# US 2010/0166000 A1 · Broadbrand Switched Multiplexer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166000 A1 - Document ID: US20100166000A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/304,036 - Filed: 2007-06-07 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-09 - Assignees: Teledyne Defence Limited - Inventors: Peter William Hardcastle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166000A1 ## CPC - H01P 1/213: combining or separating two or more different frequencies (H01P1/215 takes precedence) - H01P 1/2135: {using strip line filters (H01P1/2131 takes precedence)} - H03J 5/244: {using electronic means} - H04J 1/08: Arrangements for combining channels {(branching filters H01P1/213, H03H7/46)} - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H03J: TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) ## Abstract A broadband switched multiplexer comprising an input broadband demultiplexer (2) comprising a broadband input port (4) for receiving an input broadband signal and at least one output port (5) having a passband; an output broadband multiplexer (3) comprising at least two input ports (6) and a broadband output port (7), each input port having a different passband, each input port passband overlapping a different portion of the demultiplexer output port passband; the demultiplexer output port being in electrical communication with the multiplexer input ports by signal paths (8), each signal path having a switch (13) for opening and closing the path therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A broadband switched multiplexer comprising: an input broadband demultiplexer comprising a broadband input port for receiving an input broadband signal and at least one output port having a passband; an output broadband multiplexer comprising at least two input ports and a broadband output port, each input port having a different passband, each input port passband overlapping a different portion of the demultiplexer output port passband; the demultiplexer output port being in electrical communication with the multiplexer input ports by signal paths, each signal path having a switch for opening and closing the path therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, the input broadband demultiplexer having a plurality of output ports each having a different passband; the output broadband multiplexer having a plurality of input ports each having a different passband; the passbands being arranged such that each of the input port passbands at least partially overlaps an output port passband, at least some of the input port passbands overlapping two output port passbands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the centres of the input port passbands and the output port passbands are interdigitated, at least some of the input port passbands being sufficiently broad as to overlap the output port passbands on either side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the output port passbands are sufficiently broad as to overlap the input port passbands on either side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input and output port passbands overlap so as to form a chain of alternating overlapping input and output port passbands. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the centres of at least one of the input port passbands and output port passbands are equally spaced. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the demultiplexer has n output ports, the input and output port passbands being arranged such that there are either 2n or 2(n-2)+2 through channels of overlapping input and output port passbands. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switches in the signal paths are non reflective. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one signal path comprises a signal limiter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiplexer or demultiplexer is a HiILo cascade broadband multiplexer/demultiplexer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one signal line includes an attenuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one power divider positioned within a signal path for splitting a received signal from the corresponding output port into at least two portions, at least one of the portions being received by an input port having a passband which overlaps that of the output port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 12, comprising a plurality of power dividers, each power divider being adapted to split a signals from an associated output port into at least two portions, at least one portion of each signal being received by at least one input port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 13, further comprising frequency measurement means, the frequency measurement means being adapted to receive signal portions from a plurality of power dividers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 14, further comprising switching means between the power dividers and the frequency measurement means, the switching means being adapted to connect the frequency measurement means to different power dividers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one power divider splits the signal from an output port into two portions, the two portions being received by two input ports, the input ports having passbands which overlap that of the output port connected to the power divider. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 10, comprising at least one power combiner for combining signals from at least two output ports and providing the combined signal to an input port, the passband of the input port overlapping the passbands of the output ports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one power combiner is adapted to combine split signals from two different power dividers and provide the combined signal to an input port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of signal paths from associated output ports comprise amplitude measurement means, preferably DLVAs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 19, wherein the amplitude measurement means are narrowband amplitude measurement means relative to the broadband demultiplexer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 19, wherein each amplitude measurement means is adapted to open or close its associated signal path between output and input ports depending upon the signal measured by the amplitude measurement means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 21, further comprising frequency measurement means connected to the output broadband port of the output broadband multiplexer. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the frequency measurement means is a narrowband frequency measurement means relative to the broadband multiplexer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a frequency down converter between broadband multiplexer and frequency measurement means, the frequency down converter adapted to shift the frequency of the signal received from the broadband output port of the multiplexer by a factor dependent upon which signal path between input demultiplexer and output multiplexer is open. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 1, comprising a superheterodyne receiver connected to the output broadband port of the output broadband multiplexer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 13, comprising at least one further output broadband multiplexer, the output broadband multiplexer having a plurality of input ports and a broadband output port at least some of the power dividers having an output connected to an input port of the further output broadband multiplexer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A broadband switched multiplexer as claimed in claim 26, wherein the output broadband port of one output broadband multiplexer is connected to a frequency measurement means and the output broadband port of the additional broadband multiplexer is connected to a superheterodyne receiver. ### Claim 28 (canceled)