Patents by Inventor Tuomas Pensala

Tuomas Pensala 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).

  • Patent number: 11894827
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigited input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a top electrode on the top surface, and a bottom electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of each of the first and the second resonators' electrodes is electrically connected to the acoustic wave filter element. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Patent number: 11870408
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices are disclosed. A device includes a layer providing or on a topmost layer of an acoustic reflector. The intermediary layer has a first region and a second region. The first region has a first layer thickness and the second region has a second layer thickness different from the first layer thickness. The device includes a first multilayer stack on the first region and a second multilayer stack on the second region of the intermediary layer. Each of the first and the second stacks includes a piezoelectric layer on a counter electrode that is located on the respective region, an input and an output electrode. Application of a radio frequency voltage between the input electrode and the counter electrode layer of the first stack creates acoustic resonance modes in the piezoelectric layer between the input and output electrodes of the first and the second stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20230415198
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic transducer configured to provide passive temperature compensation for a stable operation over a wide bandwidth. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a cavity for communications of ultrasonic waves and a membrane supported movable between walls of the cavity. The membrane comprises a structural layer on a side of the membrane towards the cavity and a piezoelectric layer attached to the structural layer on an opposite side of the membrane with respect to the cavity. Temperature coefficients of Young's modulus of the structural layer and the piezoelectric layer have opposite signs for passive temperature compensation of operating frequency of the piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Cyril KARUTHEDATH, Abhilash THANNIYIL, Teuvo SILLANPÄÄ, Tuomas PENSALA
  • Publication number: 20220407500
    Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustically coupled thin-film BAW filter, comprising a piezoelectric layer, an input-port on the piezoelectric layer changing electrical signal into an acoustic wave (SAW, BAW), and an output-port on the piezoelectric layer changing acoustic signal into electrical signal. In accordance with the invention the ports include electrodes positioned close to each other, and the filter is designed to operate in first order thickness-extensional TE1 mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20220216852
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigited input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer and an counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a resonator electrode on the top surface of the piezoelectric layer and a resonator counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Patent number: 11381220
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices is disclosed. The device includes a piezoelectric layer, an input electrode and an output electrode located on a top surface of the piezoelectric layer and physically separated from one another, and a counter electrode having a top surface connected to a bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. The input and output electrodes each include a base and at least one extension extending from the base. The at least one extension of the input electrode extending alongside and in a generally opposite direction to and separated by a gap width from an adjacent extension of the at least one extensions of the output electrode. In some embodiments, the at least one extension of the input or output electrodes has a width that can changes from a first end of the at least one extension to a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Patent number: 11374551
    Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustically coupled thin-film BAW filter, comprising a piezoelectric layer, an input-port on the piezoelectric layer changing electrical signal into an acoustic wave (SAW, BAW), and an output-port on the piezoelectric layer changing acoustic signal into electrical signal. In accordance with the invention the ports include electrodes positioned close to each other, and the filter is designed to operate in first order thickness-extensional TE1 mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 11290083
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigitated input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer and an counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a resonator electrode on the top surface of the piezoelectric layer and a resonator counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Publication number: 20220094333
    Abstract: Acoustic wave devices are disclosed. The devices include a substrate, a bi-layer reflector and an acoustic wave resonator. The bi-electric reflector is above the substrate and includes a first layer that has a first acoustic impedance, and a second layer that has a second acoustic impedance lower than the first acoustic impedance. The first layer has a first surface that includes a floating region that provides a ceiling of a cavity. The second layer is on top of the floating region of the first layer. The acoustic wave resonator is on top of the second layer of the bi-layer reflector. The acoustic wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, an electrode and a counter-electrode such that application of a radio frequency voltage between the electrode and the counter-electrode creates acoustic resonance waves in the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tuomas Pensala, Tapani Makkonen
  • Patent number: 11223341
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices are disclosed. In an embodiment, the device includes an acoustic wave resonator and a reflecting layer located below the acoustic wave resonator. The wave resonator includes an input electrode including a first electrode and a counter electrode, a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the counter electrode, and an output electrode. The piezoelectric layer has a first region covered by the first or the output electrode, and a second region not covered by any of the first and the output electrode. The first region has a second order acoustic thickness-shear resonance (TS2) mode dispersion curve with a first minimum frequency, and the second region has a TS2 mode dispersion curve with a second minimum frequency. The reflecting layer's thickness is such that a difference between the first minimum frequency and the second minimum frequency is less than 2% of a filter center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Publication number: 20210408996
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices are disclosed. A device includes a layer providing or on a topmost layer of an acoustic reflector. The intermediary layer has a first region and a second region. The first region has a first layer thickness and the second region has a second layer thickness different from the first layer thickness. The device includes a first multilayer stack on the first region and a second multilayer stack on the second region of the intermediary layer. Each of the first and the second stacks includes a piezoelectric layer on a counter electrode that is located on the respective region, an input and an output electrode. Application of a radio frequency voltage between the input electrode and the counter electrode layer of the first stack creates acoustic resonance modes in the piezoelectric layer between the input and output electrodes of the first and the second stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20210359659
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigited input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a top electrode on the top surface, and a bottom electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of each of the first and the second resonators' electrodes is electrically connected to the acoustic wave filter element. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Patent number: 11146241
    Abstract: Acoustic wave devices are disclosed. The devices include a substrate, a bi-layer reflector and an acoustic wave resonator. The bi-electric reflector is above the substrate and includes a first layer that has a first acoustic impedance, and a second layer that has a second acoustic impedance lower than the first acoustic impedance. The first layer has a first surface that includes a floating region that provides a ceiling of a cavity. The second layer is on top of the floating region of the first layer. The acoustic wave resonator is on top of the second layer of the bi-layer reflector. The acoustic wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, an electrode and a counter-electrode such that application of a radio frequency voltage between the electrode and the counter-electrode creates acoustic resonance waves in the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tuomas Pensala, Tapani Makkonen
  • Patent number: 11088670
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigited input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a top electrode on the top surface, and a bottom electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of each of the first and the second resonators' electrodes is electrically connected to the acoustic wave filter element. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Patent number: 11057013
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices are disclosed. A device includes a layer providing or on a topmost layer of an acoustic reflector. The intermediary layer has a first region and a second region. The first region has a first layer thickness and the second region has a second layer thickness different from the first layer thickness. The device includes a first multilayer stack on the first region and a second multilayer stack on the second region of the intermediary layer. Each of the first and the second stacks includes a piezoelectric layer on a counter electrode that is located on the respective region, an input and an output electrode. Application of a radio frequency voltage between the input electrode and the counter electrode layer of the first stack creates acoustic resonance modes in the piezoelectric layer between the input and output electrodes of the first and the second stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20210119600
    Abstract: Acoustic wave filter devices are disclosed. In an embodiment, the device includes an acoustic wave resonator and a reflecting layer located below the acoustic wave resonator. The wave resonator includes an input electrode including a first electrode and a counter electrode, a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the counter electrode, and an output electrode. The piezoelectric layer has a first region covered by the first or the output electrode, and a second region not covered by any of the first and the output electrode. The first region has a second order acoustic thickness-shear resonance (TS2) mode dispersion curve with a first minimum frequency, and the second region has a TS2 mode dispersion curve with a second minimum frequency. The reflecting layer's thickness is such that a difference between the first minimum frequency and the second minimum frequency is less than 2% of a filter center frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Patent number: 10965267
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes micromechanical resonator, a resonator element for the resonator, and a method for trimming the resonator. The resonator comprises a resonator element having a length, a width, and a thickness, where the length and the width define a plane of the resonator element. The resonator element comprises at least two regions (52, 53) in the plane of the resonator element, wherein the at least two regions have different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Tuomas Pensala, Aarne Oja, Panu Pekko, James R Dekker
  • Publication number: 20210075401
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigitated input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer and an counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a resonator electrode on the top surface of the piezoelectric layer and a resonator counter-electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Publication number: 20210075392
    Abstract: An acoustic wave filter device is disclosed. The device includes an acoustic wave filter element, and a first resonator and a second resonator coupled to the acoustic wave filter element. The acoustic wave filter element includes interdigited input electrodes and output electrodes located on a top surface of a piezoelectric layer. Each of the first and the second resonators includes a top electrode on the top surface, and a bottom electrode on the bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of each of the first and the second resonators' electrodes is electrically connected to the acoustic wave filter element. The first resonator has a first notch in resonator impedance at a first frequency. The second resonator includes a first mass loading layer on the second resonator electrode such that the second resonator has a second notch in resonator impedance at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Publication number: 20210058066
    Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustically coupled thin-film BAW filter, comprising a piezoelectric layer, an input-port on the piezoelectric layer changing electrical signal into an acoustic wave (SAW, BAW), and an output-port on the piezoelectric layer changing acoustic signal into electrical signal. In accordance with the invention the ports include electrodes positioned close to each other, and the filter is designed to operate in first order thickness-extensional TE1 mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala