Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force
Micromechanical switches are of significant interest for advanced radio frequency and microwave systems, but their practical implementation is limited by low reliability. Electrodes of a microscopic size develop weak contact force that leads to high and unstable contact resistance. The force is typi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Micro |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/1/1 |
| _version_ | 1827305597955997696 |
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| author | Ilia V. Uvarov Igor A. Belozerov |
| author_facet | Ilia V. Uvarov Igor A. Belozerov |
| author_sort | Ilia V. Uvarov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Micromechanical switches are of significant interest for advanced radio frequency and microwave systems, but their practical implementation is limited by low reliability. Electrodes of a microscopic size develop weak contact force that leads to high and unstable contact resistance. The force is typically increased by using a sophisticated switch design with extended lateral dimensions, although a simple and compact cantilever is more preferable. The paper describes for the first time a comprehensive approach to enhance the force of an electrostatically actuated switch. The strategy is applied to a miniature device based on a 50 µm long cantilever. The contact force is increased from 10 to 112 µN, making the switch strong enough to achieve low and stable contact resistance. The restoring force is also enhanced in order to ensure reliable de-actuation. The growth of forces is accompanied by a reduction in the pull-in voltage. Connecting several cantilevers in parallel and manipulating the number and position of contact bumps additionally improves the force and mechanical stability of the switch. An optimal design contains a triple cantilever with two bumps. It provides 50% higher force per contact compared to the single-cantilever switch at the same pull-in voltage and keeps the advantages of a miniature device. The proposed design strategy may be used for building reliable MEMS switches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:00:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b50ab163e2624f2ba0651fafd04c1fb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8023 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:00:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micro |
| spelling | doaj.art-b50ab163e2624f2ba0651fafd04c1fb42024-03-27T13:54:44ZengMDPI AGMicro2673-80232023-12-014111310.3390/micro4010001Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact ForceIlia V. Uvarov0Igor A. Belozerov1Valiev Institute of Physics and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yaroslavl Branch, Universitetskaya 21, 150007 Yaroslavl, RussiaValiev Institute of Physics and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yaroslavl Branch, Universitetskaya 21, 150007 Yaroslavl, RussiaMicromechanical switches are of significant interest for advanced radio frequency and microwave systems, but their practical implementation is limited by low reliability. Electrodes of a microscopic size develop weak contact force that leads to high and unstable contact resistance. The force is typically increased by using a sophisticated switch design with extended lateral dimensions, although a simple and compact cantilever is more preferable. The paper describes for the first time a comprehensive approach to enhance the force of an electrostatically actuated switch. The strategy is applied to a miniature device based on a 50 µm long cantilever. The contact force is increased from 10 to 112 µN, making the switch strong enough to achieve low and stable contact resistance. The restoring force is also enhanced in order to ensure reliable de-actuation. The growth of forces is accompanied by a reduction in the pull-in voltage. Connecting several cantilevers in parallel and manipulating the number and position of contact bumps additionally improves the force and mechanical stability of the switch. An optimal design contains a triple cantilever with two bumps. It provides 50% higher force per contact compared to the single-cantilever switch at the same pull-in voltage and keeps the advantages of a miniature device. The proposed design strategy may be used for building reliable MEMS switches.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/1/1MEMS switchelectrostatic actuationcantilevercontact resistancecontact forcerestoring force |
| spellingShingle | Ilia V. Uvarov Igor A. Belozerov Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force Micro MEMS switch electrostatic actuation cantilever contact resistance contact force restoring force |
| title | Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force |
| title_full | Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force |
| title_fullStr | Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force |
| title_short | Design Guideline for a Cantilever-Type MEMS Switch with High Contact Force |
| title_sort | design guideline for a cantilever type mems switch with high contact force |
| topic | MEMS switch electrostatic actuation cantilever contact resistance contact force restoring force |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/1/1 |
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