Interstage linkage for switching network

Claim 2

In an electrical network having a plurality of first devices and a plurality of second devices, the devices having input and output terminals, an interstage linkage for connecting the first devices to the second devices, which comprises: a plurality of first flat cables, each connected at one end to the output terminals of an associated first device; a plurality of second flat cables, each connected at one end to the input terminals of an associated second device, the remaining ends of the first cables being stacked parallel to each other, the remaining ends of the second flat cables being stacked parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first cables, the stacked cables being positioned to place the end of each conductor in the second cables substantially opposite the end of a corresponding conductor in the first cables; and means for connecting each conductor in the second cables to its corresponding opposed conductor in the first cables.

Claim 3

In a switching network having m first switches each having n s-wire outputs and n second switches, each having m s-wire inputs, where m, n, and s represent integers characterizing the switching network, an interstage linkage for connecting the switches, which comprises: m first flat cables, each having n s-wire circuits connected at one end to the outputs of an associated first switch; n second flat cables, each having m s-wire circuits connected at one end to the inputs of an associated second switch; the remaining ends of the first flat cables being stacked in spaced relation, the distance between adjacent first flat cables being substantially the distance between adjacent s-wire circuits in the second flat cables; the remaining ends of the second flat cables being stacked in spaced relation perpendicular to the plane of the first flat cables, the distance between adjacent second flat cables being substantially the distance between adjacent s-wire circuits in the first flat cables, the stacked cables being placed to position the end of each circuit in the second cables substantially opposite the ends of a corresponding circuit in the first cables; and means for connecting the conductors of each circuit in the second cabLes to their corresponding conductors in the opposing circuit in the first cables.

Claim 4

In a switching network having m first switches each having n s-wire outputs and n second switches, each having m s-wire inputs, where m, n, and s represent integers characterizing the switching network, an interstage linkage for connecting the switches, which comprises: m first flat cables, each having n s-wire circuits connected at one end to the outputs of an associated first switch; n second flat cables, each having m s-wire circuits connected at one end to the inputs of an associated second switch; the remaining ends of the first flat cables being stacked in spaced relation, the distance between adjacent first flat cables being substantially the distance between adjacent s-wire circuits in the second flat cables; the remaining ends of the second flat cables being stacked in spaced relation perpendicular to the plane of the first flat cables, the distance between adjacent second flat cables being substantially the distance between adjacent s-wire circuits in the first flat cables, the stacked cables being placed to position the end of each circuit in the second cables substantially opposite the ends of a corresponding circuit in the first cables; and means for connecting the conductors of each circuit in the second cabLes to their corresponding conductors in the opposing circuit in the first cables.

Claim 5

An interstage linkage for connecting m n-circuit devices in a first stage to n m-circuit devices in a second stage, each circuit having s terminals, the interstage linkage providing m X n s-wire links, each connecting the s terminals of the ith circuit of the jth device in the first stage to the corresponding s terminals of the jth circuit of the ith device in the second stage, where m, n, s, i and j are integers, and 1 < or = i < or = m and 1 < or = j < or = n; which comprises: a matrix board having a first m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a first side and a second m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a second side opposing the first side, each terminal group in the second array opposing a corresponding terminal group in the first array, the terminal groups in the first array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the rows, the terminal groups in the second array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the columns, each terminal in each group in the first array being connected to a corresponding one of the terminals in the opposing group of the second array; m cables each having n X s conductors connecting the n X s terminals of one of the m first-stage devices to corresponding ones of the n X s terminals in a row of terminal groups on the first side of the matrix board; and n cables each having m X s conductors connecting the m X s terminals of one of the n second-stage devices to corresponding ones of the m X s terminals in a column of terminal groups on the second side of the matrix board.

Claim 6

An interstage linkage for connecting m n-circuit devices in a first stage to n m-circuit devices in a second stage, each circuit having s terminals, the interstage linkage providing m X n s-wire links, each connecting the s terminals of the ith circuit of the jth device in the first stage to the corresponding s terminals of the jth circuit of the ith device in the second stage, where m, n, s, i and j are integers, and 1 < or = i < or = m and 1 < or = j < or = n; which comprises: a matrix board having a first m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a first side and a second m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a second side opposing the first side, each terminal group in the second array opposing a corresponding terminal group in the first array, the terminal groups in the first array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the rows, the terminal groups in the second array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the columns, each terminal in each group in the first array being connected to a corresponding one of the terminals in the opposing group of the second array; m cables each having n X s conductors connecting the n X s terminals of one of the m first-stage devices to corresponding ones of the n X s terminals in a row of terminal groups on the first side of the matrix board; and n cables each having m X s conductors connecting the m X s terminals of one of the n second-stage devices to corresponding ones of the m X s terminals in a column of terminal groups on the second side of the matrix board.

Claim 7

The interstage linkage according to claim 3 wherein the matrix board comprises a planar member having two opposed major surfaces, the terminals on the matrix board are contact pads substantially coplanar with the surfaces, and each cable comprises a plurality of substantially parallel conductors supported by at least one web of insulating material.

Claim 8

The interstage linkage according to claim 3 wherein the m and n cables each have at least one additional conductor connected to additional terminals on their respective sides of the matrix board, the additional terminals being interconnected to thereby interconnect all the additional conductors.

Claim 9

An interstage linkage for a switching network having a plurality of first switches connected by the interstage linkage to a plurality of second switches, which comprises: a matrix board having a first rectangular array of contact pads on a first surface and a second rectangular array of contact pads on a second surface, each contact pad in the first array being connected to a corresponding contact pad in the second array; a first group of multi-conductor cables, each cable connecting the ouput terminals of one of the first switches to corresponding contact pads of a row in the first array; and a second group of multi-conductor cables, each cable connecting the input terminals of one of the second switches to corresponding contact pads of a column in the second array.

Claim 10

An interstage linkage for a switching network having a plurality of first switches connected by the interstage linkage to a plurality of second switches, which comprises: a matrix board having a first rectangular array of contact pads on a first surface and a second rectangular array of contact pads on a second surface, each contact pad in the first array being connected to a corresponding contact pad in the second array; a first group of multi-conductor cables, each cable connecting the ouput terminals of one of the first switches to corresponding contact pads of a row in the first array; and a second group of multi-conductor cables, each cable connecting the input terminals of one of the second switches to corresponding contact pads of a column in the second array.

Claim 11

A switching network comprising: m first switches, each terminated in a flat cable having n s-wire circuits; n second switches, each terminated in a flat cable having m s-wire circuits, m, n and s representing integers characterizing the switching network; the remaining ends of the m cables from the first switches being stacked in spaced relation, the remaining ends of the n cables from the second switches being stacked in spaced relation perpendicular to the first cables, the stacked cables being positioned to place the end of each circuit in the second cables substantially opposite the end of a coRresponding circuit in the first cables; and means for connecting the conductors of each circuit in the second cables to their corresponding conductors in the opposing circuit in the first cables.

Claim 12

A switching network comprising: m first switches, each terminated in a flat cable having n s-wire circuits; n second switches, each terminated in a flat cable having m s-wire circuits, m, n and s representing integers characterizing the switching network; the remaining ends of the m cables from the first switches being stacked in spaced relation, the remaining ends of the n cables from the second switches being stacked in spaced relation perpendicular to the first cables, the stacked cables being positioned to place the end of each circuit in the second cables substantially opposite the end of a coRresponding circuit in the first cables; and means for connecting the conductors of each circuit in the second cables to their corresponding conductors in the opposing circuit in the first cables.

Claim 13

The switching network according to claim 7 wherein the connecting means further comprises: a matrix board having a first m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a first side and a second m-row by n-column array of terminal groups on a second side, each terminal group in the second array opposing a corresponding terminal group in the first array, the terminal groups in the first array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the rows, the terminal groups in the second array each containing s terminals positioned along an axis parallel to the columns, each terminal in each group in the first array being connected to a corresponding one of the terminals in the opposing group of the second array; the conductors in each cable from one of the first switches being connected to a row of terminals on the first side of the matrix board, the conductors in each cable from one of the second switches being connected to a column of terminals on the second side of the matrix board.