Reference oscillators are ubiquitous in timing applications generally, and in modern wireless communication devices particularly. Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonators are of particular interest due to their small size and potential for integration with other MEMS devices and electrical circuits on the same chip. In order to support their use in high volume low cost applications it would be beneficial for MEMS designers to have MEMS resonator designs and manufacturing processes that whilst employing low cost low resolution semiconductor processing yield improved resonator performance thereby reducing the requirements of the oscillator circuitry. It would be further beneficial for the oscillator circuitry to be able to leverage the improved noise performance of differential TIAs without sacrificing power consumption.

A calibration system is provided for an oven controlled MEMS oscillator. The calibration system includes control circuitry that to separately selects predetermined target set-point values and controls a heater inside the oven controlled MEMS oscillator based on each of the selected target set-point values to adjust a set-point of the oven controlled MEMS oscillator. The system further includes an oscillation measurement circuit that measures respective oscillation frequencies at each adjusted set-point corresponding to each of the selected predetermined target set-point values. The measured oscillation frequencies can then be used to determine a target set-point operation value for the oven controlled MEMS oscillator, which can be sued to calibrate the oven controlled MEMS oscillator.

A tunable Q resonator using a capacitive-piezoelectric transducer provides a flexible top electrode above an AlN resonator. The top electrode can be pulled electrostatically towards the resonator and substrate, forming a frictional contact with either the resonator or the combined resonator-electrode structure to the substrate, allowing for electrical tuning the Q of the resonator. With a sufficient electrostatic bias voltage V.sub.b, the resonator may be completely turned OFF, allowing for an integrated switchable AlN resonator. Such switchable resonator may be integrated into a radio frequency (RF) front end as a digitally selectable band pass filter element, obviating the need for ancillary micromechanical switches in the signal path. The device has been demonstrated with a Q approaching 9,000, together with ON/OFF switchability and electromechanical coupling up to 0.63%. Flexible positioning of the top electrode allows for actively controlling the series resonant frequency of the resonator through changes in capacitive coupling.

A MEMS resonator is provided with improved electrical characteristics and reduced spurious resonances. The MEMS resonator includes two or more first rectangular resonator plates with lengths greater than their respective widths. Moreover, the MEMS resonator includes two or more second rectangular resonator plates that are positioned parallel to the first resonator plates in the widthwise direction of the MEMS resonator. The length of the second resonator plates is different than the length of the first resonator plates to reduce spurious resonances.

A resonator includes a piezoelectric plate and interdigitated electrode(s). The interdigitated electrode includes a plurality of conductive strips disposed over a top surface of the piezoelectric plate. A two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is excited in a cross sectional plane of the piezoelectric plate in response to an alternating voltage applied through the interdigitated electrode. The two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is a cross-sectional Lam? mode resonance (CLMR) or a degenerate cross-sectional Lam? mode resonance (dCLMR).

A resonator includes a piezoelectric plate and interdigitated electrode(s). The interdigitated electrode includes a plurality of conductive strips disposed over a top surface of the piezoelectric plate. A two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is excited in a cross sectional plane of the piezoelectric plate in response to an alternating voltage applied through the interdigitated electrode. The two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is a cross-sectional Lam? mode resonance (CLMR) or a degenerate cross-sectional Lam? mode resonance (dCLMR).

A resonator that includes a rectangular vibrating portion having first and second pairs of sides that provides contour vibration. A frame surrounds a periphery of the vibrating portion and a first holding unit between the frame and one of the first sides and includes a first arm substantially in parallel to the vibrating portion, multiple second arms connecting the first arm with the vibrating portion, and a third arm connecting the first arm with the frame. A first connection line is on the first arm; a first terminal is on the frame; three or more electrodes are on the vibrating portion; and multiple first extended lines are on the second arms and connect first and second electrodes with the first connection line. The first extended lines are connected to the first connection line, which is electrically connected to the first terminal.

A MEMS resonator is provided with a high quality factor and lower motional impedance. The MEMS resonator includes a silicon layer having opposing surfaces, a piezoelectric layer above one of the surfaces of the silicon layer, and a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric layer, respectively. Moreover, the piezoelectric layer has a crystallographic axis that extends at an angle relative to the vertical axis of the MEMS resonator.

A resonator includes a piezoelectric plate and interdigitated electrode(s). The interdigitated electrode includes a plurality of conductive strips disposed over a top surface of the piezoelectric plate. A two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is excited in a cross sectional plane of the piezoelectric plate in response to an alternating voltage applied through the interdigitated electrode. The two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is a cross-sectional Lam mode resonance (CLMR) or a degenerate cross-sectional Lam mode resonance (dCLMR).

A resonator includes a piezoelectric plate and interdigitated electrode(s). The interdigitated electrode includes a plurality of conductive strips disposed over a top surface of the piezoelectric plate. A two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is excited in a cross sectional plane of the piezoelectric plate in response to an alternating voltage applied through the interdigitated electrode. The two-dimensional mode of mechanical vibration is a cross-sectional Lam mode resonance (CLMR) or a degenerate cross-sectional Lam mode resonance (dCLMR).