Modular interconnect matrix for matrix connection of a plurality of antennas with a plurality of radio channels units

Claim 2

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 1 further comprising switch control means for controlling said first switching means.

Claim 3

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 2, wherein said switch control means comprises: at least one second switching module having a first control connector and a plurality of second control connectors, said second control connectors being dimensioned for interconnection with said second interface connectors, and said second control connectors and said second interface connectors being arranged on the respective second switching modules and antenna interface modules for interconnection of at least one of said second control connectors on each of said second switching modules with at least one of said second interface connectors on each of said antenna interface modules; second switching means in each of said second switching modules for connecting each first control connector with any one of said second control connectors; frequency control means for sequentially providing frequency control signals each indicative of the operating frequencies of the radio channel units; scanning receiver means connected to said first connector of a corresponding one of said second switching modules, said scanning receiver means being responsive to said frequency control signals and to RF signals provided by said antenna interface modules for providing signal strength signals indicative of the signal strength of said RF signals at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units; and at least one controller responsive to said signal strength signals for determining the antenna having the strongest signal strength of the received RF signals at the operating frequency of each radio channel unit, said controllers providing control signals to said first switching means for interconnecting each first switching connector with one of said second switching connectors such that each radio channel unit is connected with the antenna indicated as having the strongest signal strength of the received RF signals at the operating frequency of the radio channel unit.

Claim 4

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 3 wherein: each radio channel unit is assigned to one group of a plurality of groups; each second switching module is assigned to a corresponding one of said groups; one of said frequency control means is assigned to each scanning receiver means, each frequency control means sequentially providing frequency control signals to a corresponding one of said scanning receiver means at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding one of said groups; and one of said controllers is assigned to each scanning receiver means, each controller providing said control signals to said first switching means which are connected to radio channel units in said corresponding one of said groups.

Claim 5

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 4 wherein each controller provides second control signals to said second switching means of a corresponding second switching module for interconnecting said first control connector to each one of said second control connectors of said corresponding second switching module in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 6

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 5 wherein, between each second control signal in said predetermined sequence, each controller controls a corresponding frequency control means to sequentially provide said frequency control signals to said corresponding one of said scanning receiver means, said frequency control signals corresponding to the operating frequency of each radio channel unit in said corresponding one of said groups.

Claim 7

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 6, wherein each of said first switching connectors on said first switching modules are connected to a receive terminal on said corresponding one of the radio channel units, and wherein said antenna interface modules are signal splitter modules each of which divides an RF signal received at its first interface connector from said corresponding antenna into a plurality of divided RF signals each having an equal signal strength which is a fraction of the signal strength of said RF signal, said divided RF signals being provided to said second interface connectors.

Claim 8

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 6, wherein each of said first switching connectors on said first switching modules are connected to a transmit terminal on said corresponding one of the radio channel unit, and wherein each antenna interface module includes a signal combiner module which combines RF signals received at its second interface connectors from said transmit terminals into a combined RF signal which is provided to said first interface connector for transmission by said corresponding antenna and also include a signal splitter module which divides an RF signal received at its first interface connector from said corresponding antenna into a plurality of divided RF signals each having an equal signal strength which is a fraction of the signal strength of said RF signal, said divided RF signals being provided to said second interface connectors, said second interface connectors on said signal splitter modules being corrected to said second control connectors.

Claim 9

A modular interconnect matrix according to claim 6 wherein the radio channel units each comprise a diversity receiver having two receive terminals for receiving RF signals, wherein each of said first switching modules has two first switching connectors which are connected to a corresponding one of said receive terminals on said corresponding one of the radio channel units, wherein said antenna interface modules are signal splitter modules each of which divides an RF signal received at its first interface connector from said corresponding antenna into a plurality of divided RF signals each having an equal signal strength which is a fraction of the signal strength of said RF signal, said divided RF signals being provided to said second interface connectors, and wherein said controllers provide control signals to said first switching means in each of said first switching modules for interconnecting said first switching connectors with two of said second switching connectors such that one of said receive terminals on said corresponding one of the radio channel units is interconnected with the antenna having the strongest signal strength of the received RF signals at the operating frequency of said corresponding one of the radio channel units and another of said receive terminals on said corresponding one of the radio channel units is interconnected with the antenna having the second strongest signal strength of the received RF signals at the operating frequency of said corresponding one of the radio channel units.