RF Electromechanical Relays Alternative ᐅ Menlo Micro's Ideal Switch

RF Switches

The building blocks for next-gen signal management.

The Ideal Switch has proven to be an ideal replacement for large high-power RF electromechanical relays, as well as RF/microwave solid-state PIN diode switches, where linearity and insertion loss are critical parameters.

MM3000 & MM5000 Series Specs

These Ideal Switches will replace the power-hungry, bulky, lossy switches in our antiquated communications infrastructure.

	Function	Frequency (Min-Max)	Insertion Loss	IP3	R_ON	C_OFF	Isolation	Power (CW)	Switching Speed	Lifetime	Controller	Input Voltage	Packaging
MM5130	SP4T	DC–26 GHz	1.3 dB	95 dBm	1.2 Ω	15 fF	18 dB	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	Direct Drive	89 V	2.5 x 2.5 mm WL-CSP
MM5120	SP4T	DC–18 GHz	0.4 dB	95 dBm	1.2 Ω	TBD	25 dB	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	SPI/GPIO	5 V & 3.3 V	5.2 x 4.2 mm LGA
MM5140	SP4T	DC-6 GHz	0.1 dB	90 dBm	1.2 Ω	TBD	26 dB	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	SPI/GPIO	5 V & 3.3 V	5.2 x 4.2 mm LGA
MM5600	DPDT	DC–20 GHz/40 Gbps	2.5 dB	95 dBm	1.2 Ω	10 fF	23 dB	2 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	Serial-to-Parallel	89 V	8 x 8 mm LGA
MM3100	6-ch. SPST	DC–3 GHz	0.3 dB	85 dBm	1.0 Ω	90 fF	25 dB	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	SPI	79 V	6 x 6 mm BGA

MM5130

DC to 26 GHz SP4T

The MM5130 is the world’s first generally available high-power RF SP4T Ideal Switch.

It can handle 25 W forward power while providing ultra-low insertion loss. It has superior linearity from 26 GHz down to DC and performs more than 3 billion switching cycles.

The four switch channels are individually controllable by applying voltage to the corresponding RF GATE pin.

Datasheet Cad Drawings

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Top view

Bottom view

Profile view, featuring the through-glass-vias

The MM5130 on an evaluation kit board.

The MM5130 on a tunable filter.

MM5130 vs. RF Electromechanical Relays

The Ideal Switch offers the power handling and RF performance of an EM relay with the size, weight, reliability and speed of solid state.

	MM5130	EM (SMT) SPDT	EM (Coax) SPDT	Key Benefits
Max Frequency	26 GHz	6 GHz	18 GHz
Insertion Loss	0.2 dB @ 6GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	>28 dB @ 6GHz	25 dB	70 dB @ 6GHz
Power Handling	25 W (CW) >150 W (Pulsed)	50 W	50 W - 100 W
Linearity (IP3)	95 dBm	62 dBm		>1000x improvement
Power Consumption	<0.08 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	94-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	<10 µs	3-5 ms	10-20 ms	>1000x improvement
Size/Channel Density	5.6 mm³ 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.9 mm BGA	1280 mm³ 16 x 8 x 10 mm SMT	30,000 mm³ 50 x 50 x 13 mm COAX	>99% reduction

MM5600

DC-20 GHz / 40 Gbps

The MM5600 is a DPDT switch that can operate up to 40 Gbps and is perfect for high-speed differential signal switching.

The MM5600’s integrated driver can be controlled by a serial-to-parallel interface that drives the high voltage gate lines of the switches. The design also offers a considerable 94% reduction in size when compared to conventional EM relay solutions.

Datasheet Cad Drawings

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Menlo Support Portal >

MM5600 vs Traditional High-Speed DPDT

The Ideal Switch offers the power handling and RF performance of an EM relay with the size, weight, reliability and speed of solid state.

	MM5600	EM (SMT) SPDT	Key Benefits
Market	High-speed digital & RF DIB/PIB market	High-speed digital & RF DIB/PIB market
Configuration	DPDT, DC-20 GHz / 40 Gbps	DPDT, 20 Gbps	"Differential crossover" simplifies routing
Power Consumption	< 0.08 mW	200 mW	99% reduction in power consumption
Reliability	>3B operations	1-5M operations	1000x increase in lifetime: reduced down-time, maintenance and cost
Switching Speed	<10 µs operation time <2 µs release time	6 ms operation time	1000x speed increase: reduced test time and cost-to-test
Size/Chip Density	102.4 mm³ 8 x 8 x 1.6 mm LGA	819 mm³ SMT 10.3(d) x 11.8 (h)	94% volume reduction: enables more parallel tests, easier routing (top and/or bottom)

MM5120

DC-18 GHz High-Power RF SP4T

The MM5120 is the world’s first generally available high-power RF SP4T Ideal Switch.

This new innovative technology platform enables robust and highly reliable switches capable of >25 W CW power handling at 6.0 GHz. The MM5120 provides ultra-low insertion loss and superior linearity from DC to 18 GHz with >3 billion switching cycles guaranteed at +85 °C.

The MM5120 features an integrated charge pump and driver circuit with SPI and GPIO interface control options.

Datasheet Cad Drawings

Access additional design information on the
Menlo Support Portal >

MM5120 vs. RF Electromechanical Relays

The Ideal Switch offers the power handling and RF performance of an EM relay with the size, weight, reliability and speed of solid state.

	MM5120	EM (SMT) SPDT	EM (Coax) SPDT	Key Benefits
Max Frequency	18 GHz	6 GHz	18 GHz
Insertion Loss	0.4 dB @ 6GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	>25 dB @ 6GHz	25 dB	70 dB @ 6GHz
Power Handling	25 W (CW) >150 W (Pulsed)	50 W	50 W - 100 W
Linearity (IP3)	>90 dBm	62 dBm		99% reduction in power consumption
Power Consumption	<5 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	94-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	< 10 µs	3-5 ms	10-20 ms	>1000x improvement
Size/Channel Density	33 mm³ 5.2 x 4.2 x 1.5 mm LGA	1280 mm³ 16 x 8 x 10 mm SMT	30,000 mm³ 50 x 50 x 13 mm COAX	>99% reduction

MM5140

DC-6 GHz High-Power RF SP4T

The MM5140 is the world’s highest performance generally available RF SP4T Ideal Switch module.

This new innovative technology platform enables robust and highly reliable switches capable of >25 W CW power handling at 3.0 GHz. The MM5140 provides ultra-low insertion loss and superior linearity from DC to 6 GHz with >3 billion switching cycles.

The MM5140 features an integrated charge pump and driver circuit with SPI and GPIO interface control options.

Datasheet Cad Drawings

Access additional design information on the
Menlo Support Portal >

MM5140 vs. RF Electromechanical Relays

The Ideal Switch offers the power handling and RF performance of an EM relay with the size, weight, reliability and speed of solid state.

	MM5140	EM (SMT) SPDT	EM (Coax) SPDT	Key Benefits
Max Frequency	6 GHz	6 GHz	18 GHz
Insertion Loss	0.4 dB @ 6GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	>26 dB @ 6GHz	25 dB	70 dB @ 6GHz
Power Handling	25 W (CW) >150 W (Pulsed)	50 W	50 W - 100 W
Linearity (IP3)	>90 dBm	62 dBm		99% reduction in power consumption
Power Consumption	<5 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	94-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	< 10 µs	3-5 ms	10-20 ms	>1000x improvement
Size/Channel Density	33 mm³ 5.2 x 4.2 x 1.5 mm LGA	1280 mm³ 16 x 8 x 10 mm SMT	30,000 mm³ 50 x 50 x 13 mm COAX	>99% reduction

MM3100

DC to 3 GHz 6 Channel SPST RF Micro Switch

The MM3100 is the world’s first generally available high power, normally open, six channel Single Pole Single Throw (SPST) micro-mechanical switch for RF and microwave switch applications

It can handle 25 W forward power while providing ultra-low insertion loss. It has superior linearity from 3 GHz down to DC and performs more than 3 billion switching cycles.

Each switch channel can be individually controlled by a standard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) synchronous bus

Datasheet Cad Drawings

Access additional design information on the
Menlo Support Portal >

Top view

MM3100 vs. RF Electromechanical Relays

The Ideal Switch offers the power handling and RF performance of an EM relay with the size, weight, reliability and speed of solid state.

	MM3100	EM (SMT) SPDT	EM (Coax) SPDT	Key Benefits
Max Frequency	3 GHz	6 GHz	18 GHz
Insertion Loss	0.3 dB @ 3GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	>25 dB @ 3GHz	25 dB	70 dB @ 6GHz
Power Handling	25 W (CW) >200 W (Pulsed)	50 W	50 W - 100 W
Linearity (IP3)	85 dBm	62 dBm		>1000x improvement
Power Consumption	<0.3 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	94-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	<10 µs	3-5 ms	10-20 ms	>1000x improvement
Size/Channel Density	72 mm³ 6 x 6 x 2 mm BGA	1280 mm³ 16 x 8 x 10 mm SMT	30,000 mm³ 50 x 50 x 13 mm COAX	>99% reduction

“The new MEMS switches from Menlo Micro are truly exceptional in their low losses, high current handling and linearity.”

JUSSI RAHOLA
CEO, OPTENNI LTD