Abstract: A modally driven oscillating element periodically contacts one of more electrical contacts, thereby acting as a switch, otherwise known as a resonant switch, or “resoswitch”, with very high Q's, typically above 10000 in air, and higher in vacuum. Due to periodic constrained contacting of the contacts, the bandwidth of the switch is greatly improved. One or more oscillating elements may be vibrationally interconnected with conductive or nonconductive coupling elements, whereby increased bandwidths of such an overall switching system may be achieved. Using the resoswitch, power amplifiers and converters more closely approaching ideal may be implemented. Integrated circuit fabrication techniques may construct the resoswitch with other integrated CMOS elements for highly compact switching devices. Through introduction of specific geometries within the oscillating elements, displacement gains may be made where modal deflections are greatly increased, thereby reducing device drive voltages to 2.5 V or lower.

Abstract: Etchant-free methods of producing a gap between two materials are provided. Aspects of the methods include providing a structure comprising a first material and a second material, and subjecting the structure to conditions sufficient to cause a decrease in the volume of at least a portion of at least one of the first material and the second material to produce a gap between the first material and the second material. Also provided are devices produced by the methods (e.g., MEMS and NEMS devices), structures used in the methods and methods of making such structures.

Abstract: Etchant-free methods of producing a gap between two materials are provided. Aspects of the methods include providing a structure comprising a first material and a second material, and subjecting the structure to conditions sufficient to cause a decrease in the volume of at least a portion of at least one of the first material and the second material to produce a gap between the first material and the second material. Also provided are devices produced by the methods (e.g., MEMS and NEMS devices), structures used in the methods and methods of making such structures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for lowering capacitively-transduced resonator impedance within micromechanical resonator devices. Fabrication limits exist on how small the gap spacing can be made between a resonator and the associated input and output electrodes in response to etching processes. The present invention teaches a resonator device in which these gaps are then fully, or more preferably partially filled with a dielectric material to reduce the gap distance. A reduction of the gap distance substantially lowers the motional resistance of the micromechanical resonator device and thus the capacitively-transduced resonator impedance. Micromechanical resonator devices according to the invention can be utilized in a wide range of UHF devices, including integration within ultra-stable oscillators, RF filtering devices, radar systems, and communication systems.

Abstract: A modally driven oscillating element periodically contacts one of more electrical contacts, thereby acting as a switch, otherwise known as a resonant switch, or “resoswitch”, with very high Q's, typically above 10000 in air, and higher in vacuum. Due to periodic constrained contacting of the contacts, the bandwidth of the switch is greatly improved. One or more oscillating elements may be vibrationally interconnected with conductive or nonconductive coupling elements, whereby increased bandwidths of such an overall switching system may be achieved. Using the resoswitch, power amplifiers and converters more closely approaching ideal may be implemented. Integrated circuit fabrication techniques may construct the resoswitch with other integrated CMOS elements for highly compact switching devices. Through introduction of specific geometries within the oscillating elements, displacement gains may be made where modal deflections are greatly increased, thereby reducing device drive voltages to 2.5 V or lower.

Abstract: A Q-controlled microresonator and devices including such resonators.

Abstract: A Q-controlled microresonator and devices including such resonators.

Abstract: Mixing, modulation and demodulation using the nonlinear properties of microelectromechanical resonators and filters are described. Mixing followed by filtering is implemented using microelectromechanical filters with nonlinear input transducers. AM modulation is implemented by passing a carrier signal through the output transducer of a microelectromechanical filter. FM and FSK demodulation is accomplished using parallel banks of microelectromechanical filters. The invention can be implemented using integrated circuit technology.