comprising a support structure (102), a resonator element (101) suspended to the support structure (102), and an actuator for exciting the resonator element (101) to a resonance mode. The resonator element (101) vibrates at resonance frequency f.sub.0 and comprises at least one bulk acoustic resonator (110a, 110b). The ESR*A*f.sub.0 values of the resonator assembly (100) are in the range from 12 mm.sup.2 MHz to 83 mm.sup.2 MHZ.