Single pole n-throw microwave switch

Claim 1

A broadband microwave switch operative within a predetermined microwave frequency range comprising, means defining at least first, second and third terminal pairs each having a signal terminal and a reference terminal, an outer conductor defining a cavity normally maintained at reference potential intercoupling said reference terminals, means defining an inner conductor within said cavity coupled at one end to the first signal terminal, the other end of said inner conductor defining a common terminal within said cavity, first circuit means including a first unilaterally conducting device intercoupling said second signal terminal with said common terminal, said first circuit means also having at least second and third unilaterally conducting devices in parallel each having one terminal coupled to said common terminal by means including said first unilaterally conducting device and the other terminal of each connected to said outer conductor with a conducting segment between each of the latter one terminals comprising an inductance that coacts with the capacitances of unilaterally conducting devices in said cavity and other inductances in said cavity to form a substantially reflectionless band-pass filter within said predetermined microwave frequency range in a selectable transmission path between said first and second terminal pairs, said first and the parallel second and third unilaterally conducting devices being poled for conduction during first and second mutually exclusive time intervals respectively dependent upon the polarity of the potential on said second signal terminal relative to that on said first signal terminal and that on said outer conductor for allowing and preventing the transfer of r-f energy between said first and second terminal pairs during said first and second time intervals respectively, second circuit means including a fourth unilaterally conducting device intercoupling said third signal terminal with said common terminal, said second circuit means also having at least fifth and sixth unilaterally conducting devices in parallel eacH having one terminal coupled to said common terminal by means including said fourth unilaterally conducting device and the other terminal of each connected to said outer conductor with a conducting segment between each of the latter one terminals comprising an inductance that coacts with the capacitances of unilaterally conducting devices in said cavity and other inductances in said cavity to form a substantially reflectionless band-pass filter within said predetermined microwave frequency range in a selectable transmission path between said first and third terminal pairs, said fourth and the parallel fifth and sixth unilaterally conducting devices being poled for conduction during third and fourth mutually exclusive time intervals respectively dependent upon the polarity of the potential on said third signal terminal relative to that on said first signal terminal and that on said outer conductor for allowing and preventing the transfer of r-f energy between said first and third terminal pairs during said third and fourth time intervals respectively.