An experimental study of standard packaged/unpackaged GaAs MMIC based RF-MEMS limiter test circuits

We present an experimental study of some GaAs MMIC based RF-MEMS switch networks used here as limiter test circuits and that were tested also within a standard low-frequency package. The small and large signal results for such discrete as well as packaged GaAs MEMS limiter MMICs shows possibilities for obtaining a very wideband RF power limiter functionality within small circuit dimensions. Self switch actuation tests made on a packaged GaAs MEMS limiter circuit showed a power limiting effect of 11 dB for an RF input power of 16 dBm at 4 GHz.