A semiconductor device includes an electronic component that includes an oscillator and has terminals on one face. A semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the electronic component and also includes terminals on one face thereof. The electronic component and the semiconductor chip are mounted to a mounting base such that the terminals of the electronic component and the terminals of the semiconductor chip face in the same direction. First bonding wires are connected to the terminals of the semiconductor chip, and second bonding wires having an apex height smaller than that of the first bonding wires connect the terminals of the electronic component to the terminals of the semiconductor chip. A sealing member completely seals within at least the electronic component.

A semiconductor device includes an electronic component that includes an oscillator and has terminals on one face. A semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the electronic component and also includes terminals on one face thereof. The electronic component and the semiconductor chip are mounted to a mounting base such that the terminals of the electronic component and the terminals of the semiconductor chip face in the same direction. First bonding wires are connected to the terminals of the semiconductor chip, and second bonding wires having an apex height smaller than that of the first bonding wires connect the terminals of the electronic component to the terminals of the semiconductor chip. A sealing member completely seals within at least the electronic component.

A quartz crystal unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second tuning fork arms connected to the base portion, the base portion having a length less than 0.5 mm and greater than a spaced-apart distance between the first and second tuning fork arms, each of the first and second tuning fork arms having a width less than 0.1 mm and a length less than 1.56 mm, and a plurality of different widths including a first width and a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork arms so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 0.3 mm to 0.79 mm, the quartz crystal resonator being housed in a case, and a lid being connected to the case.

A quartz crystal unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second tuning fork arms connected to the base portion, the base portion having a length less than 0.5 mm and greater than a spaced-apart distance between the first and second tuning fork arms, each of the first and second tuning fork arms having a width less than 0.1 mm and a length less than 1.56 mm, and a plurality of different widths including a first width and a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork arms so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 0.3 mm to 0.79 mm, the quartz crystal resonator being housed in a case, and a lid being connected to the case.

A method for operating a drive unit having an active element with a resonator and an excitation structure for exciting oscillations in the resonator and thereby driving a passive element. The method includes driving the excitation structure with a driving signal, the driving signal being a periodic signal having driving pulses repeated with an excitation frequency. Depending on a control signal, modifying the driving signal, if the control signal is within a first range, by modifying the excitation frequency or modifying the shape of the driving pulses and, if the control signal is within a second range, repeatedly omitting driving pulses.

A system includes a power driver, configured to generate an electric excitation; an oscillating system, configured to perform an oscillation induced by the electric excitation; a feedback detector, configured to detect a feedback measurement signal with to the oscillation; and a controller configured to operate: in a closed loop mode, to control the power driver to generate the electric excitation as a discontinuous electric excitation according to timing information obtained from the detected feedback measurement signal, to synchronize the discontinuous electric excitation with the detected feedback measurement signal; in a learning mode preceding the closed loop mode, to control the power driver to generate the electric excitation as a continuous electric excitation, to obtain timing information from the feedback measurement signal to be used, at least once, in the subsequent closed loop mode, to synchronize the discontinuous electric excitation with the detected feedback measurement signal.

A system includes a power driver, configured to generate an electric excitation; an oscillating system, configured to perform an oscillation induced by the electric excitation; a feedback detector, configured to detect a feedback measurement signal with to the oscillation; and a controller configured to operate: in a closed loop mode, to control the power driver to generate the electric excitation as a discontinuous electric excitation according to timing information obtained from the detected feedback measurement signal, to synchronize the discontinuous electric excitation with the detected feedback measurement signal; in a learning mode preceding the closed loop mode, to control the power driver to generate the electric excitation as a continuous electric excitation, to obtain timing information from the feedback measurement signal to be used, at least once, in the subsequent closed loop mode, to synchronize the discontinuous electric excitation with the detected feedback measurement signal.

Techniques and mechanisms for regulating a temperature of a resonator structure. In an embodiment, a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is thermally coupled to a resonator which is proximate thereto. The resonator supports operation with an oscillator circuit, wherein a resonance characteristic of the resonator contributes to oscillations of a master clock signal, or other oscillatory signal, which is provided with the oscillator circuit. The TEC provides Peltier functionality to selectively perform either one of heating or cooling the resonator. In another embodiment, the TEC is configured to conduct heat which is transferred via a path between the TEC and the resonator, wherein the path omits any circuitry which is to perform operations which are synchronized based on the oscillatory signal.

Techniques and mechanisms for regulating a temperature of a resonator structure. In an embodiment, a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is thermally coupled to a resonator which is proximate thereto. The resonator supports operation with an oscillator circuit, wherein a resonance characteristic of the resonator contributes to oscillations of a master clock signal, or other oscillatory signal, which is provided with the oscillator circuit. The TEC provides Peltier functionality to selectively perform either one of heating or cooling the resonator. In another embodiment, the TEC is configured to conduct heat which is transferred via a path between the TEC and the resonator, wherein the path omits any circuitry which is to perform operations which are synchronized based on the oscillatory signal.

The present invention is able to reduce a CI value without requiring precise processing of a crystal blank.

An electrode structure of a crystal unit (1) according to the present invention includes driven electrodes (21, 22) arranged at least at a center on main surfaces (11, 12) of a crystal blank (10). The driven electrodes (21, 22) have a structure in which vibration energy of thickness shear vibration of the crystal blank (10) is concentrated in a central region of the crystal blank (10).