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A Reconfigurable SAW Resonator Using Monolithically Integrated Switches | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

A Reconfigurable SAW Resonator Using Monolithically Integrated Switches


Abstract:

This paper presents design, implementation, and measurement results for a reconfigurable surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator using monolithically integrated vanadium di...Show More

Abstract:

This paper presents design, implementation, and measurement results for a reconfigurable surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator using monolithically integrated vanadium dioxide (VO2) switches. The frequency of the resonator is tuned between two different states from 700 MHz to 720 MHz while the resonator maintains a quality factor better than 350 over the tuning range. The use of vanadium dioxide switches, which are only a few tens of micrometers in size, allows the monolithic integration with the SAW resonator. This enables the practical implementation of a reconfigurable SAW resonator, for the first time, without any major performance degradation or increase in the size of the resonator. The proposed resonator structure can be utilized to develop compact tunable SAW filters for wireless applications.
Date of Conference: 19-24 June 2022
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 29 August 2022
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ISSN Information:

Conference Location: Denver, CO, USA

I. Introduction

A conventional RF frontend module consists of many filters where each filter is allocated for a specific frequency band. These filters are connected through multiplexing switch networks to support multi-band wireless standards. Using an individual filter for each band increases the module size, power consumption and cost. Therefore, implementation of reconfigurable filters that can operate at different frequency bands while maintaining key RF performance characteristics such as low insertion loss, good linearity and power handling is necessary for manufacturing of future RF frontends. For implementation of a reconfigurable filter, there is a need for reconfigurable resonators that can be tuned and operate at different frequency bands. Reconfigurable resonators and filters using MEMS technology and active tuning elements have been presented in literature [1], however most of the existing tunable solutions are based on planar transmission-line or nonplanar cavity structures that are too bulky. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is traditionally used in many consumer wireless filtering applications due to the ease of manufacturing, lower cost, and good RF performance. Recent studies have been conducted to explore the possibility of tunable RF acoustic wave resonators and filters [2]. A tunable SAW filter was presented in [3] where tuning is achieved by integrating MEMS varactors with the SAW resonator. The complex structure and manufacturing of the MEMS devices does not allow a cost-effective and compact implementation while maintaining an acceptable RF performance. Another reconfigurable piezoelectric resonator was presented in [4] by utilizing phase change material programmable vias between the electrode connections. The resonator in [4] achieves different impedance states but it does not have frequency tuning capability and the performance characteristics are not sufficient for practical implementation of a filter. This paper presents a method for construction of a reconfigurable SAW resonator where the tuning element is monolithically integrated with the resonator. A non-traditional SAW resonator configuration is proposed where tuning of the resonance frequency is achieved by creating low and high impedance paths between certain tuning electrodes and the interdigitated electrodes of a SAW resonator. Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) elements are used as switching elements that can be easily integrated within the proposed structure of the resonator.

References

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