Patent ID: 7449980
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: H01P

Abstract:
1. A discrete voltage tunable resonator comprising: a dielectric base comprising a dielectric material having at least one of a voltage dependent dielectric constant and piezoelectric characteristics, said base having a width, a length greater than or equal to said width, a thickness and opposed major surfaces; a metal contact having a predetermined area formed on an outer surface of said dielectric base at a predetermined location to provide a predetermined loaded Q for said resonator; and a metal ground coating formed on the remaining exposed surfaces of said dielectric base with the exception of an isolation region defined around said metal contact, said isolation region having an area sufficient to prevent significant coupling between said metal contact and said metal ground coating; wherein a control voltage applied between said metal contact and said metal ground coating provides at least one of (i) a variable electric field to control said dielectric constant and a resonant frequency of said resonator and (ii) a piezoelectric response causing a dimensional change in said resonator to control said resonant frequency of said resonator.