US 2026/0290713 A1 · FAILSAFE OHMIC-CAPACITIVE MEMBRANE ACTUATOR-BASED RADIO FREQUENCY SWITCH

Abstract

The technology described herein is directed towards a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switch that combines ohmic and capacitive membranes. When actuated, the ohmic membrane contacts a radio frequency (RF) line allowing low-loss signal continuity; when the capacitive membrane is simultaneously de-actuated, an RF signal path is obtained. If the ohmic membrane fails actuated, control of the capacitive membrane controls the signal path; if the ohmic membrane fails in its de-actuated state, the RF signal is decoupled from the signal path, protecting any connected circuitry. If the capacitive membrane fails de-actuated, control of the ohmic membrane controls the signal path; if the capacitive membrane fails in its actuated state, the RF signal is shunted to ground, protecting any connected circuitry. In one implementation, the combined ohmic and capacitive membrane pair is one of two pairs on a switch device, with another ohmic and capacitive membrane pair corresponding to a different signal path.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) switch, comprising:
an ohmic membrane-based switch deployed in an RF signal path from an input port towards an output port, the ohmic membrane-based switch being controllable to be in an first actuated state or a first de-actuated state, the ohmic membrane-based switch configured to:
in the first actuated state, couple an RF transmission line that is part of the RF signal path to route RF signals obtained on the input port towards the output port, and
in the first de-actuated state, decouple the RF transmission line from the signal path to prevent the RF signals obtained on the input port from being obtained by the output port;
and
a capacitive membrane-based switch deployed in the signal path, the capacitive membrane-based switch being controllable to be in a second actuated state or a second de-actuated state, the capacitive membrane-based switch configured to:
in the second de-actuated state, in conjunction with the ohmic membrane-based switch being in the first actuated state, pass the RF signals obtained on the input port to the output port, and
in the second actuated state, shunt the RF signals obtained on the input port to an RF ground.

5 more elements

A system, comprising:

at least one controller;
an ohmic membrane-based switch coupled to the at least one controller, the ohmic membrane-based switch deployed in an radio frequency (RF) signal path from an input port towards an output port, the ohmic membrane-based switch controlled by the controller to operate in an actuated state that couples an RF transmission line from the input towards the output port, and
a capacitive membrane-based switch coupled to the at least one controller, the capacitive membrane-based switch deployed in the RF signal path, the capacitive membrane-based switch controlled by the at least one controller to operate in an de-actuated state that decouples the RF transmission line from an RF ground.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Failsafe ohmic-capacitive membrane actuator-based radio frequency switch

Life of this patent

Failsafe ohmic-capacitive membrane actuator-based radio frequency switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20