ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews some conventional transceiver architectures are, along with their potential for Microelectromechanical systems implementations. Micromechanical resonators are structures that can be used for filtering or signal generation applications in many subcomponents of radio frequency (RF) transceivers, due to their high level of frequency selectivity. The frequency of a microelectromechanical (MEM) resonator can be tuned to some degree by adjusting the DC bias voltage across the gap capacitance. Frequency pulling is a direct result of the nonlinear gap capacitance. Many developments of other RF MEM devices such as switches, inductors, and capacitors are enabling transceiver enhancements. MEM devices are easily integrated and hence can be used in greater numbers than off-chip components such as crystals and filters. One very interesting characteristic of MEM resonators is that they can be switched on and off by simply removing their bias voltages.