Abstract
In this paper, two types of RF MEMS switches namely step structure and Normal beam structure are designed and analyzed using different meander techniques. Three techniques namely plus, zigzag and three-square meander were used to lower the pull-in voltage. The actuating beam is designed with the rectangular perforations affects the performance of a switch by lowering the pull-in voltage, switching speed and results in better isolation. In this paper a comparative analysis is done for all three meander techniques with and without perforations on the beam. Total six structures have been designed with the combination three meanders and two different beam structures. The proposed stepdown structure exhibits high performance characteristics with a very low pull-in voltage of 1.2 V having an airgap of 0.8 µm between the actuation electrodes. The gold is used as beam material and HfO2 as the dielectric material such that the upstate and downstate capacitance is seen as 1.02 fF and 49 fF. The FEM analysis is done to calculate the spring constant and thereby the pull-in voltage and behavior of the switch is studied with various parameters. The switch with a step structure and three-square meander configuration has shown best performance of all by requiring a pull-in voltage of 1.2 V and lower switching time of 0.2 µs. The proposed switch also exhibits good RF performance characteristics with an insertion loss below − 0.07 dB and return loss below − 60 dB over the frequency range of 1–40 GHz. At 28 GHz a high isolation of − 68 dB is exhibited.
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Acknowledgements
The Authors would like to thank to NMDC supported by NPMASS, National Institute of Technology, Silchar for providing the necessary computational tools.
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Sravani, K.G., Guha, K. & Rao, K.S. Analysis of a novel RF MEMS switch using different meander techniques. Microsyst Technol 26, 1625–1635 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04703-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04703-w