https://menlomicro.com/products/rf

People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
have been successful products.

Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.

On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
<jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
<t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:

>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>
>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>have been successful products.
>
>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.

Specs look OK, but
https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
gate???

On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:33:47 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
wrote:

>On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
><t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:
>
>>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>>
>>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>>have been successful products.
>>
>>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
>
>Specs look OK, but
> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
>gate???

MEMS makes good accelerometers and microphones, and pretty good
oscillators (although quartz works fine) but has so far not been
reliable as relay contacts. I sampled some fabulous MEMS relays about
20 years ago, but that outfit soon gave up.

One could make a MEMS varicap, but that would have problems too.

Micromirrors seem to work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEMS#Applications

That list doesn't include relays.

On Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 2:33:55 AM UTC-4, Jan Panteltje wrote:
> On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
> <jla...@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
> <t88l8iljul0khj5mc...@4ax.com>:
> >https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
> >
> >People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
> >have been successful products.
> >
> >Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
> Specs look OK, but
> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
> gate???

Interesting, but you can't switch it on when there is voltage across the contacts. That seems pretty limiting for signal uses.

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:59:06 -0700) it happened John Larkin
<jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
<un5m8i1iau5v4bb1f9qojfe3pdf6pdm3c2@4ax.com>:

>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:33:47 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>><t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:
>>
>>>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>>>
>>>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>>>have been successful products.
>>>
>>>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
>>
>>Specs look OK, but
>> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
>>gate???
>
>MEMS makes good accelerometers and microphones, and pretty good
>oscillators (although quartz works fine) but has so far not been
>reliable as relay contacts. I sampled some fabulous MEMS relays about
>20 years ago, but that outfit soon gave up.
>
>One could make a MEMS varicap, but that would have problems too.
>
>Micromirrors seem to work.
>
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEMS#Applications
>
>That list doesn't include relays.

Yes, I use a
MPU6050 9 axis sensor, a HMC5883 magnetic compass and a BMP180 digital pressure sensor in my xgpspc navigation system:
http://panteltje.nl/panteltje/xgpspc/raspi_add_on_compass_accelerometer_pressure_GPS_interface_IMG_4949.JPG
https://panteltje.nl/pub/xgpspc_laptop_screenshot_IMG_7325.JPG
note r -3 an p -4 degrees roll and pitch at bottom screen
does auto pilot GPS, ADSB(planes), AIS(boats) etc too:
https://panteltje.nl/pub/boats_and_planes.gif
latest one even has a fire solution....
;-)

I take it that the how-it-works link for their relays is a big simplification.
Have not encountered any of their stuff so far.
I do have some nice RF relais.

On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:01:36 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
wrote:

>On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:59:06 -0700) it happened John Larkin
><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
><un5m8i1iau5v4bb1f9qojfe3pdf6pdm3c2@4ax.com>:
>
>>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:33:47 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>>><t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:
>>>
>>>>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>>>>
>>>>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>>>>have been successful products.
>>>>
>>>>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
>>>
>>>Specs look OK, but
>>> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
>>>gate???
>>
>>MEMS makes good accelerometers and microphones, and pretty good
>>oscillators (although quartz works fine) but has so far not been
>>reliable as relay contacts. I sampled some fabulous MEMS relays about
>>20 years ago, but that outfit soon gave up.
>>
>>One could make a MEMS varicap, but that would have problems too.
>>
>>Micromirrors seem to work.
>>
>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEMS#Applications
>>
>>That list doesn't include relays.
>
>Yes, I use a
>MPU6050 9 axis sensor, a HMC5883 magnetic compass and a BMP180 digital pressure sensor in my xgpspc navigation system:
> http://panteltje.nl/panteltje/xgpspc/raspi_add_on_compass_accelerometer_pressure_GPS_interface_IMG_4949.JPG
> https://panteltje.nl/pub/xgpspc_laptop_screenshot_IMG_7325.JPG
> note r -3 an p -4 degrees roll and pitch at bottom screen
>does auto pilot GPS, ADSB(planes), AIS(boats) etc too:
> https://panteltje.nl/pub/boats_and_planes.gif
> latest one even has a fire solution....
>;-)
>
>I take it that the how-it-works link for their relays is a big simplification.

The classic MEMS relay killer has been contacts sticking closed.

People keep trying.

>Have not encountered any of their stuff so far.
> I do have some nice RF relais.

I like the little DPDT telecom relays, like the Fujitsu FTR
surface-mount parts. They cost around a dollar and work fine to about
3 GHz. Once you call a relay an "RF" part, the price explodes.

On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:12:02 -0700) it happened John Larkin
<jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
<epdm8i5u9oroorqfub0d9tbsjf4sodd8lp@4ax.com>:

>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:01:36 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:59:06 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>><un5m8i1iau5v4bb1f9qojfe3pdf6pdm3c2@4ax.com>:
>>
>>>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:33:47 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>>>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>>>><t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:
>>>>
>>>>>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>>>>>
>>>>>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>>>>>have been successful products.
>>>>>
>>>>>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
>>>>
>>>>Specs look OK, but
>>>> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
>>>>gate???
>>>
>>>MEMS makes good accelerometers and microphones, and pretty good
>>>oscillators (although quartz works fine) but has so far not been
>>>reliable as relay contacts. I sampled some fabulous MEMS relays about
>>>20 years ago, but that outfit soon gave up.
>>>
>>>One could make a MEMS varicap, but that would have problems too.
>>>
>>>Micromirrors seem to work.
>>>
>>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEMS#Applications
>>>
>>>That list doesn't include relays.
>>
>>Yes, I use a
>>MPU6050 9 axis sensor, a HMC5883 magnetic compass and a BMP180 digital pressure sensor in my xgpspc navigation system:
>> http://panteltje.nl/panteltje/xgpspc/raspi_add_on_compass_accelerometer_pressure_GPS_interface_IMG_4949.JPG
>> https://panteltje.nl/pub/xgpspc_laptop_screenshot_IMG_7325.JPG
>> note r -3 an p -4 degrees roll and pitch at bottom screen
>>does auto pilot GPS, ADSB(planes), AIS(boats) etc too:
>> https://panteltje.nl/pub/boats_and_planes.gif
>> latest one even has a fire solution....
>>;-)
>>
>>I take it that the how-it-works link for their relays is a big simplification.
>
>The classic MEMS relay killer has been contacts sticking closed.
>
>People keep trying.
>
>>Have not encountered any of their stuff so far.
>> I do have some nice RF relais.
>
>I like the little DPDT telecom relays, like the Fujitsu FTR
>surface-mount parts. They cost around a dollar and work fine to about
>3 GHz. Once you call a relay an "RF" part, the price explodes.

All this comes from the superconducting filter unit I bought on ebay:
https://panteltje.nl/pub/SMA_relays_IXIMG_0872.JPG

On Fri, 16 Jun 2023 01:48:32 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
wrote:

>On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:12:02 -0700) it happened John Larkin
><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
><epdm8i5u9oroorqfub0d9tbsjf4sodd8lp@4ax.com>:
>
>>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:01:36 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On a sunny day (Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:59:06 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>>><un5m8i1iau5v4bb1f9qojfe3pdf6pdm3c2@4ax.com>:
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:33:47 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On a sunny day (Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:36:10 -0700) it happened John Larkin
>>>>><jlarkin@highlandSNIPMEtechnology.com> wrote in
>>>>><t88l8iljul0khj5mcpfdnm098ros8h254m@4ax.com>:
>>>>>
>>>>>>https://menlomicro.com/products/rf
>>>>>>
>>>>>>People keep introducing breakthrough MEMS relays but, so far, none
>>>>>>have been successful products.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Omron introduced a MEMS relay but they seem EOL already.
>>>>>
>>>>>Specs look OK, but
>>>>> https://menlomicro.com/technology/how-it-works
>>>>>gate???
>>>>
>>>>MEMS makes good accelerometers and microphones, and pretty good
>>>>oscillators (although quartz works fine) but has so far not been
>>>>reliable as relay contacts. I sampled some fabulous MEMS relays about
>>>>20 years ago, but that outfit soon gave up.
>>>>
>>>>One could make a MEMS varicap, but that would have problems too.
>>>>
>>>>Micromirrors seem to work.
>>>>
>>>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEMS#Applications
>>>>
>>>>That list doesn't include relays.
>>>
>>>Yes, I use a
>>>MPU6050 9 axis sensor, a HMC5883 magnetic compass and a BMP180 digital pressure sensor in my xgpspc navigation system:
>>> http://panteltje.nl/panteltje/xgpspc/raspi_add_on_compass_accelerometer_pressure_GPS_interface_IMG_4949.JPG
>>> https://panteltje.nl/pub/xgpspc_laptop_screenshot_IMG_7325.JPG
>>> note r -3 an p -4 degrees roll and pitch at bottom screen
>>>does auto pilot GPS, ADSB(planes), AIS(boats) etc too:
>>> https://panteltje.nl/pub/boats_and_planes.gif
>>> latest one even has a fire solution....
>>>;-)
>>>
>>>I take it that the how-it-works link for their relays is a big simplification.
>>
>>The classic MEMS relay killer has been contacts sticking closed.
>>
>>People keep trying.
>>
>>>Have not encountered any of their stuff so far.
>>> I do have some nice RF relais.
>>
>>I like the little DPDT telecom relays, like the Fujitsu FTR
>>surface-mount parts. They cost around a dollar and work fine to about
>>3 GHz. Once you call a relay an "RF" part, the price explodes.
>
>All this comes from the superconducting filter unit I bought on ebay:
> https://panteltje.nl/pub/SMA_relays_IXIMG_0872.JPG

Those types are great but are very expensive new.