IEC 62047-5:2011

IEC 62047-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Semiconductor devices – Micro-electromechanical devices –
Part 5: RF MEMS switches
Dispositifs à semiconducteurs – Dispositifs microélectromécaniques –
Partie 5: Commutateurs MEMS-RF

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IEC 62047-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Semiconductor devices – Micro-electromechanical devices –
Part 5: RF MEMS switches
Dispositifs à semiconducteurs – Dispositifs microélectromécaniques –
Partie 5: Commutateurs MEMS-RF

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX V
ICS 31.080.99 ISBN 978-2-88912-584-5

– 2 – 62047-5  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD. 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
3.1 Switching operation . 7
3.2 Switching configuration . 7
3.3 Actuating mechanism . 7
3.4 Switching network configurations . 8
3.5 Reliability (performance) . 8
3.6 Electrical characteristics . 9
4 Essential ratings and characteristics . 10
4.1 Identification and types . 10
4.2 Application and specification description . 11
4.3 Limiting values and operating conditions . 11
4.4 DC and RF characteristics . 11
4.5 Mechanical and environmental characteristics . 12
4.6 Additional information . 12
5 Measuring methods . 12
5.1 General . 12
5.1.1 General precautions . 12
5.1.2 Characteristic impedances . 12
5.1.3 Handling precautions . 12
5.1.4 Types . 12
5.2 DC characteristics . 12
5.2.1 DC actuation voltage . 12
5.2.2 On or off resistance (d.c. contact or resistive type) . 14
5.2.3 On or off capacitance (capacitive type) . 15
5.2.4 Power consumption . 16
5.3 RF characteristics . 17
5.3.1 Insertion loss (L ) . 17
ins
5.3.2 Isolation (L ) . 19
iso
5.3.3 Voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) . 20
5.3.4 Input power at the intercept point . 21
5.4 Switching characteristics . 21
5.4.1 General . 21
5.4.2 Switching time measurement . 21
6 Reliability (performance) . 22
6.1 General . 22
6.2 Life time cycles . 22
6.2.1 General . 22
6.2.2 Cold switching . 23
6.2.3 Hot switching or power handling . 23
6.3 Temperature cycles . 24
6.3.1 General . 24
6.3.2 Test temperature. 24
6.3.3 Test cycle . 24

62047-5  IEC:2011 – 3 –
6.4 High temperature and high humidity testing . 24
6.5 Shock testing . 25
6.6 Vibration testing . 25
6.7 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity testing . 25
Annex A (informative) General description of RF MEMS Switches . 26
Annex B (informative) Geometry of RF MEMS switches . 27
Annex C (informative) Packaging of RF MEMS switches . 30
Annex D (informative) Failure mechanism of RF MEMS switches . 31
Annex E (informative) Applications of RF MEMS switches . 32
Annex F (informative) Measurement procedure of RF MEMS switches . 34

Figure 1 – Terminals of RF MEMS switch . 11
Figure 2 – Circuit diagram for measuring d.c. actuation voltage and RF characteristics
of RF MEMS switches . 13
Figure 3 – Circuit diagram for measuring impedance between the input and output
ports . 14
Figure 4 – Circuit diagram for measuring RF characteristics between the input and
output ports using a network analyzer . 18
Figure 5 – Circuit block diagram of a test setup to evaluate life time of RF MEMS
switch . 22
Figure 6 – Circuit block diagram of a test setup for power handling capability of RF
MEMS switch . 24
Figure B.1 – RF MEMS series d.c. contact switch with two contact areas. . 27
Figure B.2 – RF MEMS series d.c. contact switch with one contact area . 27
Figure B.3 – RF MEMS shunt d.c. contact switch . 28
Figure B.4 – RF MEMS series capacitive type switch with one contact area . 28
Figure B.5 – RF MEMS shunt capacitive type switch . 29
Figure F.1 – Measurement procedure of RF MEMS switches . 34

Table A.1 – Comparison of semiconductor and RF MEMS switches . 26
Table B.1 – Comparison of RF MEMS switches with different actuation mechanism . 29
Table D.1 – Comparison of failure mechanism of RF MEMS switches . 31

– 4 – 62047-5  IEC:2011
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES –
MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICES –

Part 5: RF MEMS switches
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other a
...