Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Grannen

Kevin J. Grannen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220123718
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator structures are disclosed, including filters, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. A first layer of doped piezoelectric layer material and a second layer of piezoelectric material may be acoustically coupled with one another to have a piezoelectrically excitable resonance mode. The first layer of doped piezoelectric material may have a first piezoelectric axis orientation, and the second layer of piezoelectric material may have a second piezoelectric axis orientation that substantially opposes the first piezoelectric axis orientation of the first layer of piezoelectric material. An acoustic reflector including a first pair of metal electrode layers may be electrically and acoustically coupled with the first layer of doped piezoelectric material and the second layer of piezoelectric material to excite the piezoelectrically excitable main resonance mode at a resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20220123719
    Abstract: Techniques for improving acoustic wave device structures are disclosed, including filters and systems that may include such devices. An acoustic wave device may include a substrate. The acoustic wave device may include first and second layers of piezoelectric material acoustically coupled with one another, in which the first layer of piezoelectric material has a first piezoelectric axis orientation, and the second layer of piezoelectric material has a second piezoelectric axis orientation that substantially opposes the first piezoelectric axis orientation of the first layer of piezoelectric material. The acoustic wave device may include an interposer layer interposed between the first and second layers of piezoelectric material. The interposer may facilitate an enhancement of an electromechanical coupling coefficient of the acoustic wave device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20220123710
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator structures are disclosed, including filters, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. First and second layers of piezoelectric material may be acoustically coupled with one another to have a piezoelectrically excitable resonance mode. The first layer of piezoelectric material may have a first piezoelectric axis orientation, and the second layer of piezoelectric material may have a second piezoelectric axis orientation that opposes the first piezoelectric axis orientation of the first layer of piezoelectric material. A top acoustic reflector including a first pair of top metal electrode layers may be electrically and acoustically coupled with the first layer of piezoelectric material to excite the piezoelectrically excitable main resonance mode at a resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: DARIUSZ BURAK, KEVIN J. GRANNEN, JACK LENELL
  • Publication number: 20220123725
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) reflector and resonator structures are disclosed, including filters, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. First and second layers of piezoelectric material may be acoustically coupled with one another to have a piezoelectrically excitable resonance mode. The first layer of piezoelectric material may have a first piezoelectric axis orientation, and the second layer of piezoelectric material may have a second piezoelectric axis orientation that substantially opposes the first piezoelectric axis orientation of the first layer of piezoelectric material. A top acoustic reflector electrode may include a first pair of top metal electrode layers electrically and acoustically coupled with the first and second layer of piezoelectric material to excite the piezoelectrically excitable resonance mode at a resonant frequency of the BAW resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20220123709
    Abstract: Techniques for improving acoustic wave device structures are disclosed, including filters, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. First and second layers of piezoelectric material may be acoustically coupled with one another to have a piezoelectrically excitable resonance mode. The first layer of piezoelectric material may have a first piezoelectric axis orientation, and the second layer of piezoelectric material may have a second piezoelectric axis orientation that substantially opposes the first piezoelectric axis orientation of the first layer of piezoelectric material. The first and second layers of piezoelectric material have respective thicknesses so that the acoustic wave device has a resonant frequency that is in a super high frequency band or an extremely high frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20220123729
    Abstract: Techniques for improving acoustic wave device structures are disclosed, including filters and systems that may include such devices. An apparatus may comprise a first electrical filter including an acoustic wave device. The first electrical may having a first filter band in a Super High Frequency (SHF) band or an Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band to facilitate compliance with a regulatory requirement or a standards setting organization specification. For example, the first electrical filter may comprise a notch filter having a notch band overlapping at least a portion of an Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) band to facilitate compliance with a regulatory requirement or the standards setting organization specification for the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20210351759
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator structures are disclosed, including fluidic systems, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a substrate and a first layer of piezoelectric material. The bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a top electrode. A sensing region may be acoustically coupled with the top electrode of the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Patent number: 11101783
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator structures are disclosed, including fluidic systems, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a substrate and a first layer of piezoelectric material. The bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a top electrode. A sensing region may be acoustically coupled with the top electrode of the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: QXONIX INC.
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Publication number: 20210036678
    Abstract: Techniques for improving Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator structures are disclosed, including fluidic systems, oscillators and systems that may include such devices. A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a substrate and a first layer of piezoelectric material. The bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator may comprise a top electrode. A sensing region may be acoustically coupled with the top electrode of the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, Jack Lenell
  • Patent number: 10432162
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a piezoelectric layer during a corresponding deposition sequence. The method includes sputtering aluminum nitride onto a sputtering substrate inside a reaction chamber having a gas atmosphere, the gas atmosphere initially including nitrogen gas and an inert gas, causing growth of the piezoelectric layer with a polarity in a negative direction. The method further includes adding a predetermined amount of oxygen containing gas to the gas atmosphere over a predetermined period of time, while continuing the sputtering of the aluminum nitride onto the sputtering substrate during a remainder of the deposition sequence, such that the piezoelectric layer is monolithic. The predetermined amount of oxygen containing gas causes the polarity of the aluminum nitride piezoelectric layer to invert from the negative direction to a positive direction, opposite the negative direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, Chris Feng, John Choy
  • Patent number: 10404231
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator device includes a bottom electrode disposed on a substrate over an air cavity, a first piezoelectric material layer disposed on the bottom electrode, an electrically-isolated layer of high-acoustic-impedance material disposed on the first piezoelectric material layer, a second piezoelectric material layer disposed on the electrically-isolated layer of high-acoustic impedance material, and a top electrode disposed on the second piezoelectric material layer, where an overlap among the top electrode, the first piezoelectric material layer, the electrically-isolated layer of high-acoustic-impedance material, the second piezoelectric material layer, and the bottom electrode over the air cavity defines a main membrane region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Stefan Bader, Kevin J. Grannen
  • Patent number: 10367472
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes a bottom electrode on a substrate over one of a cavity and an acoustic mirror, a piezoelectric layer on the bottom electrode, a top electrode on the piezoelectric layer, and a temperature compensation feature having positive temperature coefficient for offsetting at least a portion of a negative temperature coefficient of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of the bottom electrode and the top electrode includes an integrated lateral feature configured to create at least one of a cut-off frequency mismatch and an acoustic impedance mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, John Choy, Phil Nikkel, Kevin J. Grannen
  • Patent number: 10340885
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is of a first electrode material. The second electrode is of a second electrode material. The piezoelectric layer is of a piezoelectric material doped with at least one rare earth element. The BAW resonator has a resonant frequency dependent at least in part on respective thicknesses and materials of the first electrode, the second electrode and the piezoelectric layer. The resonant frequency has a temperature coefficient. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a niobium alloy electrode material that, relative to molybdenum as the electrode material, reduces the temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency of the BAW resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, Phil Nikkel, Tangshiun Yeh, Chris Feng, Tina L. Lamers, John Choy
  • Publication number: 20190103853
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator includes a substrate defining a cavity, a bottom electrode disposed over the substrate and the cavity, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes polycrystalline lithium niobate (LN) material or polycrystalline lithium tantalite (LT) material. The BAW resonator may further include an encapsulant layer formed on side and top surfaces of the piezoelectric layer. The encapsulant layer is configured to protect the LN material or the LT material of the piezoelectric layer from a release solvent previously applied to sacrificial material within the cavity in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, John Choy
  • Patent number: 10164605
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator includes a substrate defining a cavity, a bottom electrode disposed over the substrate and the cavity, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes polycrystalline lithium niobate (LN) material or polycrystalline lithium tantalite (LT) material. The BAW resonator may further include an encapsulant layer formed on side and top surfaces of the piezoelectric layer. The encapsulant layer is configured to protect the LN material or the LT material of the piezoelectric layer from a release solvent previously applied to sacrificial material within the cavity in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen, John Choy
  • Patent number: 10128812
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator comprises a substrate comprising a cavity. The electrical resonator comprises a resonator stack suspended over the cavity. The resonator stack comprises a first electrode; a second electrode; a piezoelectric layer; and a temperature compensating layer comprising borosilicate glass (BSG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, Carrie A. Rogers, John Choy
  • Publication number: 20180085787
    Abstract: A reversed c-axis bulk acoustic resonator (RBAR) device includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate and at least a portion of a cavity formed in the substrate; a first piezoelectric layer disposed over the bottom electrode, the first piezoelectric layer having a first polarity; a middle electrode disposed over the first piezoelectric layer; a second piezoelectric layer disposed over the bottom electrode, the second piezoelectric layer having a second polarity that is substantially opposite to the first polarity of the first piezoelectric layer; and a top electrode disposed over the second piezoelectric layer. The RBAR device further includes at least one air-ring formed between the top electrode and the second piezoelectric layer, between the second piezoelectric layer and the middle electrode, between the middle electrode and the first piezoelectric layer, or between the first piezoelectric layer and the bottom electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Stefan Bader, Kevin J. Grannen
  • Publication number: 20170288121
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate and an acoustic reflector, a seed layer formed of a dielectric material disposed over the bottom electrode, a split piezoelectric layer disposed on the seed layer, and a top electrode disposed over the split piezoelectric layer. The split piezoelectric layer includes a first portion having a positive polarity due to the seed layer, a second portion having a negative polarity that is substantially opposite to the positive polarity of the first portion, and a metal interposer between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion of the piezoelectric layer has a first thickness and the second portion of the piezoelectric layer has a second thickness that is not equal to the first thickness, thereby lowering a coupling coefficient kt2 of the BAW resonator device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, Kevin J. Grannen
  • Publication number: 20170288628
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a piezoelectric layer during a corresponding deposition sequence. The method includes sputtering aluminum nitride onto a sputtering substrate inside a reaction chamber having a gas atmosphere, the gas atmosphere initially including nitrogen gas and an inert gas, causing growth of the piezoelectric layer with a polarity in a negative direction. The method further includes adding a predetermined amount of oxygen containing gas to the gas atmosphere over a predetermined period of time, while continuing the sputtering of the aluminum nitride onto the sputtering substrate during a remainder of the deposition sequence, such that the piezoelectric layer is monolithic. The predetermined amount of oxygen containing gas causes the polarity of the aluminum nitride piezoelectric layer to invert from the negative direction to a positive direction, opposite the negative direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, Chris Feng, John Choy
  • Patent number: 9748918
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator structure comprises a first electrode disposed on a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer, and an air cavity disposed in the substrate below at least a portion of a main membrane region defined by an overlap between the first electrode. The acoustic resonator structure may further comprise various integrated structures at or around the main membrane region to improve its electrical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dariusz Burak, John Choy, Phil Nikkel, Kevin J. Grannen