MEMS and Si micromachined circuits for high-frequency applications

RF micromachining and microelectromechanical structure (MEMS) technology promise to provide an innovative approach in the development of effective and low-cost circuits and systems. This technology is expected to have significant application in the development of low-cost antenna arrays and reconfigurable apertures, due to its potential to support novel systems architectures. This paper presents a brief history and the state-of-the-art in the development of RF MEMS devices, with primary emphasis on switches and Si-micromachined circuit components for use in high-performance high-density on-wafer packaged circuits.