Millimeter-wave electro-mechanical stripline switch

An electromechanical microswitch, comprising:

• first and second electromagnets mounted in spaced-apart orientation to one another on a mounting surface and defining a sliding volume between them, said first and second electromagnets each having an electromagnetic field center located a first distance above the mounting surface;
• a stripline switch element mountable to a surface substantially between the first and second electromagnets, said stripline switch including a fixed portion having an aperture defining a sliding boundary between the first and second electromagnets and a sliding portion received within the aperture for lineal movement between first and second activated positions, with said sliding portion including a facing portion directed toward the mounting surface and an opposing surface facing out of the aperture;
• and
• a permanent magnet coupled to the opposing surface of the sliding portion and mounted within the sliding volume between the first and second electromagnets, said permanent magnet having a magnetic field center located a second distance above the mounting surface, with the second distance being greater that the first distance so that the permanent magnet is biased toward the mounting surface.