Menlo Micro’s electronic switch with 5G use case potential

Irvine, California-based Menlo Micro claims to have reinvented the ubiquitous electronic switch with its Ideal Switch product.

A theoretical ideal switch possesses a number of characteristics, including no voltage drop when closed and instantaneous state changes without bouncing.

Menlo Micro’s Ideal Switch aspires to that standard by combining electromechanical and solid-state techniques which it says can result in 99% reductions in size, weight, power, and cost.

Menlo Micro said its technology could result in improvements for a number of sectors, including the rollout of 5G cell networks by improving RF and microwave switches and general efficiency improvements.

The company has raised over $60mn across three rounds since its 2016 foundation, with $44mn of that coming from its latest Series B, announced yesterday. The round was helmed by lead investor 40 North Ventures, with support from Vertical Venture Partners, Piva, Paladin Capital Group and Future Shape.

In a press release, CEO Russ Garcia said: “This is a major milestone for Menlo Micro and the deployment of the Ideal Switch, which we firmly believe to be the most important technological innovation in the electronics industry since the transistor. This round of financing will enable us to significantly accelerate our product development and the scaling of our production lines. It is an incredible validation that our investors are standing behind our truly disruptive technology and our team at a time of so much uncertainty around the world.”

The company said it was planning to ramp up production to 100,000 units per month by the end of 2020, with a goal of millions per month in 2021.

“The concept of an ‘ideal switch’ was theoretical – something companies have been working to achieve for decades – until Menlo Micro,” said Marianne Wu, Managing Director of 40 North Ventures. “We are incredibly excited to work with such a dynamic, experienced team on a core technology that is disrupting nearly every industry.”

(Image: Menlo Micro)