Oscillator system having a plurality of microelectromechanical resonators and method of designing, controlling or operating same

An oscillator system, comprising:

• a first microelectromechanical resonator to generate a first output signal having a frequency that varies with operating temperature, wherein the first microelectromechanical resonator includes a first frequency function of temperature of the first microelectromechanical resonator;
• a second microelectromechanical resonator to generate a second output signal having a frequency that varies with operating temperature, wherein the second microelectromechanical resonator includes a second frequency function of temperature of the second microelectromechanical resonator;
• frequency mixer circuitry, coupled to the first and second microelectromechanical resonators to generate a third signal having frequency that is substantially stable over a predetermined range of operating temperatures using the first and the second frequency function of temperature to cancel at least a first-order temperature dependent term of the first and second output signals, exclusive of the use of temperature sensing means separate from the first and second microelectromechanical resonators;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• receive the third signal from the frequency manipulation circuitry,
• based on the third signal and exclusive of the use of any temperature sensing means apart from the first and second microelectromechanical resonators, generate temperature data, and
• based on the temperature data, adjust operation of at least the first microelectromechanical resonator or the second microelectromechanical resonator.

An oscillator system, comprising:

• a first microelectromechanical resonator to generate a first output signal having a frequency that varies with operating temperature, wherein the first microelectromechanical resonator includes a first frequency function of temperature of the first microelectromechanical resonator;
• a second microelectromechanical resonator to generate a second output signal having a frequency that varies with operating temperature, wherein the second microelectromechanical resonator includes a second frequency function of temperature of the second microelectromechanical resonator;
• frequency mixer circuitry, coupled to the first and second microelectromechanical resonators to generate a third signal having frequency that is substantially stable over a predetermined range of operating temperatures using the first and the second frequency functions of temperature to cancel at least a first-order temperature dependent term of the first and second output signals, exclusive of the use of temperature sensing means separate from the first and second microelectromechanical resonators;
• control circuitry configured to:
• receive the third signal from the frequency manipulation circuitry,
• based on the third signal and exclusive of the use of any temperature sensing means apart from the first and second microelectromechanical resonators, generate temperature data, and
• based on the temperature data, adjust operation of at least the first microelectromechanical resonator or the second microelectromechanical resonator;
• and
• signal alignment circuitry, coupled to the frequency mixer circuitry, to generate an output signal having a frequency that is greater than or less than the frequency of the third signal.