A Single-Pole, Eight-Throw, Radio-Frequency, MicroElectroMechanical Systems Switch for Multi-Band / Multi-Mode Front-End Module

Abstract

This paper presents a single-pole eight-throw(SP8T) switch based on proposed a radio-frequency(RF) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches. The proposed switch was driven by a double stop(DS) comb drive, with a lateral resistive contact. Additionally, the proposed switch was designed to have tapered signal line and bi-directionally actuated. A forward actuation connects between signal lines and contact part, and the output becomes on-state. A reverse actuation connects between ground lines and contact part, and the output becomes off-state. The SP8T switch of 3-stage tree topology was developed based on an arrangement of the proposed RF MEMS switches. The developed SP8T switch had an actuation voltage of 12 V, an insertion loss of 1.3 dB, a return loss of 15.1 dB, and an isolation of 31.4 dB at 6 GHz.