PCB and circuit design for NEMS resonators characterization

Oscillators are fundamental components in electronic systems, serving as the timing reference for circuit synchronization. While crystal oscillators, particularly quartz-based ones, have been the industry standard, they face inherent limitations including size constraints and frequency range restrictions. As shown in Figure 1, different frequency reference technologies present varying tradeoffs between size, stability, power consumption, and cost [7]. Nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) oscillators emerge as a promising alternative, offering potential advantages in size and frequency range. However, their characterization requires specialized electronic circuits operating at high frequencies. This project focuses on developing a printed circuit board (PCB) based characterization system for NEMS resonators operating at frequencies around 2.45 GHz, using discrete components and varactor-based tuning.