Menlo Micro Reaches Milestone in Navy’s High-Power Program

As part of its contribution to Task 4 of the U.S. Navy’s 10-MW Advanced Circuit Breaker Development Program, Menlo Microsystems successfully completed the program’s Task 4 goals. Using its Ideal Switch microelectromechanical-system (MEMS) technology, Menlo’s devices reliably handled 0.5 MW of power, highlighting a 1000-V DC, 500-A DC panel switching system constructed from four 1-kV/125-A modules. 

The scalable switch control center enables high-speed switching with high power density and outstanding power efficiency. This helps to reduce the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of these systems while also eliminating the need for large heatsinks or liquid cooling. 

Russ Garcia, CEO of Menlo Micro, noted, “Completing this phase of the project confirms Menlo Micro’s leadership in high-power MEMS switching and shows that our Ideal Switch technology meets demanding real-world requirements.”

Regarding the achievement, Garcia added, “This milestone not only strengthens Menlo’s pipeline for defense and commercial markets, but also accelerates adoption of emerging high-performance power control needs across multiple industries, including AI data centers.”

Unlike semiconductor-based switches, Menlo’s MEMS switches benefit from metal-to-metal conduction for high power capability. The company’s strong position in MEMS technology enables development of high-power switches with less generation of heat than conventional high-power switches. This allows for the use of simplified thermal management and smaller, denser, high-power switching systems — critical for maintaining the mobility of naval vessels (see image above).