TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of using micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) to convert a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) signal to a simpler amplitude shift keying (ASK) scheme.Design/methodology/approach The prototype is designed within the SOIMUMPs® fabrication process constraints. The fabrication constraints imposed geometric limitations on what could be tested. These constraints were used to build a mathematical model, which in turn was used to optimize the response using MATLAB®. The optimized design was tested using finite element analysis with CoventorWare®, and finally lab tests on the fabricated device were performed to confirm theoretical predictions.Findings Theoretical predictions compared well with lab measurements on a prototype device measuring 2.9 mm2. The prototype was tested with a carrier frequency of 174 kHz at a BPSK data rate of 3 kHz and carrier amplitude of 6 V. With these parameters, ASK modulation indices of 0.96 and 0.94 were measured at the two output sensors.Originality/value This study provides a MEMS solution for BPSK to ASK conversion. The study also identifies what limits betterment of the modulation index and data rate. Such a device has potential application in wireless sensor network (WSN) nodes that have energy harvesters and sensors that are also built in MEMS. Being a MEMS device, it can facilitate integration in such WSN nodes and, hence, potentially reduce size and costs.
VL  - 36
IS  - 1
SN  - 1356-5362
DO  - 10.1108/MI-06-2018-0039
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/MI-06-2018-0039
AU  - Scerri Jeremy
AU  - Portelli Barnaby
AU  - Grech Ivan
AU  - Gatt Edward
AU  - Casha Owen
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - A MEMS BPSK to ASK converter
T2  - Microelectronics International
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 26
EP  - 34
Y2  - 2024/05/12
ER  -