Matrix signal switching device

Claim 2

A signal switching device, comprising: an l number of signal links spaced in parallel in one plane and divided into a plurality of groups of input portions, each group including an s number of said portions; said links further divided into a plurality of groups of output portions, each latter group including a t number of said latter portions; said plurality of input portion groups x s said plurality of o-put portion groups x t l ; an m number of input signal lines spaced in parallel in one direction to cross said input link portions at right angles, each input line crossing each input link portion; said input lines divided into a plurality of groups, each including an r number of said lines; said plurality of input line groups x r m l; an n number of output signal lines spaced in parallel in said one direction to cross said output link portions at right angles, each output line crossing each output link portion; said output lines divided into a plurality of groups, each including a u number of said output lines; said plurality of output line groups x u n l; said links, input lines and output lines maintaining a relation of r X s u X t l; a plurality of normally open switching elements connected to said input link portions and input lines at crossings of each of said input link portions in said respective groups thereof and corresponding input lines in said respective groups thereof; said elements also connected to said output link portions and said output lines at crossings of each of said groups of said output link portions and corresponding output lines in said respective groups thereof; and a plurality of control elements coupled to said switching elements at said crossings of said input lines and input link portions and of said output link portion groups and output lines; whereby the application of a control signal to one control element coupled to one switching element connected to one of said input lines and a corresponding input link portion and to a second control element coupled to a second switching element connected to one of said output lines and a corresponding output link portion group closes said one and second switching elements to establish a signal path including said one inPut signal line, one input link portion, closed one and second switching elements, one output link portion contained in said last-mentioned output link portion group and said one output signal line.

Claim 3

The signal switching device according to claim 1 which includes: an l number of control links spaced in parallel in a second plane parallel with said one plane and divided into a plurality of groups of input portions, each latter group including an s number of said latter portions, and into a plurality of groups of output portions, each latter group including a t number of said latter portions; said plurality of input control link portion groups x s said plurality of output control link portion groups x t l; an m number of input control lines spaced in parallel in said one direction to cross said input control link portions at right angles, each input control line crossing each input control link portion; said input control lines divided into a plurality of groups, each including an r number of input control lines; said plurality of input control line groups x r m l; an n number of output control lines spaced in parallel in said one direction to cross said output control link portions at right angles; each output control line crossing each output control link portion; said output control lines divided into a plurality of groups, each including a u number of said output control lines; said plurality of output control line groups x u n l; said control links, input control lines and output control lines maintaining a relation of r X s u X t l; a control signal input terminal; an m/r number of normally open input control signal switches connected to said input terminal; each of said last-mentioned switches also connected to said input control lines in one group thereof; a control signal output terminal; an n/u number of normally open output control signal switches connected to said output terminal; each of said last-mentioned switches also connected to said output control lines in one group thereof; and a plurality of additional normally open switches, one connected in each of said input control lines in proximity of one of said m/r switches, in each of said control links between said respective input and output portions thereof, and in each of said output control lines in proximity of one of said n/u switches; whereby the application of said control signal to said input and output terminals closes one of said m/ r switches and one of said additional switches which latter one switch is connected in one of said input control lines which latter one control line is connected to said control element coupled to said closed one switching element which is connected to said one input signal line; said control signal also closes one of said additional switches connecting said one input link portion and said one output link portion; said control signal also closes one of said n/ u switches and another one of said additional switches which latter one switch is connected in one of said output control lines which latter one control line is connected to said control element coupled to said closed second switching element which is connected to said one output signal line to establish said signal path including said one input signal line and one output signal line.

Claim 4

A signal switching device, comprising: an m number of input signal lines spaced in parallel in one direction and formed in a plurality of groups, each containing an r number of said lines; said plurality of groups multiplied by r m; an n number of output signal lines spaced in parallel in said one direction and separated from said input lines to form a plurality of groups, each consisting of a u number of said output lines; said plurality of groups multiplied bY u n; an l number of signal links spaced in parallel and disposed between said input and output lines to cross said input and output lines at right angles thereto; said links divided into a plurality of groups of input portions, each latter group containing an s number of said portions; said links further divided into a plurality of groups of output portions, each latter group having a t number of said latter portions; said plurality of input groups multiplied by r said plurality of output groups multiplied by u l; and normally open switching means connected to said input lines and input link portions at crossings of corresponding input lines in said respective groups thereof and of corresponding input link portions in said respective groups thereof; said means also connected to said output lines and output link portions at crossings of corresponding output lines in said respective groups thereof and of corresponding groups of said output link portions; whereby an application of a control signal to one of said switching means connected to one of said input lines and a corresponding one input link portion and to a second of said switching means connected to one of said output lines and a corresponding one output link portion group closes said one switching means at a crossing of said one input line and said one input link portion and also closes said second switching means at a crossing of said one output line and said one output link portion group to establish a signal path including said one input signal line, closed one switching means, one input link portion, closed second switching means, one output link portion contained in said one output link portion group, and one output signal line.

Claim 5

A signal switching device, comprising: an m number of input signal lines spaced in parallel in one direction and formed in a plurality of groups, each containing an r number of said lines; said plurality of groups multiplied by r m; an n number of output signal lines spaced in parallel in said one direction and separated from said input lines to form a plurality of groups, each consisting of a u number of said output lines; said plurality of groups multiplied bY u n; an l number of signal links spaced in parallel and disposed between said input and output lines to cross said input and output lines at right angles thereto; said links divided into a plurality of groups of input portions, each latter group containing an s number of said portions; said links further divided into a plurality of groups of output portions, each latter group having a t number of said latter portions; said plurality of input groups multiplied by r said plurality of output groups multiplied by u l; and normally open switching means connected to said input lines and input link portions at crossings of corresponding input lines in said respective groups thereof and of corresponding input link portions in said respective groups thereof; said means also connected to said output lines and output link portions at crossings of corresponding output lines in said respective groups thereof and of corresponding groups of said output link portions; whereby an application of a control signal to one of said switching means connected to one of said input lines and a corresponding one input link portion and to a second of said switching means connected to one of said output lines and a corresponding one output link portion group closes said one switching means at a crossing of said one input line and said one input link portion and also closes said second switching means at a crossing of said one output line and said one output link portion group to establish a signal path including said one input signal line, closed one switching means, one input link portion, closed second switching means, one output link portion contained in said one output link portion group, and one output signal line.

Claim 6

The switching device according to claim 3 in which said m, n and l numbers are identical.

Claim 7

The switching device according to claim 3 in which said r, s, t and u numbers are identical.

Claim 8

The switching device according to claim 3 in which r X s u X t l.