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Advanced RF MEMS
Answers to RF Cafe Quiz #36

RF Engineering Quizzes - RF Cafe WebsiteAll RF Cafe Quizzes make great fodder for employment interviews for technicians or engineers - particularly those who are fresh out of school or are relatively new to the work world. Come to think of it, they would make equally excellent study material for the same persons who are going to be interviewed for a job. Bonne chance, Viel Glück, がんばろう, buena suerte, удачи, in bocca al lupo, 행운을 빕니다, ádh mór, בהצלחה, lykke til, 祝你好運. Well, you know what I mean: Good luck!

Click here for the complete list of RF Cafe Quizzes.

Note: Some material based on books have quoted passages.

Return to RF Cafe Quiz #36

RF Cafe Featured Book - Advanced RF MEMS, by Stepan LucyszynThis quiz is based on the information presented in Advanced RF MEMS, by Stepan Lucyszyn. This book is full of cool micrographs of actual device geometries. Cambridge University Press is the publisher. Note: Some of these books are available as prizes in the monthly RF Cafe Giveaway.

 

1.  What does the acronym MEMS stand for?

b)  Microelectromechanical Systems

     (see Preface)

 

2.  Which material is commonly used in RF MEMS for its superior magnetic and thermal

     expansion properties?

c)  Electroplated nickel

     In recent years, electroplated nickel has been used as a structural material in microfabricated

     circuits, RF MEMS switches and antennas. Its thermal expansion coefficient is 5x that of

     polycrystalline silicon.  (see page 6)

 

3.  What distinguishes MEMS devices from traditional integrated circuits?

d)  Physical displacement of internal components

     Moveable, three-dimensional physical structures are created to perform mechanical functions.

 

4.  Which properties of a MEMS RF switch are

     superior to a solid state RF switch?

a)  Insertion loss and bandwidth

     In some aspects, such as power consumption,

     isolation, insertion loss and bandwidth,

     RF MEMS switches have and advantage over

     electronic PIN diode and FET devices.

     (see page 37)

 

5.  Which properties of a MEMS RF switch are

     inferior to a solid state RF switch?

b)  Speed and size

     The response time of RF MEMS switches is

     much longer than that of electronic switches.

     (see page 37)

 

6.  What is the purpose of a sacrificial layer during MEMS fabrication?

d)  Allows dry etching to reduce undercutting and erosion common with wet etching

     Dry etching of  with an oxygen plasma allows high selectivity when removing materials.

     (see page 63)

 

7.  Which application would be perfect for multi-pole, multi-throw MEMS RF switch?

d)  All the above.

     Duh.  (see page 90)

 

8.  What is the purpose of a "hold electrode?"

a)  To counter induced bias from a strong RF signal power level

     As a way of avoiding self-actuation, through an excess in the mean RF signal power level,

     a number of switches designs have incorporated a second hold electrode, in addition to

     the normal pull-down electrode.  (see page 95)

 

9.  Which phenomenon is possible in a MEMS device but not in a solid state device?

a)  Vibration-induced actuation

     Self-actuation can occur due to vibration or shock.  (see page 129)

 

10.  What is zero-level (0-level) packaging?

c)  On-wafer encapsulation

     Zero-level packaging creates an on-wafer, device-scale, enclosure (or sealed cavity for) the

     MEMS, serving as the first protective interface.  (see page 233)

Quizzes from vintage electronics magazines such as Popular Electronics, Electronics-World, QST, Radio-Electronics, and Radio News were published over the years - some really simple and others not so simple. Robert P. Balin created most of the quizzes for Popular Electronics. This is a listing of all I have posted thus far.

RF Cafe Quizzes

Vintage Electronics Magazine Quizzes

Vintage Electronics Magazine Quizzes
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About the RF Cafe™ Website ©1996-2026

Kirt Blattenberger - RF Cafe WebmasterRF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

Webmaster: Kirt Blattenberger  |     BSEE - KB3UON - AMA92498  |  USAF Radar Technician

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