US4421965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Commutator with several layers of cross-points
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-05-17
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Granted: 1983-12-20
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Expires: 2002-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A multilayer cross point matrix switch is composed of orthigonally arranged first and second layers of spaced parallel conductors mounted on insulating guides having window arrays for placement of plugs to interconnect discrete first and second conductors of different layers at a given crosspoint. The plugs contain conductor surfaces occupying an angular sector of approximately 180 degrees. The crosspoint switches are opened or closed by one quarter of a rotation of the plug in one direction or another direction. The plugs are selectively rotated by selection bars having flexible teeth engaging a cresent-shaped head on each plug. Several types of actuating mechanisms for operating the cross-point switches are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain Gentric
- 👤 Andre Frances
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/145; H01; H01H; H01H67/00; H01H67/22; H01H67/26; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/20; H02B1/207; H04Q1/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A switch with several layers of cross points, composed of several first layers of spaced parallel conductors oriented in a first direction and of several second layers of spaced parallel conductors oriented in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and the second layers being interposed between each other, each layer of conductors being carried by a grid of insulating material, said grid of insulating material defining an orthogonal array of windows having perpendicular conductors exposed therein, plug means in at least some of said windows, a cross point comprising at least two superimposed adjacent layers and a conductor surface formed on an associated one of said plugs, the height of the conductor surface on said plug being sufficient to electrically connect a conductor segment of an upper conductor with a conductor segment of a lower conductor, each of said plug conductor surfaces occupying an angular sector in the order of 180°, and means for causing said plugs to rotate by one quarter of a rotation in one direction or in the other direction in order to open or close the cross point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A switch with several layers of cross points, composed of several first layers of spaced parallel conductors oriented in a first direction and of several second layers of spaced parallel conductors oriented in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and the second layers being interposed between each other, each layer of conductors being carried by a grid of insulating material, said grid of insulating material defining an orthogonal array of windows having perpendicular conductors exposed therein, plug means in at least some of said windows, a cross point comprising at least two superimposed adjacent layers and a conductor surface formed on an associated one of said plugs, the height of the conductor surface on said plug being sufficient to electrically connect a conductor segment of an upper conductor with a conductor segment of a lower conductor, each of said plug conductor surfaces occupying an angular sector in the order of 180°, and means for causing said plugs to rotate by one quarter of a rotation in one direction or in the other direction in order to open or close the cross point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A switch according to claim 1 and work bars means having operating teeth, and orthogonally therewith, selection bar means with flexible teeth, the plugs comprising crescent-shaped heads having tips which cooperate with the flexible teeth of said selection bar means, means responsive to a selective operation of a work bar means and a selection bar means for deforming the teeth of a selection bar means, means responsive to operation of a work bar means for pushing each selection bar means in one direction, the deformed rotating tooth bearing on one of the tips for one plug by one quarter of a rotation in one direction, and pulling the selection bar means in the other direction for rotating said plug by one quarter of a rotation in the other direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A switch according to claim 1, wherein each of said grids comprises a plurality of parallel grid elements juxtaposition in one plane, each element of said juxtapositioned grids having a ribbon including a plurality of the conductors of the layer, said ribbons being cut off at a length corresponding to a length of the grid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A switch according to claim 1, wherein the grids of the second layers are identical to the grid of the first layers, but are shifted by one quarter of a rotation relative to said grids of the first layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A switch according to claim 4 and a switching means comprising two parallel rods, each rod having an active end with a hook which can be lowered or raised in conjunction with a translation motion of the rod, the lowered or raised hook of a rod driving along one of two hooking faces formed on a said plug, thus causing said plug to rotate by one quarter of a rotation in one direction, the hook of the other parallel rod either lowering or raising for driving along the other of said hooking faces, thus causing the plug to rotate by one quarter of a rotation in the other direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
A switch according to claim 5, wherein the active end of each rod presents a flat head connected to a body of the rod by a flexible part, said flat head carrying a stud engaged in a slot of a rigid plate of a control member, said slot having a vertical plane with an S-shape guide member for translating motion of the rod in the control member for causing a displacement of the stud in the slot to cause said stud to move downwardly or upwardly and then to complete its run by a simple translation motion, the hook describing a trajectory which is parallel to that of the stud.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A switch according to claim 6, wherein heads of the plugs comprise a low cylindrical part and a high part with a circular sector having a cylindrical swelling in its center, said sector having an angle at the center which is slightly less than 180°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch according to claim 7, wherein the center of the cylindrical swelling is topped with a pivot point cone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A switch according to claim 3 and switching means with two parallel rods, each having an active end fitted with a pusher which can be lowered or raised in response to a translation motion of the corresponding rod, said lowered or raised pusher driving against a lateral side of a frame which forms a head on a plug, said plug moving downwardly or upwardly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A switch according to claim 9, wherein the active end of each rod has a flat head connected to the rod body by a flexible part, the head carrying a stud engaged in a guide slot having a shape of a V, such that the translation motion of the rod causes a displacement of the stud in the guide slot to cause said stud to move downwardly or upwardly, and then to complete its run by a simple translation motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A hand tool for the governing of a switching device member according to any one of the claims 5 to 10 wherein an end of the switching device member is accessible, said tool comprising a pistol-like device having a hand stock, means responsive to a movement of a trigger for selectively operating one of said rods through a mechanical switching within said hand tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A switch according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the switching means include members which slide in simple grooves having one of the layers of the conductors of the switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A switch according to claim 12, and means for moving said members forward step by step in the grooves in order to position active ends of the rods in a position facing a head of a plug selected to be switched.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A switch according to claim 13, wherein the members are mounted on automatic operating means comprising step by step motors, to displace then in the horizontal direction, and in the vertical direction to select a section of switches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A switch according to claim 2, wherein each of said grids comprises a plurality of parallel grid elements juxtaposition in one plane, each element of said juxtapositioned grids having a ribbon including a plurality of the conductors of the layer, said ribbons being cut off at a length corresponding to a length of the grid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A switch according to claim 2, wherein the grids of the second layers are identical to the grid of the first layers, but are shifted by one quarter of a rotation relative to said grids of the first layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A switch according to claim 3, wherein the grids of the second layers are identical to the grid of the first layers, but are shifted by one quarter of a rotation relative to said grids of the first layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch according to claim 11, wherein the switching means include members which slide in simple grooves having a step of the layers of the conductors of the switch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-19 | 1987-06-20 | 1987-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-19 | 1991-06-20 | 1991-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-19 | 1995-06-20 | 1995-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |