Embedded piezoelectric resonator

An embedded piezoelectric resonator apparatus, comprising:

• a flat piezoelectric plate with upper and lower surfaces with opposing top and bottom electrodes disposed thereon, respectively;
• a first and a second electrical conductor connected to the top and bottom electrodes, respectively, at locations substantially at a node of minimum vibration of the piezoelectric plate such that the electrical conductors minimize any damping of piezoelectric oscillations;
• an upper printed circuit board layer being substantially flat and having a hole adapted to receive the first electrical conductor and an electrical trace disposed thereon for connecting to the first electrical conductor;
• and
• a lower shaped printed circuit board having a hole adapted to receive the second electrical conductor and an electrical trace for connecting to the second electrical conductor, the lower shaped printed circuit board having a pocket in one surface thereof;
• the upper printed circuit board layer and lower shaped printed circuit board are connected so as to form a printed circuit board assembly, the pocket of the lower shaped printed circuit board defining a cavity within the printed circuit board assembly adapted to contain the piezoelectric plate;
• the first electrical conductor extending upwardly from the top electrode and at least partially through the hole in the upper printed circuit board layer and electrically connecting to an electrical trace on the upper printed circuit board layer;
• the second electrical conductor extending downwardly from the bottom electrode and at least partially through the hole in the lower shaped printed circuit board and electrically connecting to an electrical trace on the lower shaped printed circuit board.

An embedded piezoelectric resonator apparatus, comprising:

• a flat piezoelectric plate with upper and lower surfaces with opposing top and bottom electrodes disposed thereon, respectively, the piezoelectric plate, when driven by an alternating electrical signal, oscillates in an extensional mode of operation so as to produce a high voltage;
• a first and a second electrical conductor connected to the top and bottom electrodes, respectively, the electrical conductors are connected to their respective electrodes at locations substantially at a node of minimum vibration of the piezoelectric plate such that the electrical conductors minimize any damping of piezoelectric oscillations;
• an upper printed circuit board layer being substantially flat and having a hole adapted to receive the first electrical conductor and an electrical trace disposed thereon for connecting to the first electrical conductor;
• and
• a lower shaped printed circuit board having a hole adapted to receive the second electrical conductor and an electrical trace for connecting to the second electrical conductor, the lower shaped printed circuit board having a pocket in one surface thereof;
• the upper printed circuit board layer and lower shaped printed circuit board are connected so as to form a printed circuit board assembly, the pocket of the lower shaped printed circuit board defining a cavity within the printed circuit board assembly adapted to contain the piezoelectric plate;
• the first electrical conductor extending upwardly from the top electrode and at least partially through the hole in the upper printed circuit board layer and electrically connecting to an electrical trace on the upper printed circuit board layer;
• the second electrical conductor extending downwardly from the bottom electrode and at least partially through the hole in the lower printed circuit board layer and electrically connecting to an electrical trace on the lower printed circuit board layer;
• the electrical conductors supporting and suspending the piezoelectric plate within the cavity such that edges of the plate do not contact the printed circuit board assembly.