US3568096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically switching high frequency signals
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-11
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1989-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A device for establishing a high frequency signal conducting path between two groups of transmission lines is disclosed which contains cable switches and a strip line assembly. Both the cable switches and the strip line assembly are joined to each other at one end and at the opposite end one is joined to one transmission line group while the other is joined to the second transmission line group.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald W Kordos
- 👤 Thomas A Mccurdy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H51/00; H01H51/28; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/10; H01P1/12; H01P1/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for selectively switching high frequency signals between a common transmission line and one of several independent transmission lines including an array of conductor paths and cable switches wherein each cable switch terminates on an individual transmission line and each conductor path includes at least two serially connected segments wherein at least one segment is shared in common with another conductor path characterized in that said array includes a common access path associated with said common transmission line, eight individual access paths associated with said individual transmission lines, two primary branches, two secondary branches and foUr tertiary branches wherein each primary branch joins the other and said common access path at one end and joins an individual access path at the other end; each of said two secondary branches joins the approximate midpoint of a primary branch at one end and an individual access path at the other end; and each of said four tertiary branches joins a quarterpoint of a primary branch or a midpoint of a secondary branch, respectively, at one end and an individual access path at the other end whereby a tree configuration having a common termination at one end and eight individual terminations at the other is formed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for selectively switching high frequency signals between a common transmission line and one of several independent transmission lines including an array of conductor paths and cable switches wherein each cable switch terminates on an individual transmission line and each conductor path includes at least two serially connected segments wherein at least one segment is shared in common with another conductor path characterized in that said array includes a common access path associated with said common transmission line, eight individual access paths associated with said individual transmission lines, two primary branches, two secondary branches and foUr tertiary branches wherein each primary branch joins the other and said common access path at one end and joins an individual access path at the other end; each of said two secondary branches joins the approximate midpoint of a primary branch at one end and an individual access path at the other end; and each of said four tertiary branches joins a quarterpoint of a primary branch or a midpoint of a secondary branch, respectively, at one end and an individual access path at the other end whereby a tree configuration having a common termination at one end and eight individual terminations at the other is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said primary branches is divided into two parts of unequal width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said primary, secondary and tertiary branches are all the same length, respectively, whereby said tree configuration is symmetrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the angle between each primary branch and its associated individual access path is filled with electrically conducting material and the widest of said two parts is joined to said access path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said common access path has the same physical length as that portion of each conductor path which includes said primary, secondary and tertiary branches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said common access path includes a impedance trimming resistor shunted to ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said array lies on one side of a circuit board and said circuit board is disposed between a pair of ground plane conductors separated from said circuit board by a dielectric material whereby each conductor path acts as the center conductor of a transmission line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein one of said ground plane conductors is attached to said circuit board on a side opposite to that containing said array and includes spring loops for positioning said circuit board with respect to the other of said pair of ground plane conductors and spring tabs for holding said circuit board in place after is has been positioned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said circuit board has a relative dielectric constant of 5.3 and a thickness of approximately 0.187 inch and the other of said ground plane conductors is separated from said circuit board by an airspace 0.135 inches wide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said cable switches includes a group of reed switches and coaxial line segments alternately connected in series wherein each coaxial line segment has a characteristic impedance at least 50 percent greater than the overall effective characteristic impedance of any conductor path-cable switch combination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein each coaxial line segment has a length of at least 0.005 lambda whereby isolation loss in said apparatus is substantially increased.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said coaxial line segment comprises a copper center conductor, a surrounding sleeve and a portion of a conducting tube wherein said center conductor has a diameter of 0.010 inch, said sleeve has a relative dielectric constant of 2.3 and said tube has an inner diameter of 0.200 inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said center conductor is joined to said reed switches by a connector member having a pocket at each end, one pocket being adapted to grip a reed from a reed switch and the other being adapted to grip one end of said center conductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the contacts in said reed switches are plated with a gold-silver alloy over the entire signal conducting surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |