Distributed matrix switch

• US 7,205,864 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NextG Networks
• Original Assignee: NextG Networks
• Inventors: Schultz, John C. F. Jr., Crawford, Lawrence Griffin
• Primary Examiner(s): TAKAOKA, DEAN O
• Application Number:
  US10/980,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 333/101, 333/103, 333/104, 455/13.3, 455/428, 455/562.1, 370/411
• US Class Current: 333/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/10 for switching or interrupting in systems using reflection or reradiation of radio, acoustic or other waves G01S7/034
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/52 using static devices in switching stages, e.g. electronic switching arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/68 Grouping or interlacing selector groups or stages

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical space switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising (m.n)/(i.j) switch blocks, each having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n; and a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, the plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix. In an embodiment of the invention, the input and output elements can be power splitters and power combiners respectively and are arranged so as to include crossover connection paths therebetween, with the result that crossover of connection paths is distributed between the power dividing/combining function and the switching function.

Claims

1. A switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising:

a number (m×

n)/(i×

j) of switch blocks which interconnect the m input ports with the n output ports, each of the switch blocks having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n; and

a plurality of input elements comprising power splitter devices and a plurality of output elements comprising power combiner devices, said plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix.

2. The switch matrix according to claim 1, wherein each of the switch blocks has two input ports and two output ports.

3. The switch matrix according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of input elements are arranged in a hierarchy of stages; and

the plurality of output elements are arranged in a hierarchy of stages.

4. A switch matrix comprising:

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, the input and output elements being connected by a set of switches,

said input elements being arranged in first and second input layers of a multi-layer printed circuit board, each input layer comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element of the first input layer being connected to two, different input elements of the second input layer, and each input element of the second input layer being connected to one input element of the first input layer,

said output elements being arranged in corresponding first and second output layers of the multi-layer printed circuit board, each output layer comprising a plurality of output elements, each output element of the first output layer being connected to two, different output elements of the second output layer, and each output element of the second output layer being connected to one output element of the first output layer,

wherein the connections between the input and output elements include crossovers, and

wherein the connections between elements in the first and second input layers, and/or the connections between elements in the first and second output layers, also include crossovers.

5. The switch matrix according to claim 4, wherein said switch matrix is arranged to operate in the microwave or radio frequency range.

6. A switch matrix comprising:

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements,

said input elements being arranged in first and second input layers of a multi-layer printed circuit board, each input layer comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element of the first input layer being connected to two, different, input elements of the second input layer, and each input element of the second input layer being connected to one input element of the first input layer,

said output elements being arranged in corresponding first and second output layers of the multi-layer printed circuit board, each output layer comprising a plurality of output elements, each output element of the first output layer being connected to two, different output elements of the second output layer, and each output element of the second output layer being connected to one output element of the first output layer, and

wherein the connections between said first and second input layers have a first inter-element connection pattern and the connections between corresponding first and second output layers have a second, different inter-element connection pattern.

7. The switch matrix according to claim 6, wherein the input elements of the second input layer are connectable to output elements of the second output layer by connection paths.

8. The switch matrix according to claim 7, wherein at least some of said connection paths include a switch device.

9. The switch matrix according to claim 7, wherein at least some of said connection paths include crossovers.

10. The switch matrix according to claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of switch blocks, each of the switch blocks comprising a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, each input element of the second input layer being connected to one input element in each of at least two of the switch blocks, and each output element of the second output layer being connected to one output element in each of at least two of the switch blocks.

11. The switch matrix according to claim 6, wherein said input elements comprise power splitter devices and said output elements comprise power combiner devices.

12. The switch matrix according to claim 6, wherein there is an equal number of input elements and output elements.

13. The switch matrix according to claim 6, wherein said switch matrix is arranged to operate in the microwave or radio frequency range.

14. The switch matrix according to claim 6, further comprising:

at least one switch block, the input elements of the second input layer connecting the input elements of the first input layer to the at least one switch block, and the output elements of the second output layer connecting the output elements of the first output layer to the at least one switch block.

15. A switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising:

a number (m×

n)/(i×

j) of switch blocks which interconnect the m input ports with the n output ports, each of the switch blocks having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n; and

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, said plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix, said switch matrix is arranged to operate in the microwave or radio frequency range.

16. A switch matrix, comprising:

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, said input elements being arranged in first and second input layers of a multi-layer printed circuit board, each input layer comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element of the first input layer being connected to two, different input elements of the second input layer, and each input element of the second input layer being connected to one input element of the first input layer, said output elements being arranged in corresponding first and second output layers of the multi-layer printed circuit board, each output layer comprising a plurality of output elements, each output element of the first output layer being connected to two, different output elements of the second output layer, and each output element of the second output layer being connected to one output element of the first output layer; and

a switch block which comprises a plurality of switches and connection paths between said input elements of the second input layer and said output elements of the second output layer, said connection paths being arranged so as to form crossovers.

17. The switch matrix according to claim 16, wherein said switch block is arranged to operate in the microwave or radio frequency range.

18. A switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising:

a number (m×

n)/(i×

j) of switch blocks which interconnect the m input ports with the n output ports, each of the switch blocks having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n, and each of the switch blocks has a number i×

j of switched transmission lines; and

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, said plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix.

19. A switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising:

a number (m×

n)/(i×

j) of switch blocks which interconnect the m input ports with the n output ports, each of the switch blocks having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n, and each of the switch blocks has a number i of 1;

i power dividers with output arms and a number j of i;

1 power combiners with input arms; and

a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, said plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix.

20. The switch matrix according to claim 19, wherein:

each of the switch blocks has a number i×

j of switched transmission lines which interconnect the output arms of the power dividers with the input arms of the power combiners.

21. The switch matrix according to claim 19, wherein:

the plurality of input elements comprise power dividers which are connected to the power dividers of the switch blocks, and the plurality of output elements comprise power combiners which are connected to the power combiners of the switch blocks.