Clark T.-C. Nguyen (Advisor)

Research Advised by Professor Clark T.-C. Nguyen

Nguyen Group:  List of Projects | List of Researchers

Resonant Switch Receivers

Qiutong Jin
Clark T.-C. Nguyen
2025

This thesis presents the design, fabrication, testing, and performance analysis of micromechanical resonant switches, or "resoswitches," as an innovative alternative to traditional transistor-based components in ultra-low-power wireless communication systems. By harnessing mechanical resonance, resoswitches introduce a novel paradigm for energy efficient receivers with promising applications in remote sensing, RFID, environmental monitoring, and other domains where power conservation is crucial. Unlike conventional electronic components, resoswitches consume no standby power, allowing for...

Kathy Doan

Graduate Student Researcher
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Professor Clark T.-C. Nguyen (Advisor)
Ph.D. 2031 (Anticipated)

Qiutong Jin

Graduate Student Researcher
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Professor Clark T.-C. Nguyen (Advisor)
Ph.D. 2025

Qiutong Jin received B.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Iowa in 2019. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in MEMS in EECS at UC Berkeley under the supervision of Prof. Clark Nguyen and will graduate in May 2025.

Fall 2023 Research Review Presenter


High-Q Aluminum Nitride RF MEMS Lamb Wave Resonators and Narrowband Filters

Ernest Ting-Ta Yen
Albert P. Pisano
Clark T.-C. Nguyen
Liwei Lin
Richard M. White
2012

The increasing demands for higher performance, advanced wireless and mobile communication systems have continuously driven device innovations and system improvements. In order to reduce power consumption and integration complexity, radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators and filters have been considered as direct replacements for off-chip passive components. In this dissertation, a new radio architecture for direct channel selection is explored. The primary elements in this new architecture include a multitude of closely-spaced narrowband filters (...

Fully Balanced Differential Micromechanical Resonator Reference Oscillator

Kevin H. Zheng
Xintian Liu
Alper Ozgurluk
Clark T.-C. Nguyen
2025

A 61-MHz MEMS-based low-phase noise reference oscillator comprising a micromechanical capacitive-gap-transduced polysilicon wine-glass disk resonator and a custom fully balanced differential transimpedance amplifier (TIA) integrated circuit in 0.18-µm CMOS achieves a 5-dB phase noise figure of merit (FoM) improvement over a comparable single-ended reference oscillator [1]. Key to this improvement is fully balanced differential operation of both the resonator and the sustaining amplifier, which rejects not only common mode circuit and supply noise, but also resonator DC-bias (VP) noise. As...

Resoswitch Squegging Control by Compact Model-Assisted Impact Electrode Design

Kevin H. Zheng
Qiutong Jin
Clark T.-C. Nguyen
2024

This paper demonstrates, via a novel compact model and experiments, that squegging in micromechanical resonant electrical switches (resoswitches) [1] is controllable via impact electrode design. The model captures the nonlinear dynamics of impact contact and predicts squegging. Unlike other numeric and finite-element (FEM)-based models, this physical parameter-based model has no convergence difficulties when simulating impact, accurately captures squegging, and runs within any circuit simulator with up to 100× simulation time improvement compared to commercial software....

BPNX1050: In Situ Harsh Environment Testing of Electrical Stiffness-Based Sensors (New Project)

Neil Chen
2025

This project aims to conduct in situ experimental measurements under conditions that closely mimic realistic harsh environments to evaluate the efficacy of electrical stiffness-based sensors in practical product scenarios.

Project is currently funded by: Industry Sponsored Research

BPNX1049: Diamond Micromechanics (New Project)

William Dong
2025

While silicon has been the workhorse for much of the MEMS sensor industry, it has its shortcomings when compared to other materials that might be used, namely diamond. Diamond has advantages over silicon in Young’s modulus, quality factor, and surface inertness, all of which could contribute to improved MEMS device performance. This project specifically employs diamond to increase the velocity of resonant mechanical structures towards better performance for sensors and frequency control devices.

Project is currently funded by: Federal

BPN972: Temperature-Insensitive Resonant Strain Sensor

Xintian Liu
Kevin H. Zheng
Neil Chen
2025

Explore the ultimate capability of a vibrating ring-based electrical stiffness-based resonant strain sensor, rigorously confirming a superior insensitivity to temperature that should permit it to operate under wide temperature excursions, such as experienced in harsh automotive environments.

Project currently funded by: Industry Sponsored