Modulated Scattering Technique (MST) Devices Hybridized with RF-MEMS Micro-switches for Next Generation IoT and 5G Smart Sensors

Wireless sensor industry is driven by challenging paradigm of the Internet of things (IoT) devices and the 5th generation of wireless communications (5G). However, the near field devices have a lot of potential due to their low-power consumption, with the downside of covering a typically shorter range. This paper addresses the challenge of increasing the range by utilizing a modulated scattering technique (MST)-based wireless sensor integrated with a micro-switch realized in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology for radio frequency (RF) applications. Our hybrid MST-RF-MEMS sensor prototype has been reviewed in real-time outdoor scenarios for environmental parameter sensing as well as for an indoor air quality monitoring system. The employed RF-MEMS switch is highly miniaturized and exhibits good performances and RF characteristics for frequencies up to 110 GHz. Numerically designed proposed MST-RF-MEMS prototype sensor has been fabricated and experimentally assessed. The achieved results are adequate and prove that the prototype RF-MEMS based sensor significantly increases the addressed communication range. The integration of the MST and RF-MEMS switch in the sensor system reveals its essential role for designing the next generation near field sensors in the millimetre and sub-millimetre frequency bands, where standard RF switches are unable to operate.