RF-MEMS Switched Varactor for High Power Applications

A new kind of MEMS switched varactor has been developed to handle high power RF signals, (P>1W ), at S and X-band. The design principle is presented, as well as measurements results featuring an analysis of the reliability tests. The fabricated varactors have shown a capacitance ratio of 7-8 at 5 GHz and good performances reproducibility while undergoing 1 billion cycle tests under an input RF power of 1W @ 10GHz, and 250 million cycle tests under 5W @ 3GHz, both in hot switching conditions, without visible degradation.