MEMS RF Switches Help Improve RF Comms and Optimize SWaP for Satellite Platforms (Download)
In satellite design, where each gram of mass, milliwatt of energy consumption, and cubic centimeter of occupied volume are scrutinized, the size, weight, and power (SWaP) implications of the many embedded switches have long been an important consideration for system designers.
On satellites, switches fulfill the role of routing signals in the payload and control the operation of attenuators and phase shifters that feed phased-array antennas to manage the beamforming of signals. The physical space occupied by switches impacts the dimensions of the subsystem, and their aggregated mass has launch and operational considerations. Moreover, the switches’ electric power consumption places demand on the solar arrays, plus the generated heat must be appropriately managed and dissipated.