Rf coaxial relay

Claim 2

A sequencing circuit including in combination: a first relay having an operating coil; a second relay having an operating coil; switch means operated to apply operating current to the operating coils of the first and second relays; means connected with the switch means for opposing the flux buildup in the first relay for a predetermined length of time following operation of the switch means so that the second relay is operated before the first relay is operated; and means for maintaining current through the operating coil of the second relay for a second predetermined length of time following termination of operation of the switch means to delay release of the second relay until after release of the first relay.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the means for opposing flux buildup in the first relay includes a secondary winding on the first relay and further includes means for applying current through the secondary winding to oppose the flux buildup in the first relay for said predetermined length of time following operation of the switch means.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 12 wherein the flux buildup opposing means includes unidirectional conductive means coupled across the secondary winding and capacitor means interconnecting the secondary winding of the first relay and the operating coil of the second relay, with the current flowing through the secondary winding being used to charge the capacitor means, whereupon the current ceases to flow in the secondary winding when the capacitor means is charged, and with termination of operation of the switch means, allowing the capacitor means to discharge through the operating coil of the second relay and the unidirectional conductive means in a manner to aid the release of the first relay and to maintain operation of the second relay for said second predetermined length of time.

Claim 5

An RF antenna switch for connecting a common antenna terminal to either of two coaxial lines including in combination: first and second magnetically actuated reed switches, each comprising a normally open magnetic reed contact pair, with a first conductor extending from one of the contacts of the pair and a second conductor extending from the other of the contacts of the pair of each switch; means for connecting the first conductor of each of the reed switches to a common terminal constituting the inner conductor of a first coaxial line; means for providing a permanent magnetic bias for the contact pair of the first reed switch to cause the contacts of the first reed switch to be closed; the second conductors of the first and second reed switches being connected, respectively, to the inner conductors of second and third coaxial lines, with the ends of the reed switches connected to the second and third coaxial lines being spaced apart a greater distance than the ends of the reed switches which are interconnected to the first coaxial line; a nonmagnetic conductive housing encasing the first and second reed switches and providing the outer portion of the first, second and third coaxial lines, the housing having a tongue extending between the reed switches from the ends connected to the inner conductors of the second and third coaxial lines to complete the outer portion of the second and third coaxial lines and to isolate the contacts of the reed switches from one another, the housing also having a shoulder portion adjacent one end thereof; and a DC operating coil disposed about the housing substantially surrounding the first and second reed switches and abutting the shoulder, the housing providing isolation between the DC coil and RF signals carried by the reed switches.

Claim 6

An RF antenna switch for connecting a common antenna terminal to either of two coaxial lines including in combination: first and second magnetically actuated reed switches, each comprising a normally open magnetic reed contact pair, with a first conductor extending from one of the contacts of the pair and a second conductor extending from the other of the contacts of the pair of each switch; means for connecting the first conductor of each of the reed switches to a common terminal constituting the inner conductor of a first coaxial line; means for providing a permanent magnetic bias for the contact pair of the first reed switch to cause the contacts of the first reed switch to be closed; the second conductors of the first and second reed switches being connected, respectively, to the inner conductors of second and third coaxial lines, with the ends of the reed switches connected to the second and third coaxial lines being spaced apart a greater distance than the ends of the reed switches which are interconnected to the first coaxial line; a nonmagnetic conductive housing encasing the first and second reed switches and providing the outer portion of the first, second and third coaxial lines, the housing having a tongue extending between the reed switches from the ends connected to the inner conductors of the second and third coaxial lines to complete the outer portion of the second and third coaxial lines and to isolate the contacts of the reed switches from one another, the housing also having a shoulder portion adjacent one end thereof; and a DC operating coil disposed about the housing substantially surrounding the first and second reed switches and abutting the shoulder, the housing providing isolation between the DC coil and RF signals carried by the reed switches.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the contacts and conductors of the reed switches are copper plated providing a low RF resistance.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the DC coil is wound on a removable bobbin, with location of the coil on the housing being determined by the shoulder portion.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 4 further including a second relay having an operating coil; switch means operated to apply operating current to the operating coil of the second relay and the operating coil disposed about the housing; means connected with the operating coil disposed about the housing for opposing the flux buildup in the second relay for a predetermined length of time following operation of the switch means so that the reed switches are operated before the second relay is operated; and means for maintaining current through the operating coil disposed about the housing for a second predetermined length of time following termination of operation of the switch means to delay termination of operation of the reed switch until after release of the second relay.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the RF antenna switch connects a common antenna terminal to either of two coaxial lines coupled to a transmitter and a receiver, respectively, and further including switching means having first and second states of operation and normally in the first state of operation for selectively applying power to the transmitter and the receiver, power being applied only to the receiver with the switching means in the first state of operation and power being applied to the transmitter with the switching means in the second state of operation; control means for applying operating current to the DC operating coil and also operating the state of operation; and means for delaying operation of the switching means for a predetermined period of time after current is applied to the DC operating coil.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 8 wherein the delaying means maintains application of operating current to the DC operating coil for a predetermined length of time after the control means ceases to apply said operating current, with the switching means switching from the second state to the first state while the operating current is being maintained.