Patent ID: 7545238

Claim:
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) for generating a timing signal, the system comprising: a MEMS resonator including a first member aligned substantially parallel to a first axis when stationary and having a serrated surface comprised of a first plurality of teeth; and a first drive electrode aligned substantially parallel to the first axis and having a serrated surface comprised of a second plurality of teeth that opposes the serrated surface of the first member, wherein the teeth in the first plurality are interleaved with the teeth in the second plurality, wherein the first member is configured to bend towards the first drive electrode about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis when a signal is applied to the first drive electrode, wherein the teeth in the first plurality of teeth and the teeth in the second plurality of teeth have no surfaces substantially parallel to a third axis that is perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, and wherein a capacitive change across each surface of a tooth in the first plurality of teeth and a corresponding surface of an opposing tooth in the second plurality of teeth results when the first member bends towards the drive electrode.