US 9,853,679 B2 · MEMS-based regenerative transceiver

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) MEMS resonator is embedded in an active positive feedback loop to form a tunable RF channel-selecting radio transceiver employing a super-regenerative reception scheme. This transceiver harnesses the exceptionally high Q (around 100,000) and voltage-controlled frequency tuning of a resonator structure to enable selection of any one of among twenty 1 kHz wide RF channels over an 80 kHz range, while rejecting adjacent channels and consuming <490 μW. Such transceivers are well suited to wireless sensor node applications, where low-power and simplicity trump transmission rate. Electrical stiffness-based frequency tuning also allows this same device to operate as a frequency shift keyed (FSK) transmitter, making a complete transceiver in one simple device. Finally, the geometric flexibility of resonator structure design should permit a large range of usable RF frequencies, from the presently demonstrated 60.6-MHz VHF, all the way up to UHF.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A regenerative transceiver, comprising:

(a) a resonator comprising:
(i) a resonant structure;
(ii) one or more input electrodes coupled to the resonant structure;
(iii) two or more output electrodes coupled to the resonant structure;
(iv) a tuning voltage Vp applied to the resonant structure;
(v) wherein at least a portion of the resonant structure is biased relative to at least one of the coupled input or output electrodes by the tuning voltage Vp;
and
(vi) wherein a resonant frequency f of the resonant structure is changed by varying the tuning voltage Vp;
and
(b) a positive feedback loop disposed between at least two of the coupled output electrodes.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

MEMS-based regenerative transceiver

Life of this patent

MEMS-based regenerative transceiver

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44