MEMS-based switching system

1. An analog switching element that is at least partially implemented in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs), comprising:

a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs integrated into the one or more PWBs;

a plurality of electromagnets coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs; and

a plurality of contact bars, wherein each contact bar is comprised in a respective contact bar pocket bounded at least partially by at least one of the PWBs, wherein each contact bar comprises a conductive metal or alloy that is attracted by a magnetic field, wherein each of the contact bars, via actuation by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, is selectively operable in:

a first state, wherein the at least one contact bar couples one of the plurality of inputs to one of the plurality of outputs such that an analog signal input to the respective input is routed to the respective output; and

a second state, wherein the at least one contact bar is held in an off state.

2. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein the contact bar pocket includes a shielding conductive metal.

3. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each respective contact bar pocket is electrically shielded, and wherein the magnetic field penetrates the contact bar pocket.

4. The analog switching element of claim 3 , wherein the magnetic field penetrates the contact bar pocket without requiring an opening of the contact bar pocket.

5. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein a contact bar in the first state creates a stub-less signal path.

6. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each contact bar is substantially cylindrical, and wherein each contact bar rolls between the first state and the second state in response to the externally applied magnetic field.

7. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of inputs provides a self-test signal, wherein a first contact bar, coupled to the first input, receives the self-test signal, and wherein a second contact bar, coupled to one of the plurality of outputs, is configured to allow measurement of a response of the switching element to the self-test signal.

8. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein a contact bar, when in the off state, does not conduct interference to a signal received at the plurality of inputs.

9. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electromagnets comprises an electropermanent magnet assembly that includes a first magnet, a second magnet coupled to the first magnet, and a coil wrapped around the second magnet, wherein the first magnet has a high coercivity and the second magnet has a low coercivity.

10. The analog switching element of claim 9 , wherein the coil is wrapped around both the first magnet and the second magnet.

11. The analog switching element of claim 9 , wherein, responsive to a current being run through the coil, a polar orientation of the second magnet is reversed.

12. The analog switching element of claim 9 , wherein a first polar orientation of the second magnet corresponds to the first state and wherein a second polar orientation of the second magnet corresponds to the second state.

13. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of contact bars includes a first metal and a second metal, wherein the first metal is non-magnetic and wherein the second metal is magnetic.

14. The analog switching element of claim 13 , wherein end portions of each contact bar include the first metal and wherein a portion of each contact bar between the end portions includes the second metal.

15. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each contact bar includes a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are mounted on an extension.

16. The analog switching element of claim 15 , wherein the extension comprises a plurality of contacts mounted on a conductive spring alloy.

17. The analog switching element of claim 1 , wherein each respective contact bar pocket contains a damping fluid.

18. The analog switching element of claim 9 , wherein the electropermanent magnet assembly further includes a plurality of pole pieces coupled to the first magnet and the second magnet.

19. A method for routing signals, comprising:

receiving a signal at an input of a switching element, wherein the switching element at least partially resides in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs) that include:

a plurality of electromagnets, coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs; and

a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein a first contact bar of a plurality of contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnet field of a first respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple a first of the plurality of inputs to one of the plurality of outputs, and wherein a second contact bar of the plurality of contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnet field of a second respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple the first input to another one of the plurality of outputs;

determining which of the plurality of outputs to route the signal to;

actuating, via an externally applied magnetic field of a respective electromagnet, a contact bar of the plurality of contact bars that couples the first input to the determined output to create a path; and

routing the signal from the first input to the determined output via the path.

20. A switch system, comprising:

a plurality of switch inputs and a plurality of switch outputs integrated into one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs);

a switch matrix comprising a plurality of switching elements configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs, and

a plurality of electromagnets coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs,

wherein each of the switching elements comprises:

one or more contact bars,

one or more inputs, and

one or more outputs,

wherein the one or more inputs and the one or more outputs are integrated into the one or more PWBs, and

wherein each of the one or more contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple a respective one of the one or more inputs to a respective one of the one or more outputs;

wherein each switching element is selectively operable in:

a first state, wherein the one or more contact bars couples one of the one or more inputs to one of the one or more outputs such that an analog signal input to the respective input is routed to the respective output, and

a second state, wherein the one or more contact bars are held in an off state.