US 4,071,728 AGranted

Crosspoint switch comprising bistable crosspoints

AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation

InventorsReinhard Cornelis Greve, Cornelis Pieter VAN Luijk

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A crosspoint switch comprising a number of selection bars and switching bars which cross each other at right angles and have recesses and guides for catching members. A catching member is moved by a particular selection bar and switching bar to actuate an electrical contact through a member having two stable positions. The switching bars have a fork-like recess arranged to enable renewed actuation of bars previously actuated for switching on a crosspoint, without the switched-on crosspoint being switched off.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A crosspoint switch comprising

a number of selection bars having a plurality of engaging surfaces and a corresponding plurality of disengaging surfaces,
means for mounting said selection bars and for selectively moving said bars between a neutral position and a selection position,
a number of switching bars having a plurality of actuating surfaces and a corresponding plurality of releasing surfaces,
means for mounting said switching bars so as to cross said selection bars, and for selective movement of said switching bars between a neutral position and a switching position, crossings of a selection bar and a switching bar defining a plurality of crosspoints, each crosspoint having associated therewith a corresponding engaging surface, disengaging surface, actuating surface and releasing surface, movement of a corresponding actuating and releasing surface of a switching bar defining a switching path;
a plurality of catching members corresponding to said plurality of crosspoints, each catching member comprising a projection;
means for mounting respective ones of said catching members for movement along first and second directions, so disposed that each projection extends between a respective engaging and a respective disengaging surface of the selection bar defining the corresponding crosspoint for movement along said first direction in response to movement of said selection bar between the neutral and selection positions;
said selection bar being in the selection position, each projection associated therewith being disposed to extend across the corresponding switching path of said switching bar surfaces, such that movement of the switching bar moves said projection along the second direction;
said selection bar being in the neutral position, each projection associated therewith being disposed to one side of said path;
a plurality of coupling members corresponding to said projections;
means for mounting respective ones of said coupling members, and for coupling corresponding coupling members to corresponding projections for movement between a neutral and a switched position in response to movement of said projection in said second direction only;
a plurality of switches associated with respective crosspoints;
and
means for actuating a respective switch in response to the position of the respective coupling member, said surfaces, projections, and coupling members being so arranged that:
1. a coupling member and a corresponding switching bar being in the neutral position and the corresponding selection bar being in the selection position, the corresponding projection is adjacent an actuating surface such that movement of the switching bar to the switching position will move the projection along the second coordinate direction thereby moving the coupling member to the switched position, thus actuating the corresponding switch;
2. a coupling member and a corresponding switching bar being in the switched and switching position respectively, the corresponding selection bar being in the selection position, the corresponding projection is adjacent a releasing surface such that movement of the switching bar to the neutral position will move the projection thereby moving the coupling member to the neutral position;
and
3. upon movement of a selection bar to the neutral position, each projection associated with that bar is moved out of the path of the surfaces of the respective switching bar so that the corresponding coupling members remain in their previous positions independent of movement of the switching bars.

14 more elements

A crosspoint switch comprising

a plurality of elongated selection bars having parallel longitudinal axes and a plurality of elongated switching bars having parallel longitudinal exes disposed at right angles to the selection bars so as to cross each other, each crossing defining a crosspoint, each bar having a recess in the vicinity of each crosspoint;
means for mounting the selection and switching bars for motion along their axes, each switching bar movable along a given length of stroke;
a plurality of catching members, one corresponding to each crosspoint, and means for mounting said catching members to be movable parallel to each of said axes;
a plurality of electrical contacts, at least one being associated with each crosspoint;
and
means for actuating said conacts, comprising a plurality of coupling members each associated with a corresponding crosspoint and having two stable positions, wherein
each selection bar comprises an elongated recess therethrough extending transverse to the direction of movement of the selection bar, said recess having a length greater than the stroke of the corresponding switching bar,
each switching bar comprises a recess corresponding to each crosspoint, said recess having a first portion formed at least by first and second walls extending parallel to the direction of movement of the selection bars and forming a guide for a portion of the catching member, said second wall being formed on one side of a tooth having a wall defining a second recess portion, said bars and catching members being so arranged that a portion of each catching member projects into the recess of a corresponding selection bar, and upon movement of said selection bar to a selection position projects into a portion of the corresponding recess of the switching bar,
the corresponding catching member being in a neutral position in which the corresponding electrical contacts are not actuated, and said switching bar being in a neutral position, said portion of said catching member is aligned with said first portion of said recess, and
a selection bar and a switching bar being in the selection and switching positions respectively, the corresponding catching member being in a position in which the corresponding electrical contact is actuated, said portion of said catching member extends into said first portion of said recess.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A crosspoint switch comprising

a number of selection bars having a plurality of engaging surfaces and a corresponding plurality of disengaging surfaces,
means for mounting said selection bars and for selectively moving said bars between a neutral position and a selection position,
a number of switching bars having a plurality of actuating surfaces and a corresponding plurality of releasing surfaces,
means for mounting said switching bars so as to cross said selection bars, and for selective movement of said switching bars between a neutral position and a switching position, crossings of a selection bar and a switching bar defining a plurality of crosspoints, each crosspoint having associated therewith a corresponding engaging surface, disengaging surface, actuating surface and releasing surface, movement of a corresponding actuating and releasing surface of a switching bar defining a switching path;
a plurality of catching members corresponding to said plurality of crosspoints, each catching member comprising a projection;
means for mounting respective ones of said catching members for movement along first and second directions, so disposed that each projection extends between a respective engaging and a respective disengaging surface of the selection bar defining the corresponding crosspoint for movement along said first direction in response to movement of said selection bar between the neutral and selection positions;
said selection bar being in the selection position, each projection associated therewith being disposed to extend across the corresponding switching path of said switching bar surfaces, such that movement of the switching bar moves said projection along the second direction;
said selection bar being in the neutral position, each projection associated therewith being disposed to one side of said path;
a plurality of coupling members corresponding to said projections;
means for mounting respective ones of said coupling members, and for coupling corresponding coupling members to corresponding projections for movement between a neutral and a switched position in response to movement of said projection in said second direction only;
a plurality of switches associated with respective crosspoints;
and
means for actuating a respective switch in response to the position of the respective coupling member, said surfaces, projections, and coupling members being so arranged that:
1. a coupling member and a corresponding switching bar being in the neutral position and the corresponding selection bar being in the selection position, the corresponding projection is adjacent an actuating surface such that movement of the switching bar to the switching position will move the projection along the second coordinate direction thereby moving the coupling member to the switched position, thus actuating the corresponding switch;
2. a coupling member and a corresponding switching bar being in the switched and switching position respectively, the corresponding selection bar being in the selection position, the corresponding projection is adjacent a releasing surface such that movement of the switching bar to the neutral position will move the projection thereby moving the coupling member to the neutral position;
and
3. upon movement of a selection bar to the neutral position, each projection associated with that bar is moved out of the path of the surfaces of the respective switching bar so that the corresponding coupling members remain in their previous positions independent of movement of the switching bars.

14 more elements