MEF2016_Dr. Oja

Will MEMS resonators replace quartz crystals?

Prof. Aarne Oja

Business Development Manager

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

Abstract

Quartz crystal industry has succesfully resisted efforts to integrate the high-performance timing functionality on silicon. In spite of numerous R&D projects and several startup companies the commercial relevance of silicon resonators is still somewhat marginal. Several experts believe that widespread adoption of silicon resonators is possible only when these components look like quartz in terms of their electrical properties. Recent results by VTT have shown that silicon resonators can indeed by driven by oscillator circuits used for quartz resonators at a similar level of performance. The speaker will discuss current performance of VTT silicon resonators and the remaining challenges. Tentative value propositions of silicon resonators in various market segments will be presented.

Prof. Aarne Oja works as a business development manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Oja received his doctorate in materials physics from Helsinki University of Technology in 1988. In 2000 he was nominated the research professor of sensor technology at VTT. Oja has had several management positions at VTT such as vice president of VTT strategic research (2006 - 2009), and innovation program director (2010 - 2013). Prof. Oja has more than 130 scientific publications and several patents. Prof. Oja is currently concentrating on commercializing VTT IP on MEMS-based timing circuits as well as MEMS gas sensors, ultrasonic transducers, and pressure sensors. Prof. Oja is a member of the scientific advisory board of Helsinki Institute of Physics and he has contributed to the creation of several spin-off companies