Switching device for reed relays in a matrix

Claim 1

A switching matrix comprised of a plurality of crosspoints at the intersection of columns and rows conductors, each of said crosspoints comprising a magnetically latched reed relay having a columns conductor coil and a row conductor coil, each of said relays being switchable to an operated condition with its coils energized to add the strengths of the respective coil fields, and to the release condition with its coils energized subtractively and the coil of greater strength energized in a relay demagnetizing direction, a sequential pulse generator for each said columns conductor and a sequential pulse generator for each said rows conductor, means for selecting one of said columns generators and one of said rows generators to energize one or more coils of the selected relay at the intersection of the selected column and row, said generators operative through a relay release cycle of emitting pulses to energize the selected relay coils subtractively and for reversing the direction of the pulses of current flow in both coils to cause said coils to be energized subtractively once again.