Patent · US Active

Out-of plane MEMS resonator with static out-of-plane deflection

US7999635B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
14References
34Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJul 29, 2008
Grant dateAug 16, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 31, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03H2009/02519
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A residual stress gradient in a structural layer is employed to form a resonator deflected out of plane when at rest and the resulting strain gradient is utilized in out-of-plane transduction. Use of the strain gradient enables out-of-plane (e.g., vertical) transduction without yield and reliability problems due to stiction (e.g., the sticking of the resonator to the substrate) when the resonator is driven by an electrode to dynamically deflect out-of-plane. In particular embodiments, out-of-plane transduction is utilized to achieve better transduction efficiency as compared to lateral resonator designs of similar linear dimensions (i.e. footprint) results in a lower motional resistance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.