Mechanical resonator with a spring-mass system comprising a phase-change material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016308507-A1
Application number	US-201514686509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mechanical resonator includes a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material. The mechanical resonator typically comprises an electrical circuit portion, coupled to the phase-change material to alter a phase configuration within the phase-change material. Methods of operation are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mechanical resonator, comprising a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material.

2 . The mechanical resonator of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical resonator further comprises an electrical circuit portion, coupled to the phase-change material to alter a phase configuration within the phase-change material.

3 . The mechanical resonator of claim 2 , wherein the electrical circuit portion electrically connects to the phase-change material, such that the phase configuration of the phase-change material can be altered by Joule heating, by supplying electric current to the phase-change material.

4 . The mechanical resonator of claim 2 , wherein the electrical circuit portion comprises a heating element, arranged in thermal communication with the phase-change material, such that the phase configuration of the phase-change material can be altered by supplying electric current to the heating element, via the electric circuit portion, to heat the phase-change material.

5 . The mechanical resonator of claim 1 , wherein the spring-mass system comprises:
a movable mass; and a spring part, the latter comprising the phase-change material, wherein the movable mass is connected to a fixed part of the resonator, via the spring part.

6 . The mechanical resonator of claim 1 , wherein the spring-mass system comprises: a spring-mass part which comprises the phase-change material, wherein the spring-mass part is connected to a fixed part of the resonator.

7 . The mechanical resonator of claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material comprises at least one of:
Ge2Sb2Te5; GeTe; AgInSbTe; SnTe; and Sb.

8 . The mechanical resonator of claim 7 , wherein the phase-change material is such that a phase configuration thereof can be altered to change a resonance frequency of the spring-mass system by at least 10%.

9 . The mechanical resonator of claim 1 , wherein the spring-mass system comprises a composite beam, the latter comprising the phase-change material and another material.

10 . An apparatus, comprising:
a mechanical resonator, in turn comprising a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material; and a laser, the latter configured in the apparatus for altering a phase configuration of the phase-change material of the mechanical resonator.

11 . An electronic device, comprising:
a mechanical resonator, in turn comprising a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material; and means for altering a phase configuration of the phase-change material, said means for altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material comprising a power supply to supply electric energy to an electrical circuit portion coupled to the phase-change material to electrically alter the phase configuration of the phase-change material.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein said device further comprises a fine-tuning mechanism, which can be operated distinctly from said means for altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material, for fine tuning a resonance frequency of the spring.

13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein said device is a clock generator.

14 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein said device is an electronic filter.

15 . A method for tuning a resonance frequency of a spring-mass system of a mechanical resonator comprising a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material, the method comprising: altering a phase configuration of the phase-change material to tune the resonance frequency to a desired value.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material comprises electrically altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the phase configuration of the phase-change material is electrically altered by Joule heating.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the phase configuration of the phase-change material is electrically altered by electrically heating a heating element in thermal communication with the phase-change material.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material is performed by applying one or more laser pulses to the phase-change material.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material is performed so as to change the resonance frequency of the spring-mass system by at least 10%.

1 .- 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method for tuning a resonance frequency of a spring-mass system of a mechanical resonator comprising a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material, the method comprising: altering a phase configuration of the phase-change material to tune the resonance frequency to a desired value.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material comprises electrically altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the phase configuration of the phase-change material is electrically altered by Joule heating.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the phase configuration of the phase-change material is electrically altered by electrically heating a heating element in thermal communication with the phase-change material.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material is performed by applying one or more laser pulses to the phase-change material.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein altering the phase configuration of the phase-change material is performed so as to change the resonance frequency of the spring-mass system by at least 10%.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Engelen Johan B C
• Lantz Mark A
• Koelmans Wabe W

Classifications

• H03H2009/02299

  Comb-like, i.e. the beam comprising a plurality of fingers or protrusions along its length · CPC title

• H03H2009/02165

  Tuning · CPC title

• H03H9/02393 Primary

  Post-fabrication trimming of parameters, e.g. resonance frequency, Q factor · CPC title

• H02N11/00

  Generators or motors not provided for elsewhere; Alleged perpetua mobilia obtained by electric or magnetic means (by hydrostatic pressure F03B17/04; {by mechanical means F03G7/10;} by dynamo-electric means, {including arrangements of permanent magnets interacting with other permanent magnets,} H02K53/00) · CPC title

• B81C1/00698

  Electrical characteristics, e.g. by doping materials · CPC title