(M+1)-for-M ferrite redundancy switch and switch system

• US 9,472,837 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kroening, Adam M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Stephen E
• Application Number:
  US14/693,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20160315369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 333/1.1, 333/24.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/11 by ferromagnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/32 Non-reciprocal transmission devices H01P1/02 - H01P1/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/39 Hollow waveguide circulators
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/526 protecting by using redundant amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/58 using travelling-wave tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

An (M+1)-for-M redundant switch, where M is an integer greater than 1, is provided. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch includes a first switch-triad-assembly including a first switching element circulator and two element isolators; a second switch-triad-assembly including a second switching element circulator and two element isolators and; and at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly including a third switching element circulator and two element isolators. One of the element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly. One of the element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with another one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly.

Claims

1. An (M+1)-for-M redundant switch, where M is an integer greater than 1, the (M+1)-for-M redundant switch comprising:

a first switch-triad-assembly including a first switching element circulator and two element isolators;

a second switch-triad-assembly including a second switching element circulator and two element isolators; and

at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly including a third switching element circulator and two element isolators,

wherein one of the element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly, and

wherein one of the element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with another one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly.

2. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch, of claim 1, wherein the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly is a positive integral number K of inverted-switch-triad-assemblies, where K is two or more, the (M+1)-for-M redundant switch further comprising:

(K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies including a fourth switching element circulator and two element isolators, the plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies alternately interposed between the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies,

wherein the element isolators of the (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies are arranged to couple power with the element isolators of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies.

3. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 2,

wherein de minimus gaps are provided between legs of the element isolators of the (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies adjacent to the respective legs of the element isolators and of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies.

4. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators of one of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies.

5. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators of one of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies.

6. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1, wherein for at least one of:

the first switch-triad-assembly;

the second switch-triad-assembly; and

the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly, a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of the two element isolators and a leg of the switching element circulator.

7. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1, wherein at least one leg of at least one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly, the second switch-triad-assembly, and the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly is at least one loaded leg, and

wherein at least one leg of the switching element circulator of the first switch-triad-assembly, the second switch-triad-assembly, and the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly is a port leg.

8. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1, wherein a continuous junction having no gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies, and wherein a continuous junction having no gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators.

9. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1, wherein the element isolators are switching element circulators controlled to circulate electromagnetic fields in one direction.

10. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch of claim 1, wherein the element isolators are switching element circulators controlled to circulate electromagnetic fields in one direction until a failure requires at least one switching element circulator to circulate electromagnetic fields in an opposite direction.

11. An (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node, where M is an integer greater than 1, the system comprising:

at least two (M+1)-for-M redundant switches, the at least two (M+1)-for-M redundant switches including;

a first switch-triad-assembly including a first switching element circulator and two element isolators, wherein the first switching element circulator includes a port leg in a first input/output port, and wherein one of the two element isolators includes a port leg in a third input/output port;

a second switch-triad-assembly including a second switching element circulator and two element isolators, wherein the second switching element circulator includes a second port leg in a second input/output port, and wherein one of the two element isolators includes a port leg in a fifth input/output port; and

at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly including a third switching element circulator and two element isolators, wherein the at least one third switching element circulator includes a respective port leg in a respective at least one third input/output port,

wherein one of the element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly is coupled to one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly, and

wherein the one of the element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly is arranged to couple power with another one of the two element isolators of one of the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly; and

(M+1) components for a respective pair of (M+1)-for-M redundant switches, wherein first input/output ports of the (M+1) components are coupled to a first one of the respective pair of (M+1)-for-M redundant switches and second input/output ports of the (M+1) components are coupled to a second one of the respective pair of (M+1)-for-M redundant switches, wherein the first switch-triad-assembly, the second switch-triad-assembly, and the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly are able to route a path through the (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node when a component in the (M+1) components associated with a respective pair of (M+1)-for-M redundant switches has failed.

12. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node, of claim 11, further comprising:

a waveguide structure in which the first switch-triad-assembly, the second switch-triad-assembly and the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly are positioned.

13. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node, of claim 11, wherein the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly is a positive integral number K of inverted-switch-triad-assemblies, where K is two or more, the (M+1)-for-M redundant switch further comprising:

a plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies, wherein a (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assembly includes a fourth switching element circulator and two element isolators, and wherein the plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies are alternately interposed between the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies,

wherein the element isolators of the plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies are arranged to couple power with the element isolators of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies,

wherein the plurality of fourth switching element circulators in the respective plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies include a respective plurality of port legs in a respective plurality of additional input/output ports, and wherein two element isolators in the respective plurality of (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies are loaded.

14. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node of claim 13,

wherein de minimus gaps are provided between legs of the element isolators of the (K−

1) sandwiched switch-triad-assemblies adjacent to the respective legs of the element isolators of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies.

15. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node of claim 11,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators of one of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators of one of the K inverted-switch-triad-assemblies, and

wherein for at least one of:

the first switch-triad-assembly;

the second switch-triad-assembly; and

the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly, a de minimus gap is provided between a leg of the two element isolators and a leg of the switching element circulator.

16. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node of claim 11, wherein at least one leg of at least one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly, the second switch-triad-assembly, and the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly is at least one loaded leg.

17. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node of claim 11, wherein a continuous junction having no gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the first switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators;

wherein a continuous junction having no gap is provided between a leg of one of the two element isolators of the second switch-triad-assembly and a leg of one of the two element isolators; and

wherein for at least one of;

the first switch-triad-assembly;

the second switch-triad-assembly; and

the at least one inverted-switch-triad-assembly, a continuous junction having no gap is provided between a leg of the two element isolators and a leg of the switching element circulator.

18. The (M+1)-for-M redundant switch node of claim 11, wherein the element isolators are switching element circulators controlled to circulate electromagnetic fields in one direction until a failure requires at least one switching element circulator to circulate electromagnetic fields in an opposite direction.

19. A 3-for-2 redundant switch, comprising:

a triad-assembly including a first non-switching element isolator, a second non-switching element isolator, and a third non-switching element isolator, wherein the first non-switching element isolator has a loaded leg, the second non-switching element isolator has a first port leg, and the third non-switching element isolator has a second port leg; and

a switch-penta-assembly including a first switching element circulator, a second switching element circulator, a third switching element circulator, a fourth switching element circulator, and a fifth switching element circulator; and

wherein the first and second switching element circulators are coupled to a respective one of the second and third non-switching element isolators, and the other three of the five switching element circulators have port legs.

20. The 3-for-2 redundant switch of claim 19,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the first and second non-switching element isolators,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the first and third non-switching element isolators,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the first switching element circulator and the third switching element circulator,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the first switching element circulator and the fourth switching element circulator,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the second switching element circulator and the fourth switching element circulator,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the second switching element circulator and the fifth switching element circulator,

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the second non-switching element isolator and the first switching element circulator, and

wherein a de minimus gap is provided between adjacent legs of the third non-switching element isolator and the second switching element circulator.