US5889775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-stage switch
Assignee: Thales Avionics Inc
•
Filing: 1997-08-07
•
Granted: 1999-03-30
•
Expires: 2017-08-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a multi-stage switch. An input or first stage receives a plurality of information signals. An output or third stage distributes a plurality of information signals. A middle or second stage establishes a plurality of signal paths between the input stage and output stage. The switch includes a routing function which selects the path between the input stage and the output stage. The routing function includes a reallocation function which reallocates existing paths to free paths to avoid signal blocking.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad Jan Sawicz
- 👤 Victor Cecil Kemp
- 👤 Arvind Chimanlal Desai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/64; H04Q3/68; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13003; H04Q2213/1302; H04Q2213/13034; H04Q2213/1304; H04Q2213/1308; H04Q2213/13093; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13166; H04Q2213/1319; H04Q2213/13291; H04Q2213/1332; H04Q2213/13337; H04Q2213/1337; H04Q2213/13393; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A switching unit comprising: input means for receiving a plurality of information signals wherein the input means includes circuit boards having multiple layers to receive analog and digital information signals and multiple input switches; output means for distributing a plurality of the information signals wherein the output means includes multiple output switches; crosspoint means for establishing a plurality of paths between the input means and the output means wherein the crosspoint means includes multiple crosspoint switches; and routing means for selecting a path between the input means and the output means through the crosspoint means, the routing means including means for reallocating existing paths by examining paths previously selected by the routing means and a new paths for the reallocation of paths from the input means, through the crosspoint means and to the output means to thereby overcome blocking of the new path between the input means and the output means and optimize the paths through the crosspoint means wherein the reallocation means partitions the existing paths and the new path into at least a first and second matching wherein first matching contains connections between the input switches and the output switches not common to connections between the input switches and the output switches in the second matching and deallocates the existing paths and reallocates the connections of the first matching to paths through one crosspoint switch and the connection of the second matching to paths through another crosspoint switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A switching unit comprising: input means for receiving a plurality of information signals wherein the input means includes circuit boards having multiple layers to receive analog and digital information signals and multiple input switches; output means for distributing a plurality of the information signals wherein the output means includes multiple output switches; crosspoint means for establishing a plurality of paths between the input means and the output means wherein the crosspoint means includes multiple crosspoint switches; and routing means for selecting a path between the input means and the output means through the crosspoint means, the routing means including means for reallocating existing paths by examining paths previously selected by the routing means and a new paths for the reallocation of paths from the input means, through the crosspoint means and to the output means to thereby overcome blocking of the new path between the input means and the output means and optimize the paths through the crosspoint means wherein the reallocation means partitions the existing paths and the new path into at least a first and second matching wherein first matching contains connections between the input switches and the output switches not common to connections between the input switches and the output switches in the second matching and deallocates the existing paths and reallocates the connections of the first matching to paths through one crosspoint switch and the connection of the second matching to paths through another crosspoint switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the input means, the crosspoint means and the output means are each printed circuit boards and wherein the crosspoint board is orthogonal to the input board and the output board is orthogonal to the crosspoint board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The switching unit of claim 2 further comprising a video back plane printed circuit board having connections for the input board to mount orthogonal to the crosspoint board and for the output board to mount orthogonal to the crosspoint board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The switching unit of claim 2 wherein the printed circuit boards are multilayered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The switching unit of claim 2 wherein the printed circuit boards include integrated circuits to switch information signals between the input means and the output means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the input means comprises at least one crosspoint switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the output means comprises at least one crosspoint switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the crosspoint means comprises at least one crosspoint switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the routing means comprises: computing means for establishing the paths; and memory means for storing a map of the established paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the reallocation means examines each path previously established by the routing means at most once to establish a new path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the reallocation means examines each output means at most once to establish a new path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The switching unit of claim 1 wherein the reallocation means includes a packing means for finding the optimum paths through the crosspoint means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The switching unit of claim 1 further comprising a second input means for receiving a plurality of information signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The switching unit of claim 13 wherein the input means receives non-broadcast information signals and the second input means receives broadcast information signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The switching unit of claim 13 wherein the input means, the crosspoint means, the second input means and the output means are each printed circuit boards and wherein the crosspoint board is orthogonal to the input board and the output board is orthogonal to the crosspoint board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
139 words
A switching unit comprising: input means for receiving a plurality of information signals wherein the input means includes circuit boards having layers to receive analog and digital signals and a differential receiver circuit to convert information signals into single ended signals for distribution through the switching unit, output means for distributing a plurality of the information signals; crosspoint means for establishing a plurality of paths between the input means and the output means, and routing means for selecting a path between the input means and the output means through the crosspoint mean, the routing means including means for reallocating existing paths by examining paths previously selected by the routing means and a new path for reallocation of paths from the input means, through the crosspoint means and to the output means to thereby overcome blocking of the new path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A switching unit comprising: input means for receiving a plurality of information signals wherein the input means includes circuit boards having layers to receive analog and digital signals and a differential receiver circuit to convert information signals into single ended signals for distribution through the switching unit, output means for distributing a plurality of the information signals; crosspoint means for establishing a plurality of paths between the input means and the output means, and routing means for selecting a path between the input means and the output means through the crosspoint mean, the routing means including means for reallocating existing paths by examining paths previously selected by the routing means and a new path for reallocation of paths from the input means, through the crosspoint means and to the output means to thereby overcome blocking of the new path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1296405A
Cited
GB1299602A
Cited
US3795771A
Cited
US4037250A
Cited
US4428078A
Cited
US4402008A
Cited
US4417244A
Cited
US4417245A
Cited
US4566007A
Cited
US4774514A
Cited
US4584603A
Cited
US4862161A
Cited
US4647980A
Cited
EP0230280A1
Cited
US4647980B1
Cited
US4804956A
Cited
WO1988004566A1
Cited
EP0277014A2
Cited
US4866515A
Cited
EP0278717A2
Cited
EP0282183A1
Cited
EP0281293A2
Cited
US4897714A
Cited
JPS63219289A
Cited
WO1990015508A1
Cited
JPH03187636A
Cited
US5123015A
Cited
US5259784A
Cited
US5287186A
Cited
EP0557058A1
Cited
US5339221A
Cited
US5455393A
Cited
WO1994028679A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-29 | 2002-09-28 | 2003-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-09-28 | 2007-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-29 | 2010-09-28 | 2011-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |