This project developed prototype germanium telluride switches, which can be used in RF applications to improve SWAP (size, weight, and power) and signal quality in RF systems. These switches can allow for highly reconfigurable systems, including antennas, communications, optical systems, phased arrays, and synthetic aperture radar, which all have high impact on current National Security goals for improved communication systems and communication technology supremacy. The final result of the project was the demonstration of germanium telluride RF switches, which could act as critical elements necessary for a single chip RF communication system that will demonstrate low SWAP and high reconfigurability
This paper reports on a near-zero power inertial wakeup sensor system supporting digital weighting of inputs and with protection against false positives due to mechanical shocks. This improves upon existing work by combining the selectivity and sensitivity (Q-amplification) of resonant MEMS sensors with the flexibility of digital signal processing while consuming below 10 nW. The target application is unattended sensors for perimeter sensing and machinery health monitoring where extended battery life afforded by the low power consumption eliminates the need for power cables. For machinery health monitoring, the signals of interest are stationary but may contain spurious mechanical shocks.