Patent ID: 8461948

Claim:
An electrostatic ohmic shunt radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch comprising: a centrally located and structurally continuous RF conductor; a pair of conductor ground planes flanking said RF conductor, wherein said pair of conductor ground planes comprise a first ground plane and a second ground plane each comprising a plurality of slots configured therein; a plurality of electrodes positioned in said slots; a conductive contact beam elevated over said RF conductor, said pair of conductor ground planes, and said plurality of electrodes, wherein said contact beam is attached to said pair of conductor ground planes; a plurality of mechanical ground stops extending from said pair of conductor ground planes, wherein a space between successive ones of said plurality of mechanical ground stops is defined by one of said plurality of slots, wherein during activation of the switch, when said conductive contact beam is pulled toward said plurality of electrodes, said plurality of mechanical ground stops prevent physical contact between said plurality of electrodes and said conductive contact beam; and a plurality of conductive contact dimples positioned between said conductive contact beam and each of said RF conductor and said pair of conductor ground planes.