Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave device includes an acoustic decoupler between first and second film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). The first FBAR is resonant at a resonant frequency of the device and includes first and second planar electrodes abutting opposite sides of a first resonator volume free of any intervening electrodes and containing piezoelectric material disposed for acoustic vibrations parallel to a propagation axis normal to the first and second electrodes. The first FBAR has a first electrical impedance parallel to the propagation axis. The second FBAR is resonant at the resonant frequency and includes third and fourth planar electrodes abutting opposite sides of a second resonator volume free of any intervening electrodes and containing piezoelectric material disposed for acoustic vibrations parallel to the propagation axis. The second FBAR has a second electrical impedance parallel to the propagation axis and different from the first electrical impedance.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting wireless channel status from acoustic discrimination of spectral content are described. In one aspect, a wireless system includes a spectrum analyzer, a detector, and a controller. The spectrum analyzer is operable to acoustically discriminate spectral content of an input electrical signal in multiple discrete frequency channels. The detector is operable to determine respective statuses of the frequency channels from the acoustically discriminated spectral content. The controller is operable to select one of the frequency channels based on the determined statuses of the frequency channels.

Abstract: An oscillatory circuit. The oscillatory circuit includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator, and a mixer circuit. The first oscillator is configured to generate a first oscillating signal at a first frequency and has a first frequency temperature coefficient. The second oscillator is configured to generate a second oscillating signal at a second frequency and has a second frequency temperature coefficient. The second frequency is greater than the first frequency, and the second frequency temperature coefficient is less than the first frequency temperature coefficient. The mixer circuit is configured to receive the first oscillating signal from the first oscillator, to receive the second oscillating signal from the second oscillator, and to generate a mixer signal from the first and the second oscillating signals. The mixer signal comprises a signal component at a beat frequency. The beat frequency is equal to the difference between the second frequency and the first frequency.

Abstract: A filter and method of manufacturing a filter having a lattice arrangement that efficiently utilizes substrate space. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a filter having a plurality of resonators disposed on a substrate, each resonator comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed vertically adjacent such that an acoustic cavity of a piezoelectric material is formed between each first electrode and each second electrode of each resonator, the first and second electrodes of each resonator electrically isolated from each other via the piezoelectric material. In this manner, the filter is realized without having to use any vias. Additionally, the resonators may be of a shape that allows each to be disposed close together such that some sides of each of the resonators are parallel to each other. Thus, substrate space can be preserved even further.

Abstract: An RF switching circuit that incorporates a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device and one or more capacitors that are used to vary the capacitance of the FBAR device to change the frequency range that is blocked by the FBAR device. When the RF switching circuit is in a first switching state, a first set of RF signals in a first frequency range is blocked by the RF switching circuit while RF signals of other frequencies are passed by the RF switching circuit. When the RF switching circuit is in a second switching state, a second set of RF signals in a second frequency range is blocked by the RF switching circuit while RF signals of other frequencies are passed by the RF switching circuit.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a protective structure and a packaged structure are described.

Abstract: A humidity sensor that includes a resonant structure and a structure for altering a resonant frequency of the resonant structure in response to a change in humidity. The structures of a humidity sensor according to the present teachings may be formed in relatively small form factors and are well suited to remote applications and providing mechanisms for compensating for temperature drift.

Abstract: A device package includes a device substrate and a cap mounted on the device substrate. The device substrate includes a contact pad. The cap defines a via with a slightly sloped sidewall through the cap, a contactor extending from an interior surface of the cap, a contactor pad over the contactor, a via pad on the interior surface of the cap over the via and coupled to the contactor pad, and a via contact over the exterior surface of the cap and in the via coupled to the via pad. The contactor is offset from the via. When the cap is mounted on the device substrate, the contactor pad on the contactor is pressed and cold welded onto the contact pad on the device substrate.

Abstract: A technique for producing a scent from a hand-held device involves receiving a scent mixture formula at a hand-held device, converting the scent mixture formula into dispense control signals, and generating a scent mixture in response to the dispense control signals, the scent mixture being generated from different base scents that are individually stored within the hand-held device. In an embodiment, the scent mixture formula includes a scent identifier and a scent quantifier related to each base scent that is used to generate the scent mixture. Mixing multiple base scents to generate scent mixtures greatly expands the range of different scents that can be generated at a hand-held device that stores a limited number of base scents. Further, encoding a scent mixture into a scent mixture formula enables scent mixtures to be easily shared between hand-held devices.

Abstract: A dispense system stores a scented material or materials and is provided with an electrical interface that is compatible with a hand-held device. The dispense system can be connected to the hand-held device and driven with the help of the hand-held device to dispense the scented material. The dispense system can be configured to store different scented materials that can be mixed to create different scents. Logic within the hand-held device supports the mixing and dispensing of the scented materials.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate with a cavity and a two-stage resonator filter fabricated over the cavity. The two-stage resonator filter includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage includes a first resonator and a second resonator, the second resonator acoustically coupled to the first resonator. The second stage includes a third resonator and a fourth resonator, the fourth resonator acoustically coupled to the third resonator. The second resonator and the third resonators are electrically coupled. A decoupling layer couples the first resonator and the second resonator. The decoupling layer extends between the third resonator and the fourth resonator. The first resonator and the fourth resonator are above the substrate. The decoupling layer is above the first resonator and the fourth resonator. The second resonator and the third resonators are above the decoupling layer.

Abstract: An acoustic resonator that includes a substrate, a first electrode, a layer of piezoelectric material, a second electrode, and a fill region. The first electrode is adjacent the substrate, and the first electrode has an outer perimeter. The piezoelectric layer is adjacent the first electrode. The second electrode is adjacent the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode has an outer perimeter. The fill region is in one of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A duplexer having a filter and a transmission line that transforms an impedance of the filter to an impedance of an antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a target environmental variable (TEV) that employs a film-bulk acoustic resonator with motion plate. The film-bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) includes an acoustic reflector formed in an FBAR wafer and a surface. A first electrode is formed on the surface of the acoustic reflector and has a surface. A piezoelectric layer is formed on the surface of the first electrode and has a surface. A second electrode is formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer. A motion plate is suspended in space at a predetermined distance relative to the surface of the second electrode and is capacitively coupled to the FBAR.

Abstract: An apparatus including vertically separated acoustic resonators are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first acoustic resonator on a substrate and a second acoustic resonator vertically separated above the first acoustic resonator. Because the resonators are vertically separated above another, total area required to implement the resonators is reduced thereby savings in die size and cost are realized. The vertically separated resonators are supported by standoffs that are fabricated on the substrate, or on a resonator.

Abstract: An apparatus including vertically separated acoustic resonators are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first acoustic resonator on a substrate and a second acoustic resonator vertically separated above the first acoustic resonator. Because the resonators are vertically separated above another, total area required to implement the resonators is reduced thereby savings in die size and cost are realized. The vertically separated resonators are supported by standoffs that are fabricated on the substrate, or on a resonator.

Abstract: A resonator structure (FBAR) made of electrodes sandwich a piezoelectric material. The intersection of the two conducting electrodes defines the active area of the acoustic resonator. The active area is divided into two concentric areas; a perimeter or frame, and a central region. An annulus is added to one of the two conducting electrodes to improve the electrical performance (in terms of Q).

Abstract: The present invention provides a first wafer and a second wafer having a device. A separation layer is formed on the first wafer. A cap is formed on the separation layer. The cap and the second wafer are bonded using a gasket. The first wafer is separated from the cap to form the semiconductor package comprised of the cap, the gasket, and the second wafer.

Abstract: Acoustically coupled resonators include a first and a second acoustic resonator. Both the first and second acoustic resonators include a first electrode, a layer of piezoelectric material, and a second electrode. The first electrode is adjacent a first surface of the layer of piezoelectric material. The second electrode is adjacent a second surface of the layer of piezoelectric material. At least the second electrode has an edge that is tapered.

Abstract: A filter and method of manufacturing a filter having a lattice arrangement that efficiently utilizes substrate space. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a filter having a plurality of resonators disposed on a substrate, each resonator comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed vertically adjacent such that an acoustic cavity of a piezoelectric material is formed between each first electrode and each second electrode of each resonator, the first and second electrodes of each resonator electrically isolated from each other via the piezoelectric material. In this manner, the filter is realized without having to use any vias. Additionally, the resonators may be of a shape that allows each to be disposed close together such that some sides of each of the resonators are parallel to each other. Thus, substrate space can be preserved even further.