MEMSDuino: An Arduino-Based MEMS Switch Controller

TL;DR

This paper introduces MEMSDuino, an Arduino-based controller for cryogenic MEMS switches used in quantum science, enabling manual and automated control at room temperature with clear status indicators.

Contribution

It presents a novel, open-source, rack-mount control system for cryogenic MEMS switches that operates at room temperature and interfaces via Python commands.

Findings

Provides a functional control system for cryogenic MEMS switches.

Enables manual and automated switch control with clear status indicators.

Compatible with other high-voltage or high-current switches.

Abstract

Radio frequency cryogenic switches are a critical enabling technology for quantum information science for both calibration and high throughput testing of samples. Traditionally, solenoid-based switches have been used [1,2], but a transition is being made to MEMS-based (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) switches due to their lower power dissipation and smaller size, and to minimize the risk that solenoid switches tend to produce current pulses that destroy expensive cryogenic amplifiers and can cause electrostatic damage to devices. These MEMS switches require a 90-volt signal to be applied to the control lines to determine the state of the switches. Switches exist that have built-in CMOS-based (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) control electronics to drive the 90 V, but these do not work at the cryogenic temperatures used in quantum information science. There is no currently available room temperature control system with direct control of the switches. The instrument presented here is a 19-inch rack-mount controller for a cryogenic MEMS switch network that 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 to the Arduino, an open source microcontroller platform available from multiple vendors. The design can also be modified to control other switches that require either a large voltage or current to switch.