MEMS Switch Guarantees 100 Million Operations

July 23, 2009

An RF microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) switch boasts the high-frequency characteristics of electromechanical relays with a life expectancy that rivals solidstate relays. Driven by an electrostatic drive system, the 2SMES-01 is rated for 100 million operations at 0.5 mA and 0.5-VDC. It has been tested over 1 billion cycles. At 10 GHz, the 50- 2SMES-01 features 30 dB of isolation. It exhibits 1 dB insertion loss and 10 dB return loss. The switch consumes 10 W. The relay is comprised of two SPST-NO silicon chips. They are packaged together for SPDT or DPST-NO operation in an enclosure measuring just 5.2 x 3.0 x 1.8 mm. The switch was developed to meet the needs of the automated-test-equipment (ATE) market.

Omron Electronic Components, 55 Commerce Dr., Schaumburg, IL 60173; (847) 882-2288, Internet: www.components.omron.com.

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich | RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.