Microwave coaxial switch

Claim 1

A microwave coaxial switch comprising: a rectangular chamber proportioned to form a waveguide below cut-off for the principal waveguide mode in the operating frequency range of the switch, said chamber having first and second long walls parallel with each other; at least two spaced terminals projecting into said chamber through said first long wall, each of said terminals being adapted to have a microwave transmission line connected thereto; a recess formed along the length of said second long wall, said recess being positioned over said terminals and having a substantially flat upper surface; a blade positioned to be moved between an active position interconnecting two of said terminals and an inactive position in said recess in physical and electrical contact with said upper surface, said recess being deep enough so that when said blade is positioned in said recess, in its inactive position, no portion of said blade projects into said rectangular chamber; and means for moving said blade between its active and inactive positions said blade is substantially flat, but having a slight bow of no more than 6 mils, the bow being such that when the blade is in the inactive position, only its center portion is in intimate physical and electrical contact with said upper surface.