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).

  • Publication number: 20210036677
    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: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Patent number: 10790801
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Patent number: 10778186
    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: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 10756696
    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: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Publication number: 20200259480
    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: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Tuomas Pensala, Tapani Makkonen
  • Publication number: 20200244245
    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: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 10630256
    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: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20200083862
    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: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Markku Ylilammi, Tuomas Pensala, James Dekker
  • Publication number: 20200083863
    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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala, Markku Ylilammi
  • Publication number: 20200083860
    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: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Markku Ylilammi, Tapani Makkonen, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 10320361
    Abstract: In a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter based on laterally acoustically coupled resonators on piezoelectric thin films, one can utilize two distinct acoustic plate wave modes of different nature, for example the thickness extensional (longitudinal) TE1 and the second harmonic thickness shear (TS2) mode to form a bandpass response. The invention is based on the excitation of at least two lateral standing wave resonances belonging to different plate wave modes that facilitate the transmission of signal. The passband is designed by tailoring the wave propagation characteristics in the device such that the resonances are excited at suitable frequencies to form a passband of a desired shape. The bandwidth of the filter described herein may therefore be more than twice that of the existing state-of-the-art microacoustic filters. Consequently, it has significant commercial and technological value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20190173451
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Antti JAAKKOLA, Tuomas PENSALA, Aarne OJA, Panu PEKKO, James R DEKKER
  • Publication number: 20190112181
    Abstract: The invention provides a micromechanical device comprising a support structure and a deflecting element connected to the support structure, wherein the deflecting element comprises at least one deformable member adapted to deform extensionally, flexurally or torsionally with respect to a deformation axis for allowing deflection of the deflecting element with respect to the support structure. Further, there are means for statically deflecting the deflecting element or detecting the magnitude of static deflection of the deflecting element. According to the invention, the deformable member is made of silicon doped with an n-type doping agent to a doping concentration of at least 1.1*1020 cm?3. The invention allows for manufacturing micromechanical devices whose mechanical operation is not affected by prevailing temperature conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Antti JAAKKOLA, Tuomas PENSALA, Mika PRUNNILA, Panu PEKKO, Jyrki KIIHAMĂ„KI, Aarne OJA
  • Patent number: 10056877
    Abstract: The invention provides a microelectromechanical resonator device comprising a support structure and a resonator manufactured on a (100) or (110) semiconductor wafer, wherein the resonator is suspended to the support structure and comprises at least one beam being doped to a doping concentration of 1.1*1020 cm?3 or more with an n-type doping agent and is being capable of resonating in a length-extensional, flexural resonance or torsional mode upon suitable actuation. In particular, the doping concentration and angle of the beam are chosen so as to simultaneously produce zero or close to zero second order TCF, and even more preferably zero or close to zero first and second order TCFs, for the resonator in said resonance mode, thus providing a temperature stable resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Pekko, Mika Prunnila, Tuomas Pensala
  • Publication number: 20180212589
    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: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 9991869
    Abstract: The invention concerns microelectromechanical resonators. In particular, the invention provides a resonator comprising a support structure, a doped semiconductor resonator suspended to the support structure by at least one anchor, and actuator for exciting resonance into the resonator. According to the invention, the resonator comprises a base portion and at least one protrusion extending outward from the base portion and is excitable by said actuator into a compound resonance mode having temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) characteristics, which are contributed by both the base portion and the at least one protrusion. The invention enables simple resonators, which are very well temperature compensated over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Pekko, Mika Prunnila, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 9893712
    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: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Johanna Meltaus, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 9837981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical resonator device comprising a support structure and a semiconductor resonator plate doped to a doping concentration with an n-type doping agent and being capable of resonating in a width-extensional resonance mode. In addition, there is at least one anchor suspending the resonator plate to the support structure and an actuator for exciting the width-extensional resonance mode into the resonator plate. According to the invention, the resonator plate is doped to a doping concentration of 1.2*1020 cm?3 or more and has a shape which, in combination with said doping concentration and in said width-extensional resonance mode, provides the second order temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF2) to be 12 ppb/C2 or less at least at one temperature. Several practical implementations are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Pekko, Mika Prunnila, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 9559660
    Abstract: The invention concerns a micromechanical device and method of manufacturing thereof. The device comprises an oscillating or deflecting element made of semiconductor material comprising n-type doping agent and excitation or sensing means functionally connected to said oscillating or deflecting element. According to the invention, the oscillating or deflecting element is essentially homogeneously doped with said n-type doping agent. The invention allows for designing a variety of practical resonators having a low temperature drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Tuomas Pensala, Antti Jaakkola, Maria Ganchenkova, Mika Prunnila, Jyrki Kiihamaki
  • Publication number: 20160099704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical resonator device comprising a support structure and a semiconductor resonator plate doped to a doping concentration with an n-type doping agent and being capable of resonating in a width-extensional resonance mode. In addition, there is at least one anchor suspending the resonator plate to the support structure and an actuator for exciting the width-extensional resonance mode into the resonator plate. According to the invention, the resonator plate is doped to a doping concentration of 1.2*1020 cm?3 or more and has a shape which, in combination with said doping concentration and in said width-extensional resonance mode, provides the second order temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF2) to be 12 ppb/C2 or less at least at one temperature. Several practical implementations are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Pekko, Mika Prunnila, Tuomas Pensala