Electro-optical and electronic switching systems

A switching system comprising an array of individual photosensors, a cathode ray tube positioned to selectively direct light generated by said tube to any selected one of said photosensors, a plurality of electrical lines adapted to carry input signals, means to periodically connect individual ones of said lines to the beam-intensity control of said tube repetitively, means coordinated with said means to periodically connect to control the beam deflection within said tube so that signals from each said line are directed to different pre-selected ones of said photosensors, and control means to respond to message destination information from incoming signals to cause said means to control beam deflection to direct signals from each line to photosensors which correspond to said destination information.

A switching system comprising an array of individual photosensors, at least two electron beam sources operative with at least one light generating screen in the basic design of a cathode ray tube to selectively direct said beams to selected areas of said screen, light directing means to direct light generated by all said beams on said screen to any selected one of said photosensors, and control means to respond to message destination information from incoming signals to cause said light directing means to direct light to photosensors which correspond to said destination information.

A switching system comprising an array of individual photosensors, means comprising a cathode ray tube positioned to selectively direct light generated by said tube to selected ones of said photosensors and comprising means to respond to message destination information from incoming signals to cause light generated to be directed to selected ones of said photosensors which correspond to said destination information, a plurality of electrical lines adapted to carry input signals, a plurality of radiation generating devices, a different one of said electrical lines being connected to operate each of said devices to produce radiation modulated by the signal on the line, gating means connected to control each of said devices, gate control circuitry responsive to a cyclical input signal to open said gating means for each of said devices in response to a different status of the input signal so that all of said devices are gated open periodically and repetitively, means to direct the radiation generated by said devices to a radiation sensitive device, and a single electric circuit operatively connected to said radiation sensitive device and operatively connected to the beam-intensity control of said cathode ray tube.

A telephone switching system comprising interfacing means to convert signals from telephones on single lines into two separate signals, one for receiving from the telephone and one for transmitting to the telephone, an array of substantially contiguous radiation sensitive electrical circuit devices, means to selectively direct radiation to any selected one of said devices, means to modulate said radiation in accordance with information received through said interfacing means, separate electrical circuits connected with each of said devices to electrically transmit signals received by the devices, and data storage and utilization means to receive information from a telephone describing the telephone transmitting and a telephone number called at the telephone transmitting and to utilize said information to control said means to selectively direct radiation so that received signals from said interfacing means from a telephone from which a telephone number is called are directed to a said circuit device connected to the receive line of the called telephone and the transmitted signal from said interfacing means from the called telephone is directed to a said circuit device connected to the receive line of the telephone from which the called telephone was called.

A switching system comprising means to generate a directional beam of sensible emanations which travels in a substantially linear path unless disturbed, an array of substantially contiguous electrical circuit devices sensitive to said emanations, means to selectively direct said emanations to any selected one of said devices comprising means to respond to message destination information from incoming signals to cause direction of said beam to selected ones of said devices which correspond to said destination information, means to modulate said emanations in accordance with information, and separate electrical circuits connected with each of said devices to electrically transmit signals from said devices created in response to said modulated emanations.

A switching system comprising an array of substantially contiguous radiation sensitive electrical circuit devices, means to selectively direct radiation to any selected one of said devices comprising means to respond to message destination information from incoming signals to cause direction of radiation to selected ones of said devices which correspond to said destination information, means to modulate said radiation in accordance with information, separate electrical circuits connected with each of said devices to electrically transmit signals from said devices created in response to said modulated radiation, a plurality of electrical lines adapted to carry input signals, means to periodically connect individual ones of said lines to control the modulation of said radiation, means coordinated with said means to periodically connect to control the direction of said radiation so that signals from each said line are directed to different ones of said devices, means responsive to said message destination information to determine a sequence of the said directing of said radiation which minimizes distances of movement of said radiation between successive redirections of said radiation, and means to connect signals from said lines to carry input signals to modulate said radiation in said determined sequence.