METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A SWITCH, SUCH AS A MEMS SWITCH. AND MEMS SWITCH WITH SUCH A PROTECTIVE DEVICE

摘要

A method and apparatus for protecting a MEMS switch is provided. With the method and apparatus, the integrity of the MEMS switches is improved by reducing their susceptibility to current flowing through them during switching of the MEMS switch and vice versa. The protection circuit provides a parallel path, known as a shunt, around the MEMS component. However, components within the shunt circuit can themselves be removed from the shunt when they are not needed. This improves the electrical performance of the shunt assuming that the switch is in an off state.