A spinout from GE’s Global Research Center claims it has reinvented the electronic switch in the form of a MEMS device.

“Menlo Micro’s Digital Micro Switch technology allows something which is as close as possible to the ‘ideal switch’ to be created. Not only has it been proven to be reliable, with tens of thousands of units already shipped, but it truly is a scalable design platform. This will give us the ability to address applications from mW to kW and to bring disruption to many different end markets,” said Russ Garcia, pictured, Menlo Micro's CEO.

Noting the fundamental electromechanical relay hasn’t experienced significant innovation in the past 50 years, the company says their ability to handle high power and electrical performance have seen electromechanical relays continue to flourish in many markets. However, it adds, limitations in size, speed, cost and reliability present major challenges to system designers.

Menlo claims to have solved the problem through advanced material science, enabling ‘unprecedented’ power handling – potentially kilowatts – and superior electrical performance in a MEMS part with the size, speed, cost and reliability of a solid state device.

Target applications for the device include DC, AC and RF products in markets such as battery management, home automation, electric vehicles, medical instrumentation and wireless base stations.

“This is truly an exciting time,” said Garcia, “and we are excited to get this technology into the hands of system designers, to see what amazing products they can create, enabling the future power of IoT, communications and beyond.”

Along with GE Ventures, Menlo Micro is backed by Microsemi, Corning and Paladin Capital Group. Between them, the partners have invested $18.7million.

By: DocMemory
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