MEMSDuino: An Arduino-Based MEMS Switch Controller

Published

May 1, 2025

Author(s)

Lafe Spietz, Adam Sirois, Nathan Flowers-Jacobs, Peter Hopkins, Samuel Benz, Steve Waltman

Abstract

Radio frequency cryogenic switches are a critical enabling technology for quantum information science, both for calibration and high throughput testing of samples. Traditionally solenoid-based switches have been used, but transition is being made to MEMS-based switches due to their lower power dissipation, smaller size, and the tendency of solenoid switches to produce current pulses which destroy expensive cryogenic amplifiers. These MEMS switches require a 90-volt signal to be applied to the control lines which determine the state of the switches. Switches exist which have built in CMOS-based control electronics to drive the 90 V, but these do not work at the cryogenic temperatures used in quantum information science. The instrument presented here is a 19-inch rack-mount controller for a cryogenic MEMS switch network which allows a human operator to see the state of the switch via a row of clearly marked indicator lights, and to change the state manually via buttons on an LED-based indicator board or automatically via Python-based serial port commands. The design can also be modified for to control other switches that require either a large voltage or current to switch.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2335

Report Number

2335

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2335

Local Download

Keywords

Arduino, MEMS, RF, Quantum, controller, cryogenic, microwave

Citation

Spietz, L. , Sirois, A. , Flowers-Jacobs, N. , Hopkins, P. , Benz, S. and Waltman, S. (2025), MEMSDuino: An Arduino-Based MEMS Switch Controller, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2335, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959065 (Accessed October 24, 2025)