This paper presents a concept and prototypes of transmissive millimeter-wave surfaces, which are reconfigurable by integrated micro-electromechanical (MEMS) actuators. The surfaces consist of small ...

This paper presents for the first time a novel concept of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) waveguide switch based on a reconfigurable surface, whose working principle is to block the wave propagation by short-circuiting the electrical field lines of the TE10 mode of a WR-12 rectangular waveguide. The reconfigurable surface is only 30 µm thick and consists of up to 1260 micromachined cantilevers and 660 contact points in the waveguide cross-section, which are moved simultaneously by integrated MEMS comb-drive actuators. Measurements of fabricated prototypes show that the devices are blocking wave propagation in the OFF-state with over 30 dB isolation for all designs, and allow for transmission of less than 0.65 dB insertion loss for the best design in the ON-state for 60–70 GHz. Furthermore, the paper investigates the integration of such microchips into WR-12 waveguides, which is facilitated by tailor-made waveguide flanges and compliant, conductive-polymer interposer sheets. It is demonstrated by reference measurements where the measured insertion loss of the switches is mainly attributed to the chip-to-waveguide assembly. For the first prototypes of this novel MEMS microwave device concept, the comb-drive actuators did not function properly due to poor fabrication yield. Therefore, for measuring the OFF-state, the devices were fixated mechanically.

This study investigates a new concept of waveguide-based W-band phase shifters for applications in phased array antennas. The phase shifters are based on a tuneable bilateral finline bandpass filter with 22 microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switching elements, integrated into a custom-made WR-12 waveguide with a replaceable section, whose performance is also investigated in this study. The individual phase states are selected by changing the configuration of the switches bridging the finline slot in specific positions; this leads to four discrete phase states with an insertion loss predicted by simulations better than 1 dB, and a phase shift span of about 270 degrees. MEMS chips have been fabricated in fixed positions, on a pair of bonded 300 mu m high-resistivity silicon substrates, to prove the principle, that is, they are not fully functional, but contain all actuation and biasing-line elements. The measured phase states are 0, 56, 189 and 256 degrees, resulting in an effective bit resolution of 1.78 bits of this nominal 2 bit phase shifter at 77 GHz. The measured insertion loss was significantly higher than the simulated value, which is assumed to be attributed to narrow-band design of the devices as the influences of fabrication and assembly tolerances are shown to be negligible from the measurement results.

This paper investigates a novel method of integrating microwave microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) chips into millimeter-wave rectangular waveguides. The fundamental difficulties of merging micromachined with macromachined microwave components, in particular, surface topography, roughness, mechanical stress points and air gaps interrupting the surface currents, are overcome by a double-side adhesive conductive polymer interposer. This interposer provides a uniform electrical contact, stable mechanical connection and a compliant stress distribution interlayer between the MEMS chip and a waveguide frame. The integration method is successfully implemented both for prototype devices of MEMS-tuneable reflective metamaterial surfaces and for MEMS reconfigurable transmissive surfaces. The measured insertion loss of the novel conductive polymer interface is less than 0.4 dB in the E-band (60-90 GHz), as compared to a conventional assembly with an air gap of 2.5 dB loss. Moreover, both dc biasing lines and mechanical feedthroughs to actuators outside the waveguide are demonstrated in this paper, which is achieved by structuring the polymer sheet xurographically. Finite element method simulations were carried out for analyzing the influence of different parameters on the radio frequency performance.

This paper presents for the first time a novel concept of a MEMS waveguide switch based on a reconfigurable surface, whose working principle is to short-circuit or to allow for free propagation of the electrical field lines of the TE10 mode of a WR-12 rectangular waveguide. This transmissive surface is only 30 μm thick and consists of up to 1260 reconfiguring cantilevers in the waveguide cross-section, which are moved simultaneously by integrated MEMS comb-drive actuators. For the first fabrication run, the yield of these reconfigurable elements on the chips was 80-86%, which still was good enough for resulting in a measured insertion loss in the open state of better than 1dB and an isolation of better than 20 dB for the best designs, very wideband from 62 to 75 GHz. For 100% fabrication yield, HFSS simulations predict that an insertion loss in the open state of better than 0.1 dB and an isolation of better than 30 dB in the closed state are possible for designs with 800 and more contact points for this novel waveguide switch concept.

This paper describes the main results of the EU FP7 project TUMESA - MEMS tuneable metamaterials for smart wireless applications. In this project, we studied several reconfigurable antenna approaches that combine the new technology of MEMS with the new concept of artificial electromagnetic materials and surfaces (metamaterials and metasurfaces) for realisation of millimetre wave phase shifters and beam-steering devices. MEMS technology allows to miniaturise electronic components, reduce their cost in batch production, and effectively compete with semiconductor and ferroelectric based technologies in terms of losses at millimetre wavelengths. Novel tuneable materials and components proposed in this project perform as smart beam steering devices. Fabricated with MEMS technology in batch and on a single chip, proposed tuneable devices allow substituting of larger and more complex sub-system of, e. g., a radar sensor. This substitution provides a dramatic cost reduction on a system level.

This paper presents a novel method of integrating MEMS chips into rectangular waveguides, demonstrated for MEMS reconfigurable reflective surfaces mounted perpendicularly into waveguide stubs for creating W-band phase-shifters. A patterned double-side adhesive conductive polymer sheet acting as compliant interposer electrically connects and mechanically fixates the waveguide frame to the MEMS chip. Furthermore, DC biasing lines for reconfiguring the MEMS chip are embedded in the polymer frame, acting as waveguide feedthrough lines. MEMS tuneable reflective surfaces have been fabricated using this novel mounting method. Microwave measurements show that the novel conductive polymer interface has less than 0:4 dB loss as compared to a standard short. Conventional mounting methods for in-plane biasing lines, requiring an air-gap interface and thus not allowing for electrical contact between the chip and the waveguide, are shown to result in typically 2:5 dB losses for an air gap equivalent in size to the polymer frame. The measurement results are in accordance with FEM simulations carried out for different interface parameter variations.

Possibility of compact low loss analog type millimeter wave phase shifter was demonstrated. The phase shifter is controlled by a MEMS tunable high-impedance surface placed, e.g., as a backshort or as sidewall inclusions of a rectangular metal waveguide. Reflection type phase shifter can provide differential analog phase shift from 0° to up to 240°. Reliable and tunable MEMS based high-impedance surface has been demonstrated for the first time. The insertion loss of the fabricated MEMS tunable high-impedance surface varies from 0.7 dB to a maximum of 3.5 dB (at a resonance frequency), which is a dramatic improvement over our previous non-tunable prototype.