Kenneth Meade Lakin

Kenneth Meade Lakin (January 14, 1941 – November 24, 2012) was an American physicist and engineer known for pioneering work on thin-film acoustic resonators. He is widely credited with inventing and developing the solidly mounted resonator (SMR) and advancing the thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (TFBAR) technology used in microwave filters for mobile and wireless communications.

Biography Lakin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Mabel (Meade) and Harold Lakin, and grew up in Portland, Michigan.

Career From 1969 to 1980, Lakin was on the faculty of the University of Southern California, conducting research on surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, thin-film resonators, and piezoelectric film growth and characterization. He retired from TFR Technologies in 2005.

His 2005 review article in IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control summarized thin-film resonator technology and influenced academic and industrial development of BAW filters used in mobile phones and wireless infrastructure.

Awards and honors

Walter G. Cady Award (2003), IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Society—for “outstanding and innovative work leading to the development of miniature, thin film resonator filters in commercially viable products.”

IEEE Fellow (effective January 1, 2004), “for contributions to thin-film resonator technology and applications.”

IEEE UFFC Society Achievement Award (2010), recognizing pioneering contributions to AlN-based BAW/SMR devices and filters.

Lakin, K. M. (1997). “Method for optimizing piezoelectric resonator-based networks.” U.S. Patent 5,404,628 (assignee: TFR Technologies, Inc.).