On The Design of An Ohmic RF MEMS Switch 2
On The Design of An Ohmic RF MEMS Switch 2
On The Design of An Ohmic RF MEMS Switch 2
Kampitaki,
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on COMMUNICATIONS K. Tsiakmakis, P. Tsivos Soel, R. Nilavalan
This paper presents the analysis, design and simulation of a direct contact (dc) RF MEMS switch specified
for reconfigurable microstrip array antennas. The proposed switch is indented to be built on PCB via a monolithic
technology together with the antenna patches. The proposed switch will be used to allow antenna beamforming in the
operating frequency range between 2GHz and 4GHz. This application requires a great number of these switches to be
integrated with an array of microstrip patch elements. The proposed switch fulfills the switching characteristics as
concerns the five requirements (loss, linearity, voltage/power handling, small size/power consumption, temperature),
following a relatively simple design, which ensures reliability, robustness and high fabrication yield.
Ohmic, resistive, direct contact, switch, RF MEMS, PCB, reconfigurable, microstrip antenna array
layers which are available today. This makes them that could result in several drawbacks regarding cost and
inappropriate for the frequency range we intend to work compatibility, especially when designing topologies with
at. significant number of switches.
On the other hand Ohmic RF MEMS switches In general, the cost of a single RF MEMS switch is
operate on frequency range between DC and 60 GHz. very low, thanks to the similar to VLSI design and batch
Consequently they considered the appropriate type of processing methodology and tools. Nevertheless, the
MEMS Switch for the operating frequency range of our cost is increased dramatically due to the devise7level
application. hermetic packaging. In addition to that, there are real
Criteria on the choice of the better type of Ohmic RF estate problems due to the relatively great size of the
MEMS switch for this application is the simplicity, the packaging and the large number of the switches which
compatibility with the microstrip lines, the robustness have to be used for the complete antenna configuration.
and the long term reliability since the switch has to be Another important drawback of the hybrid mode is
able to perform millions/billions of switching cycles the impedance mismatching, during the packaging and
[6,7]. assembling process. RF MEMS switches require wire
Microstrip antenna fabrication techniques use the bonding in the package introducing impedance
well7established printed circuit board (PCB) technology. mismatch and consequently signal loss. Besides, further
Thus, a microstrip antenna can be small in size and low signal loss is introduced during the assembling, between
in profile as well as robust with a smooth surface, the package and the board. Last but not least, additional
suitable for mobile communications. In addition, when signal loss is introduced because of the incompatibility
used in arrays they provide reconfigurability in terms of between the substrates of the RF MEMS switch (usually
operating frequency, bias mode and beamforming. high permittivity materials such as Si and GaAs) and the
The design of a reconfigurable antenna using RF microstrip’s antenna element (usually microwave
MEMS switches could be implemented either based on laminate PCB) due to the difference in the electrical
the hybrid mode, that is using individual RF MEMS properties of their materials [5].
switches which should be bond in the PCB as shown in Hence, to maintain an overall good performance in
Fig. 1, or the integrated mode, where each switch is hybrid mode design it is vital to use extra adapting
fabricated on the same substrate with the antenna circuitry to reduce the undesirable RF signal reflection.
patches in a single manufacturing process, as shown in In monolithic configuration, the RF MEMS switches
Fig. 2. are built on the PCB substrate, under the same process
with the antenna patches. Using the integrated mode we
eliminate problems regarding cost, since the fabrication
process needs only one packaging procedure for the
whole application, real estate problems, due to the small
size of the RF MEMS switches without the packaging
cells and matching as the switches are parts of the
microstrip antenna structure.
The main drawback of this configuration is the yield
of the design, since both antenna and RF MEMS
switches are built simultaneously. Thus, the
manufacturing cost is increased since a single RF
MEMS switch failure would result in wasting the whole
structure. Some other typical technology obstacles of the
integrated mode are the planarization of the high aspect
ratio microstrip waveguide Cu layers, the profile and
surface roughness and the compatibility requirement of
the temperature (250 C) [8, 9,].
This paper presents the design and process
considerations of an ohmic RF MEMS Switch,
implemented in the integrated mode. The design
Fig.1 Hybrid configuration of the microstrip array approach followed in this work was mainly towards the
antenna and the expanded view of a packaged RF simplicity of the RF MEMS switch and its compatibility
MEMS Switch with the substrate material properties (mechanical,
thermal, chemical, electrical, etc) of the antenna. The
With the current technology, it is possible to fabricate new configuration is designed to be fully integrated in
such an antenna using the hybrid method. Nevertheless, the RF system, minimizing the main drawbacks of both
the hybrid and integrated design modes. The elements, extra consideration should be paid in biasing
investigation of the proposed design has been carried out each switch, since the bias lines will be constructed at
using Coventorware 2008 [10] as well as FEKO 5.4 [11] the same level. It is important that they should not affect
for the full electromagnetic wave analysis. the operation of the antenna, either by creating any type
of radiation or by affecting the operation of their
adjacent switches.
On the other hand, special effort should be paid in
designing a switch with the least possible bias voltage
avoiding extra circuitry.
It is also important to investigate on the use of
dielectric in the switch structure which prevents from
sort7circuit although it may create stiction phenomena.
)
The proposed ohmic RF MEMS switch is shown in
Fig.3. The design is using two different materials, i.e.,
copper for the anchors, biasing tracks and the electrode
and gold for the posts, contact and cantilever. The most
common materials that could be used for the fabrication
of the cantilever and contact surface were copper (Cu),
Fig.2 Integrated configuration of the microstrip array aluminum (Al) or gold (Au).
antenna and the expanded view of the ohmic RF MEMS Examining the trade7offs of each one of them, it has
Switch been decided that Au was the most appropriate material
for the following reasons:
i. The conductivity of Au is better than Al and
( % worse than Cu. Better conductivity implies less skin
The presented ohmic RF MEMS switch is intended to be depth, which is an important parameter for the lossless
used to control a microstrip antenna array built on PCB, RF signal transmission via the cantilever.
The advantage of these types of antennas is the (0.452.106/cm for Au, 0.377.106/cm for Al, and
ability to beamforming according to the requirements of 0.596.106/cm for Cu).
any application. The switch investigated here will be ii. The young’s modulus of Au is similar to that of
used to reconfigure the antenna geometry. Thus, it has to Al and much smaller than that of Cu. Consequently, the
present good performance in certain electrical stiffness of the cantilever made by Au will be lower
characteristics, as shown below: fulfilling the requirement for lower pull down voltages
i. Very low insertion loss in the “ON” condition. of the cantilever (78GPa for Au, 70GPa for Al, and
ii. Very high isolation in the “OFF” condition. 110GPa for Cu).
iii. Good linearity over a wide frequency range.
In addition, the structure of the switch should be as
simple as possible, to reduce the possibility of failure
during the manufacturing process, maintaining high
yield. Moreover, this process should take into account
the material characteristics of the antenna, such as:
i. The temperature employed during the
fabrication process should not exceed the glass transition
temperature (Tg) of the PCB material which is usually in
between 1257250°C depending on the PCB type [12].
ii. The chemical, mechanical and electrical
characteristics of the material used to form the contact
area of the switch should be the appropriate to maximize Fig.3 The proposed Ohmic RF MEMS Switch
the reliability of the RF MEMS device.
Due to the fact that the RF MEMS switches will be iii. Considering the nearly7hermetic packaging it is
developed by applying an integrated monolithic process inevitable to face contaminations issues in the long
simultaneously with the microstrip antenna array term. Au is the most chemically stable material among
the three materials since it does not form oxides or than 677%. As a result the actual contact resistance is
sulfides offering greater longevity. Au7Au ohmic much higher than the calculated.
contact switch has been shown that it can reach 108
cycles of lifetime [13, 14].
The pull down voltage of the switch must be as low *
as possible and it depends on the dimensions of the The proposed fabrication processes of the presented
cantilever (length and height), the distance from the design is using the RT5800 of Roger Corporation as a
electrode and the stiffness of the gold. The stiffness in substrate, which is a high performance microwave
turns mainly depends on the shape of the cantilever and laminate (er=2.2, tanδ=0.0009, copper thickness 9 or
the existence of perforation. Holes have been applied to 17.5 um (1/4 or 2/4 oz) and dielectric thickness
reduce some of the residual stress in the cantilever, 3.175mm). An important reason for choosing this
reducing the Young’s modulus of the RF MEMS specific substrate except of the excellent microwave
structure. The ligament efficiency (J) is 0.625 and characteristics was the increased rigidity since polishing
results to a reduction of the Young’s modulus of 25% steps will have to be used during the fabrication process.
[15]. Perforation will also contribute in the removal of A rough description of the proposed monolithic
the sacrificial layer and the release of the cantilever. antenna fabrication processes are presented below:
The width chosen matches that of the signal lines
(150um). The thickness of the cantilever affects
significantly the magnitude of the pull down voltage
[15]. In addition, it depends on the operating frequency
*
1. Mechanical7Chemical Polishing: The roughness
range (274GHz in our case), since it has been shown that
of Cu on the top of the laminate is in the range of 0.57
it has to be at least twice the skin depth of the material
1um, according to the manufacturer. As a result, this
used to provide low insertion loss [16]. Besides it has
area should be first polished down below 70nm, the
been proven that for operating frequencies below 4GHz
least acceptable roughness level for a DC RF MEMS
the skin effect is much less significant than the resistive
Switch. This first step is important in order to obtain a
loss of the signal lines [17]. The thickness of the
reliable and repeatable contact area, and is demonstrated
cantilever made by electroplated gold has been
in Fig.4.
calculated some 3um.
Due to the application, a bridge7type construction has
been designed to allow several biasing tracks to pass
underneath the switch. The width of those tracks is kept
small (20um each), so that they do not attract the beam
above them. Fig.4 The polishing step
Most of the ohmic RF MEMS applications use
dielectric layer on top of the electrode, to make sure that 2. Gold posts placement: Gold posts deposition
the cantilever will not touch the electrode which implies should be carried out in two phases (2u each) using
a sort circuit. Nevertheless, adding dielectric involves masks and photoresist layers to construct the anchors
high temperature processing steps. That is not an and the contact area, as shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6
important drawback using Silicon substrates. Since this respectively.
switch is using a PCB substrate, such a high temperature
process step is prohibited.
The lack of dielectric, although it demands greater
consideration as far as the pull down voltage is
concerned, simplifies the fabrication process and
prevents from stiction of the bridge due to dielectric Fig.5 First gold posts deposition
charging, a known failure reason of electrostatic
actuated RF MEMS switches [18].
Finally, the contact area of the switch had to be kept
relatively small to maintain high isolation during the
OFF state, in the highest operating frequency. Fig.6 Second gold posts deposition
Simultaneously, it should be large enough to provide
good conductance in the ON state. Another issue to be 3. Copper wet etching process: The antenna
concerned is the roughness of the contact area. An patches, the anchors, the electrode plates and the bias
acceptable figure for switch contact is about 50 nm, but tracks should be developed in the copper surface.
even then the effective contact area couldn’t be more
Fig.3 The proposed ohmic RF MEMS switch simulated Fig.5 Contact area (nm) of the proposed switch
in Coventor Architect Scene 3D
The switch keeps the capacitance in the range of
The electrical and mechanical characteristics of the femptoFarrad in the OFF state, assuring very high
proposed switch have been obtained via Coventor isolation.
Cosmoscope. The switching time was some 37us, as
shown in Fig. 4.
# , # ,
Length 440um Actuation 27.6V
(movable) Voltage
Width 150um Switch Time 37uSec
Height 2um Switch 1.13P
Resistance
Cantilever Gold Capacitance 36fF
Type (off)
Thickness 3um Isolation 720.62dΒ
(4GHz)
Holes Yes Loss (4GHz) 70.04dΒ
Conduct 150×54um Conduct 10uN
Area Force
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