Sand9, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130200752 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES - Mechanical resonating structures and related methods are described. The mechanical resonating structures may provide improved efficiency over conventional resonating structures. Some of the structures have lengths and widths and are designed to vibrate in a direction approximately parallel to either the length or width. They may have boundaries bounding the length and width dimensions, which may substantially align with nodes or anti-nodes of vibration. | 08-08-2013 |
20120163134 | OSCILLATORS HAVING ARBITRARY FREQUENCIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal. | 06-28-2012 |
20120139647 | OSCILLATORS HAVING ARBITRARY FREQUENCIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal. | 06-07-2012 |
20120086306 | MICROMECHANICAL RESONATING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Micromechanical resonating devices, as well as related methods, are described herein. The resonating devices can include a micromechanical resonating structure, an actuation structure that actuates the resonating structure, and a detection structure that detects motion of the resonating structure. | 04-12-2012 |
20120074818 | SYSTEMS HAVING INTEGRATED MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES AND RELATED METHODS - Devices including integrated components are described. The components may be integrated by being formed on a single substrate. The components may be integrated by being formed on separate chips within a multi-chip module. The components being integrated may include mechanical resonating structures, which in some instances may be piezoelectric mechanical resonating structures. | 03-29-2012 |
20120074810 | MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES INCLUDING A TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION STRUCTURE - Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating temperature variations. | 03-29-2012 |
20120067124 | RESONANT SENSING USING EXTENSIONAL MODES OF A PLATE - A device or system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a resonant structure having a plate, a mass and a set of electrodes. The plate can have an extensional mode at a frequency when excited. The set of electrodes can be used to measure an acceleration of the mass when the acceleration of the mass changes the frequency of the plate. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-22-2012 |
20120056510 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 03-08-2012 |
20120024058 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL GYROSCOPES AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS - In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a micromechanical gyroscope and a circuit. The micromechanical gyroscope is configured to be excited in a first mode by a drive signal, and configured to be excited in a second mode by a gyroscopic effect. The circuit is coupled to the micromechanical gyroscope and configured to detect the gyroscopic effect when the micromechanical gyroscope is in the second mode. | 02-02-2012 |
20120013413 | TIMING OSCILLATORS AND RELATED METHODS - Timing oscillators as well as related methods and devices are described. A timing oscillator may include a mechanical resonating structure with major elements and minor elements coupled to the major element. The timing oscillator can generate stable signals with low phase noise at very high frequencies which allows a timing oscillator to be used effectively in a number of devices including computers and mobile phones for time and data synchronization purposes. The signal generated by the timing oscillator can be tuned using a driver circuit and a compensation circuit. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013410 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION OF OSCILLATORS HAVING MECHANICAL RESONATORS - Methods and apparatus for calibration and temperature compensation of oscillators having mechanical resonators are described. The method(s) may involve measuring the frequency of the oscillator at multiple discrete temperatures and adjusting compensation circuitry of the oscillator at the various temperatures. The compensation circuitry may include multiple programmable elements which may independently adjust the frequency behavior of the oscillator at a respective temperature. Thus, adjustment of the frequency behavior of the oscillator at one temperature may not alter the frequency behavior at a second temperature. | 01-19-2012 |
20120006113 | Microelectromechanical Gyroscopes and Related Apparatus and Methods - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a resonant structure having a plate, a drive electrode and a sense electrode. The resonant structure defines an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by the plate when the resonant structure is not excited. The plate is formed from a piezoelectric material. The drive electrode is configured to excite the resonant structure, and the sense electrode is configured to sense a signal in response to rotation of the resonant structure about the axis. | 01-12-2012 |
20110284995 | MICROMECHANICAL MEMBRANES AND RELATED STRUCTURES AND METHODS - Micromechanical membranes suitable for formation of mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as methods for making such membranes. The membranes may be formed by forming cavities in a substrate, and in some instances may be oxidized to provide desired mechanical properties. Mechanical resonating structures may be formed from the membrane and oxide structures. | 11-24-2011 |
20110273061 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A RESONATING STRUCTURE - Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating environmental changes. | 11-10-2011 |
20110212718 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STABILIZING REFERENCE OSCILLATORS - Apparatus and methods for stabilizing reference oscillators are described. According to some embodiments, the reference oscillator of a device may be stabilized by synchronizing the reference oscillator to an external signal received by the device. The device may be a navigation device in some embodiments, and the external signal may represent or be synchronized to an atomic clock signal or other signal exhibiting sufficient stability. | 09-01-2011 |
20110204936 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN OSCILLATING SIGNALS - Methods and apparatus are described for reducing noise, such as phase noise, in an oscillating signal. The oscillating signal may be generated by a signal generator having a mechanical resonator, such as a crystal oscillator. A filter may be coupled to the output of the mechanical resonator and may have its center frequency adjusted using a phase-locked loop (PLL). A feedback signal from the filter to the signal generator may also be used. | 08-25-2011 |
20110187227 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 08-04-2011 |
20110181366 | OSCILLATORS HAVING ARBITRARY FREQUENCIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal. | 07-28-2011 |
20110151856 | OSCILLATORS HAVING ARBITRARY FREQUENCIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148531 | OSCILLATORS HAVING ARBITRARY FREQUENCIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal. | 06-23-2011 |
20110121682 | SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION BY HIERARCHAL RESONATING STRUCTURES - An electromechanical resonating structure, including: first level major elements coupled to each other to form a second or higher level hierarchy; and first level sub-micron size minor elements with a characteristic frequency and coupled to each of the first level major elements to form a second level hierarchy in which a signal is effectively amplified by vibrating each of the plurality of major elements in at least one mode determined by the geometry and dimensions of the first level sub-micron minor elements. | 05-26-2011 |
20100315179 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF DEVICES AND MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES - Methods and apparatus for temperature control of devices and mechanical resonating structures are described. A mechanical resonating structure may include a heating element and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may sense the temperature of the mechanical resonating structure, and the heating element may be adjusted to provide a desired level of heating. Optionally, additional heating elements and/or temperature sensors may be included. | 12-16-2010 |
20100315170 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TUNING DEVICES HAVING RESONATORS - Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having resonators are described. Phase shifters are included in the circuits and used to shift the phase of the output signal(s) of the resonators. In some implementations, the phase shifters are configured in a feedback loop with the resonators. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). | 12-16-2010 |
20100314969 | MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods of connecting mechanical resonating structures to a body are described. Multi-element anchors may include a flexible portion that flexes when the mechanical resonating structure vibrates. The flexible portion may have a length related to the resonance frequency of the mechanical resonating structures. Some of the multi-element anchors include elements that are oriented perpendicularly to each other. MEMS incorporating such structures are also described. | 12-16-2010 |
20100308931 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TUNING DEVICES HAVING MECHANICAL RESONATORS - Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having mechanical resonators are described. In one implementation, a mechanical resonator and a phase shifter are configured in a feedback loop, so that the phase shifter shifts the phase of the resonator output signal. The amount of phase shift induced by the phase shifter may be variable. In another implementation, an LC tuning subcircuit is coupled to a mechanical resonator. In some implementations, the LC tuning subcircuit has a variable capacitance. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). | 12-09-2010 |
20100308927 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TUNING DEVICES HAVING MECHANICAL RESONATORS - Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having mechanical resonators are described. In one implementation, a mechanical resonator and a phase shifter are configured in a feedback loop, so that the phase shifter shifts the phase of the resonator output signal. The amount of phase shift induced by the phase shifter may be variable. In another implementation, an LC tuning subcircuit is coupled to a mechanical resonator. In some implementations, the LC tuning subcircuit has a variable capacitance. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). | 12-09-2010 |
20100301703 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 12-02-2010 |
20100182102 | MECHANICAL RESONATING STRUCTURES INCLUDING A TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION STRUCTURE - Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating temperature variations. | 07-22-2010 |
20100181868 | MULTI-PORT MECHANICAL RESONATING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Multi-port devices having multiple electrical ports are described, as are related methods. Some of the multi-port devices may have two input ports and two output ports, and may be driven differentially, in a single-ended mode, in a single-ended to differential mode, or in a differential to single-ended mode. The multi-port devices may include one or more transducers coupled to the electrical ports. | 07-22-2010 |
20100026136 | MICROMECHANICAL RESONATING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Micromechanical resonating devices, as well as related methods, are described herein. The resonating devices can include a micromechanical resonating structure, an actuation structure that actuates the resonating structure, and a detection structure that detects motion of the resonating structure. | 02-04-2010 |
20090243747 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR COMPENSATING A SIGNAL USING RESONATORS - Compensation of a signal using resonators as well as related methods and devices are described. Some embodiments include methods and devices for performing frequency compensation on a signal. | 10-01-2009 |