N by M planar configuration switch for radio frequency applications

A radio-frequency broadcast switch of planar construction, for connecting N input signals to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a circuit board having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said circuit board, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port and being able to connect a selected one of its input ports to its output port;
• an input stage also disposed on said first face and having N input ports connected respectively to N distributed power dividers, each providing M outputs distributed in location along a line parallel to said row of output switches, whereby each of said M outputs is located as near as possible to a corresponding one of said output switches;
• and
• a plurality of conductors for cross-connecting said outputs from said distributed power dividers with said input ports of said output switches, said conductors being disposed for the most part on said second face of said circuit board to avoid intersection with said distributed power dividers.

A radio-frequency matrix switch of planar construction, for selectively connecting N input signals to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a circuit board having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said circuit board, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port and being able to connect a selected one of its input ports to its output port;
• an input stage also disposed on said first face and having N input ports connected respectively to N distributed switching means, each providing M output terminals distributed in location along a line parallel to said row of output switches, whereby each output terminal is located as near as possible to a corresponding one of said output switches, each of said N distributed switching means providing an output signal at a selected one of its output terminals;
• and
• a plurality of conductors for cross-connecting said output terminals of said distributed switching means with said input ports of said output switches, said conductors being disposed for the most part on said second face of said circuit board to avoid intersection with said distributed switching means.

A radio-frequency switch of planar construction for connecting N input signals selectively to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a substrate having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said substrate, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port;
• an input stage having N input ports connected respectively to N power distribution means, each of said power distribution means having elements distributed on said first face of said substrate, along one of N rows practically parallel with said row of output switches, and each of said power distribution means having M output ports;
• and
• electrical conductor means connecting said output ports of said power distribution means with said input ports of said output switches, said conductor means being disposed on said second face of said substrate wherever necessary to avoid intersection with said power distribution means;
• and wherein
• said radio-frequency switch functions as a broadcast switch, and
• said N power distribution means each include a plurality of power dividers connected in at least one distributed chain along one of the N rows, to provide M output ports for connection to said output stage.

A radio-frequency switch of planar construction for connecting N input signals selectively to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a substrate having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said substrate, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port;
• an input stage having N input ports connected respectively to N power distribution means, each of said power distribution means having elements distributed on said first face of said substrate, along one of N rows practically parallel with said row of output switches, and each of said power distribution means having M output ports;
• and
• electrical conductor means connecting said output ports of said power distribution means with said input ports of said output switches, said conductor means being disposed on said second face of said substrate wherever necessary to avoid intersection with said power distribution means;
• and wherein
• said switch functions as a matrix switch,
• said N power distribution means include M distributed switches providing an output at at least one of said M output ports, and
• each of said M distributed switches is capable of switching power to one of said N input ports to said output switches or to the next distributed switch in sequence.

A radio-frequency switch of planar construction for connecting N input signals selectively to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a substrate having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said substrate, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port;
• an input stage having N input ports connected respectively to N power distribution means, each of said power distribution means having elements distributed on said first face of said substrate, along one of N rows practically parallel with said row of output switches, and each of said power distribution means having M output ports;
• and
• electrical conductor means connecting said output ports of said power distribution means with said input ports of said output switches, said conductor means being disposed on said second face of said substrate wherever necessary to avoid intersection with said power distribution means;
• and wherein
• said switch functions as a matrix switch, and
• said N power distribution means each include a plurality of power dividers connected in at least one distributed chain along one of the N rows, to provide M output ports for connection to said output stage, and M isolation switches connected to respective output ports to selectively isolate said output switches from the input signals.

A radio-frequency broadcast switch of planar construction, for connecting N input signals to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a circuit board having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said circuit board, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port and being able to connect a selected one of its input ports to its output port;
• an input stage also disposed on said first face and having N input ports connected respectively to N distributed power dividers, each providing M outputs distributed in location along a line parallel to said row of output switches, whereby each of said M outputs is located as near as possible to a corresponding one of said output switches;
• and
• a plurality of conductors for cross-connecting said outputs from said distributed power dividers with said input ports of said output switches, said conductors being disposed for the most part on said second face of said circuit board to avoid intersection with said distributed power dividers;
• and wherein each of said N distributed power dividers includes
• a first power divider having an input terminal forming the input port, and two output terminals, and
• a plurality of further power dividers connected to said first power divider in at least one series string wherein each of said power dividers receives power from a preceding divider in said string and provides divided power to a next divider in said string and to one of said M outputs.

A radio-frequency matrix switch of planar construction, for selectively connecting N input signals to M output circuits, where N and M are integers, said switch comprising:

• a circuit board having first and second faces;
• an output stage having M output switches arrayed in a row on said first face of said circuit board, each of said output switches having N input ports and one output port and being able to connect a selected one of its input ports to its output port;
• an input stage also disposed on said first face and having N input ports connected respectively to N distributed switching means, each providing M output terminals distributed in location along a line parallel to said row of output switches, whereby each output terminal is located as near as possible to a corresponding one of said output switches, each of said N distributed switching means providing an output signal at a selected one of its output terminals;
• and
• a plurality of conductors for cross-connecting said output terminals of said distributed switching means with said input ports of said output switches, said conductors being disposed for the most part on said second face of said circuit board to avoid intersection with said distributed switching means;
• and wherein
• each of said distributing switching means includes a plurality of double-throw switches having an input terminal and two output terminals,
• one output terminal of each of said switches provides an output terminal for said distributed switching means and the other is connected to the input terminal of the next switch in a series string, and
• the positions of said switches determine which of the output terminals of said distributed switching means is connected to the input port of said output switches.