Abstract Shown is a cross-point mechanism for a crossbar switch in which each cross-point includes one or more mobile rigid wire springs conductors extending normal to a stationary conductor, there being one stationary conductor for each mobile wire spring. Two adjacent notches are inset in a stationary support insulator for each mobile spring, one for holding the mobile spring in the released or unoperated condition and the other for holding the mobile spring in the operated condition in contact with a stationary conductor. Each wire is permanently flexed toward the notches so that on movement toward the switch-operated condition the spring is moved orthogonally past a shoulder separating the notches and released there for movement due to the spring flexure. For release of the cross-point connection, the mobile spring is translated in the direction normal to the alignment of the adjacent notches to free the spring of the shoulder and allow it to restore to the unoperated condition or release condition due to the spring flexure. The mobile spring is moved in operating condition by first and second perpendicular shifting means. Actuation of said first and second shifting means moves said mobile spring into a ready position, and then release of said first shifting means allows said spring flexure to move the mobile spring into the operated position.
Inventors
👤 Heinz Georg Grundig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 12:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H67/00; H01H67/22; H01H67/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A crossbar switch comprising a plurality of rectangularly disposed alignments intersecting at a plurality of cross-points, each of said cross-points including (a) a mobile, contact-bearing spring element, (b) a stationary contactor, and (c) a stationary support member including a set of first and second aligned notches with a stationary contactor at a wall in the second notch; each spring element flexed toward an at rest state in the first notch, first spring element shifting means operative to displace the spring elements of one alignment to an intermediate position free of said first notches of said one alignment, second spring element shifting means operative to displace spring elements in an alignment normal to said one alignment and thereby move any spring elements from the intermediate position to a ready position aligned with the second notch of a set, wall means on said second shifting means positioned to guide any spring elements at said ready position into said second notch under the spring element flex on restoration of said first shifting means to close the cross-point contact to the contactor in a spring element operated state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A crossbar switch comprising a plurality of rectangularly disposed alignments intersecting at a plurality of cross-points, each of said cross-points including (a) a mobile, contact-bearing spring element, (b) a stationary contactor, and (c) a stationary support member including a set of first and second aligned notches with a stationary contactor at a wall in the second notch; each spring element flexed toward an at rest state in the first notch, first spring element shifting means operative to displace the spring elements of one alignment to an intermediate position free of said first notches of said one alignment, second spring element shifting means operative to displace spring elements in an alignment normal to said one alignment and thereby move any spring elements from the intermediate position to a ready position aligned with the second notch of a set, wall means on said second shifting means positioned to guide any spring elements at said ready position into said second notch under the spring element flex on restoration of said first shifting means to close the cross-point contact to the contactor in a spring element operated state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are means for anchoring one end of each spring element to position the contact to enter into one or the other of said notches, and wherein at each cross-point the end wall of saiD stationary contact-bearing notch is closer to the projection of said spring element from its anchoring means than the first notch whereby to increase the pressure of the contact on the stationary contactor in the operated state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a switch as claimed in claim 2, said stationary contactors of said switch comprise conductive rods mounted transversely in said support member adjacent an alignment of cross-point notches and open to the contact in the second notch of each set and means for insulating each of said rods within the first notches to prevent contact therein between the rod within the first notch and the spring element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stationary contactors each comprise a printed circuit contactor forming an electrical contact at the end wall of the second notch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring elements are flexed in a direction angularly disposed to both said rectangular alignments to hold any spring elements in the state to which moved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are wall means on said first shifting means for moving any operated spring element to a second intermediate position on reoperation of said first shifting means with said second shifting means restored, and guide means on said first notches to guide any spring from said second intermediate position to the at rest state under said spring element flexure.