Micro Mechanical Universal Switches

The focus of this activity is intended to build on other similar work done in the radio frequency micro-electromechanical systems (RF MEMS) industry which attempted to define standards for RF MEMS switches in areas such as naming conventions and terminology, testing methods, reliability definitions, specifications definitions, and architectures, and extend those same concepts to all the new use cases which can be explored in the realm of a micro-mechanical universal switch (MMUS).

The fundamental concept of an electronic switch or relay has been around since the dawn of electricity, and even before. The methods for switching electric signals or electric current have been split between electromechanical devices (electromechanical relays, or EMRs) and, more recently, solid-state or semiconductor devices. In the past 30 years, the technology area of MEMS switches has primarily focused on some very specific niche applications, almost exclusively developed for RF communications use cases.

The activity will initially focus on education/outreach on the MMUS concept and educate through white papers, workshops, and other similar methods, in order to build a cross-industry coalition of partners that can jointly define a family of standards that will help to facilitate the deployment of a MMUS device across numerous end markets.

Proposed deliverables and outcomes from this Industry Connections activity may include documents (e.g., white papers, reports), proposals for standards, conferences and workshops, databases, computer code, etc. The deliverables of this activity will be:

• Standards gap analysis
• Standards roadmap
• White papers
• Educational webinars
• Enabling/facilitating the PAR process

We welcome new participants from large and small corporations, academia, industry, and government agencies that are interested in Micro-Mechanical Universal Switches. Members will include but are not limited to:

• Companies from the MEMS or semiconductor component industry
• Academia and researchers involved in MEMS, relays, solid-state protection devices, and other advanced industrial controls technologies
• Companies with advanced materials and processing equipment for MEMS and semiconductor manufacturing
• Companies from the test and measurement equipment industry
• Users of mechanical and solid-state relays

To learn more about the program and how to join the Micro Mechanical Universal Switches activity, please express your interest by sending an inquiry to the activity chair whose information can be found in the Contacts section.