Switching system for plural antennas connected to plural inputs

Claim 2

A switching system suitable for switching signals from a plurality of inputs to a selectable one of four utilisation devices comprising two pairs of hybrid circuits; means for separately supplying signals to be switched to the four inputs of one pair of said hybrid circuits in a predetermined phase relationship; means connecting each of the output terminations of each of the hybrid circuits of said one pair of hybrid circuits to an input termination of a different one of the second pair of hybrid circuits, the utilisation devices each being connected to a separate and individual output termination of the second pair of hybrid circuits, said means for supplying signals in a predetermined phase relationship comprising a further two pairs of hybrid circuits, means for supplying signals to be switched to one or more of the four inputs of one pair of said further hybrid circuits, means connecting each of the output terminations of each of the hybrid circuits of said one pair of further hybrid circuits to an input termination of a different one of the second pair of said further hybrid circuits, and amplifier means connected to each of the output terminations of each of said second pair of further hybrid circuits.

Claim 3

An arrangement for selectively applying a signal of predetermined frequency to any one of four utilisation devices, comprising two pairs of hybrid circuits; first and second input means and first and second output means on each hybrid circuit, each circuit providing output signals on said first and second output means which are respectively the algebraic sum and difference of signals applied to said first and second input means, the first output means of the hybrid circuit of the first pair being connected to the first and second input means respectively of one hybrid circuit of the second pair, the second output means of the hybrid circuits of the first pair being connected to the first and second input means respectively of the other hybrid circuit of the second pair, and each of the four utilisation devices being connected to a respective one of the four output means of the second pair of hybrid circuits and means for applying simultaneously to the four input means of the hybrid circuits of the first pair signals having the same frequency and a selectable phase relationship whereby the signal reinforcement and cancelling produced by each hybrid circuit at its first and second output means causes a signal of said predetermined frequency to be applied to a selected one of said four utilisation devices in accordance with the selected phase relationship.

Claim 4

An arrangement for selectively applying a signal of predetermined frequency to any one of four utilisation devices, comprising two pairs of hybrid circuits; first and second input means and first and second output means on each hybrid circuit, each circuit providing output signals on said first and second output means which are respectively the algebraic sum and difference of signals applied to said first and second input means, the first output means of the hybrid circuit of the first pair being connected to the first and second input means respectively of one hybrid circuit of the second pair, the second output means of the hybrid circuits of the first pair being connected to the first and second input means respectively of the other hybrid circuit of the second pair, and each of the four utilisation devices being connected to a respective one of the four output means of the second pair of hybrid circuits and means for applying simultaneously to the four input means of the hybrid circuits of the first pair signals having the same frequency and a selectable phase relationship whereby the signal reinforcement and cancelling produced by each hybrid circuit at its first and second output means causes a signal of said predetermined frequency to be applied to a selected one of said four utilisation devices in accordance with the selected phase relationship.

Claim 5

A switching system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said utilisation devices are aerials.

Claim 6

A switching system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hybrid circuits are 3db couplers.

Claim 7

An arrangement for selectively applying a signal of predetermined frequency to any one of four utilization devices, which comprises in combination: two pairs of hybrid circuits, each Having first and second input means and first and second output means, the first output means of one pair of hybrids being connected respectively to the first and second input means of one hybrid circuit of the other pair and the second output means of said one pair being connected respectively to the second input means of the other hybrid circuit of said other pair, the output means of said other pair being connected individually to the utilization devices; means for selectively applying one of four patterns of input signals to the input means of said one pair of hybrid circuits, each pattern being different from the other patterns and each pattern consisting of four signals which are structured from in-phase and phase-opposition signals of said predetermined frequency; and each hybrid circuit producing signals at its first and second output means which are in phase with a signal applied to one of its input means and producing signals at its first and second output means which respectively are in phase with and in phase opposition to a signal applied to the other of its input means, whereby each pattern of input signals produces an output signal of said predetermined frequency at a different one of said output means of said other pair of hybrid circuits.

Claim 8

An arrangement for selectively applying a signal of predetermined frequency to any one of four utilization devices, which comprises in combination: two pairs of hybrid circuits, each Having first and second input means and first and second output means, the first output means of one pair of hybrids being connected respectively to the first and second input means of one hybrid circuit of the other pair and the second output means of said one pair being connected respectively to the second input means of the other hybrid circuit of said other pair, the output means of said other pair being connected individually to the utilization devices; means for selectively applying one of four patterns of input signals to the input means of said one pair of hybrid circuits, each pattern being different from the other patterns and each pattern consisting of four signals which are structured from in-phase and phase-opposition signals of said predetermined frequency; and each hybrid circuit producing signals at its first and second output means which are in phase with a signal applied to one of its input means and producing signals at its first and second output means which respectively are in phase with and in phase opposition to a signal applied to the other of its input means, whereby each pattern of input signals produces an output signal of said predetermined frequency at a different one of said output means of said other pair of hybrid circuits.

Claim 9

An arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for selectively applying said patterns of input signals comprises two pairs of further hybrid circuits having the same characteristics and connections as the two pairs of hybrid circuits first mentioned, one pair of said further hybrid circuits having four output means connected to the input means of said one pair of said first mentioned hybrid circuits, and the other pair of said further hybrid circuits having four input means for producing said patterns of input signals in response to individual excitations by a signal of said predetermined frequency.