A MEMSTENNA relay: Coupling a slot dipole antenna with a MEMS relay for wireless and batteryless switching control

This work presents the design and implementation of the MEMSTENNA relay, an innovative device that integrates a slot dipole antenna with a MEMS relay to enable wireless and batteryless switching control. The proposed concept exploits direct transduction from the electromagnetic to the mechanical domain, specifically within the gigahertz frequency range. The MEMSTENNA relay is fabricated on an FR4 PCB substrate incorporating a copper slot dipole antenna, designed to resonate at 1.2 GHz. Electromagnetic simulations reveal that, at a resonant frequency of 0.82 GHz, an incident electric field of 50 V/m is sufficient to exceed the pull-in voltage, thereby actuating the relay. Experimental validation demonstrates consistent operation with minimal excitation, highlighting the potential of this approach for energy-efficient integration of MEMS technology into RF systems. • Wireless and batteryless actuation of MEMS relays through direct electromagnetic-to-mechanical transduction at GHz frequencies. • Integration of a slot dipole antenna and silicon microcantilever array on FR4 PCB using standard fabrication techniques. • Analytical modelling combined with COMSOL/MATLAB simulations used to optimize the MEMSTENNA design for efficient RF actuation. • Experimental validation demonstrates reversible switching and nonlinear dynamic response at low incident electric fields (≈50 V/m), requiring only 0.75 W radiated power.