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	Insertion Loss	Isolation	IP3	R_ON	Power (CW, max)	Switch Speed	Lifetime	Controller	V_BB or V_IN V_DD	Packaging
MM5600	DPDT	DC–20 GHz 40 Gbps	1.3 dB @ 10 GHz	24 dB @ 10 GHz	77 dBm	1.2 Ω	2 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	SPI⁽²⁾	89 V 5 V	8 x 8 mm LGA
MM5620	2x DP3T	DC-20 GHz 64 Gbps	2.3 dB @ 16 GHz	67 dB @ 16 GHz		1.7 Ω	0.1 W⁽³⁾	<30 µs	>3B cycles	SPI/GPIO	5 V 3.3 V	8.2 x 8.2 mm LGA
MM5130	SP4T (normal-port mode) SPST (super-port mode) ⁽¹⁾	DC–18 GHz DC–26 GHz	0.1-1.3 dB 0.1-1.0 dB	25dB @ 6 GHz 45dB @ 6 GHz	95 dBm	1.2 Ω	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	Direct Drive	89 V	2.5 x 2.5 mm WL-CSP
MM5120	SP4T	DC–18 GHz	0.1-1.5 dB	26 dB @ 6 GHz	90 dBm	1.0 Ω	25 W	<15 µs	>3B cycles	SPI/GPIO	5 V 3.3 V	5.2 x 4.2 mm LGA
MM5140	SP4T	DC-8 GHz	0.1-0.5 dB	32 dB @ 3 GHz	90 dBm	1.0 Ω	25 W	<15 µs	>3B cycles	SPI/GPIO	5 V 3.3 V	5.2 x 4.2 mm LGA
MM3100	6x SPST	DC–3 GHz	0.1-0.5 dB	23 dB @ 1.5 GHz	85 dBm	1.0 Ω	25 W	<10 µs	>3B cycles	SPI ⁽²⁾	80 V 5 V	6 x 6 mm BGA

(1) Refer to datasheet for other configurations.
(2) SPI control signals: Data, Clock, Blank, Latch
(3) For AC-coupled signal paths

MM5130

26 GHz SP4T RF Switch

The MM5130 is the world’s first generally available high-power SP4T RF 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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Profile view, featuring the through-glass-vias

The MM5130 on an evaluation kit board.

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	0.4 dB @ 6GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	45 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

40 Gbps High-Speed Differential Switch

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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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

18 GHz SP4T RF Switch

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

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

Datasheet Cad Drawings

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MM5120 Switched Filter Bank

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	<15 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	90-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	< 15 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

8 GHz SP4T RF Switch

The MM5140 is the world’s highest performance generally available SP4T RF 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 8 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

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Menlo Support Portal >

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MM5140 on an evaluation kit board.

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	8 GHz	6 GHz	18 GHz
Insertion Loss	0.5 dB @ 8GHz	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	<15 mW	140 mW	5000 mW	90-99% reduction
Reliability	>3B Operations	10M Operations	1-5M Operations	>1000x improvement
Switching Speed	<15 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

6 Channel SPST RF 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

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Menlo Support Portal >

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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	0.5 dB @ 3GHz	0.8 dB @ 6GHz	0.2 dB @ 6GHz
Isolation	18 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

MM5620

64 Gbps High-Speed Differential Switch

The Menlo Micro Differential Dual DP3T switch supports the high-speed differential signal switching required in PCIe Gen 6, SerDes and other applications. The MM5620 is based on Menlo’s Ideal Switch® technology and can operate up to 64 Gbps or 20 GHz for high-performance applications.

The MM5620 has low insertion loss, fast switching speed, and can operate with greater than 3 billion switching cycles. The MM5620’s integrated charge pump and driver can be controlled through SPI or GPIO interfaces by a host processor.

Datasheet Cad Drawings

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Menlo Support Portal >

MM5620 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.

	MM5620	EM (SMT) SPDT	Key Benefits
Market	High-speed digital & RF DIB/PIB market	High-speed digital & RF DIB/PIB market
Configuration	DP3T DC-20 GHz/64 Gbps	SPDT 18 GHz/40 Gbps	Dual DP3T with built-in loopback capacitor
Power Consumption	< 10 mW	200 mW	95% reduction in power consumption
Reliability	>3B operations	3M operations	1000x increase in lifetime: reduced down-time, maintenance and cost
Switching Time	<30 µs	5 ms operation time	x165 speed increase: reduced test time and cost-to-test
Size/Chip Density	141.2 mm³ 8.2 x 8.2 x 2.1 mm LGA	1103.3 mm³ SMT 11x8.5(d) x 11.8 (h)	85% volume reduction: enables more parallel tests, easier routing (top and/or bottom)

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

JUSSI RAHOLA
CEO, OPTENNI LTD