MEMS startup wins share of DARPA project

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Oct 15, 2003

Memtronics Corp has received a $3.69 million, three-year research contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) entitled "Robust, reliable RF MEMS capacitive switches".

Memtronics Corp has received a $3.69 million, three-year research contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) entitled "Robust, reliable RF MEMS capacitive switches".

This contract is for the first phase of a project focused on improving the reliability and robustness of radio-frequency microelectromechanical systems (RF MEMS) operating under extreme environmental conditions.

"The RF MEMS switches being developed during the course of this programme will be fundamental building blocks for a variety of next-generation military radar and communications systems", said Dr Chuck Goldsmith, President of Memtronics.

"Utilising this technology enables superior electrical performance in an ultrasmall footprint with very low power consumption".

This programme investigates the physics of failure for metal micromachined switches and develops integrated circuit materials and fabrication techniques that extend their lifetime.

It will also develop an innovative packaging concept to package and protect these ultrasmall devices from harsh environmental and temperature extremes.

The contract is part of DARPA's Harsh Environment, Robust Micromechanical Technology (HERMIT) programme.

Development will be executed by an interdisciplinary team of MEMS researchers and fabricators that includes Memtronics, Exponent, Lehigh University, Innovative Micro Technology and Honeywell MEMS Services.