MEMS switches for 0.1–40 GHz for Pico-satellite application

Abstract

This paper deals with the RF (Radio Frequency)-MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System) switches are integrated in CPW topology. Phase shifter is integrated on high resistivity silicon substrate and loading elements are 360 switch design using the coventorware software and its superiority over the existing technologies like PIN Diodes and Field-Effect-Transistors regarding size, power, Isolation The measured down state insertion loss of ?0.1 dB up to 40 GHz and switch resistance is 1 ?. The measured reflection coefficient is dominated bt t-line switch is ?20 dB at 30 GHz. This switch used in X-band and K-band phase shifter, switched capacitor bank and tunable filter. The 1-kg class satellite plans to use the MEMS TxRx switch as a functional component on its RF communication board. Application of switch based Phase shifters for satellite based radars (20 billion cycles), missile systems (0.1---1 billion cycles), long-range radars (20---200 billion cycles). By cutting the mass of components onboard the space vehicle, the launch costs and hopefully the overall budget for production can be reduced.