Method and apparatus for upconverting and filtering an information signal utilizing a vibrating micromechanical device
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorClark T.-C. Nguyen
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Abstract
Several MEMS-based architectures which utilize vibrating micromechanical resonators in circuits to implement filtering, mixing, frequency reference and amplifying functions are provided. A method and apparatus are provided for upconverting and filtering an information signal utilizing a vibrating micromechanical device based on an AC signal having a desired frequency. One of the primary benefits of the use of such architectures is a savings in power consumption by trading power for high selectivity (i.e., high Q). Consequently, the present invention relies on the use of a large number of micromechanical links in SSI networks to implement signal processing functions with basically zero DC power consumption.
Claims13
A method for upconverting and filtering an information signal having a frequency, the method comprising:
- providing a micromechanical device having a first port for receiving the information signal, a second port for receiving an AC signal having a desired frequency and an output port;
- and
- vibrating the micromechanical device so that the micromechanical device translates the frequency of the information signal upward based on the desired frequency and filters the information signal.
A micromechanical up-converting mixer-filter apparatus for upconverting and filtering an information signal having a frequency, the apparatus comprising:
- a mixing micromechanical transducer having a first port for receiving the information signal, a second port for receiving an AC signal having a desired frequency and an output port;
- and
- a micromechanical resonator coupled to the transducer wherein the apparatus translates the frequency of the information signal upwards based on the desired frequency and filters the information signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.