Radio frequency switch and method of operation therefor

A radio frequency switch comprising a radio frequency cavity containing at least one conductor that is reciprocatable between a closed position and an open position, said cavity having an input and output, an actuator located adjacent to said cavity, said actuator supporting a first means for moving said conductor in one direction, said actuator being rotatably mounted with a mover being located to rotate the actuator both clockwise and counterclockwise by activating said mover, said actuator having a first position whereby said conductor is moved between the closed position and the open position, said actuator having a second position located within 40.degree. of said first position, with a second means for moving said conductor in an opposite direction arranged relative to said cavity to move said conductor between the closed position and the open position when said actuator is in said second position, the conductor moving in one direction when the actuator is in the first position and the conductor moving in the opposite direction when the actuator is in the second position.

A radio frequency switch comprising a radio frequency cavity containing at least one conductor that is reciprocatable between a closed position and an open position, said cavity having an input and an output, an actuator located adjacent to said cavity, said actuator having one group of permanent magnets for each conductor in said cavity, each group of permanent magnets having at least two permanent magnets that are opposite to one another in polarity, said actuator being rotatably mounted with a mover located to rotate the actuator both clockwise and counterclockwise by activating said mover, said actuator having a first position whereby one permanent magnet of each group is located to move or retain one conductor located within the cavity and, in a second position, another permanent magnet of the same group is located to move or retain the same conductor located within the cavity, each conductor being moved or retained in each position of said switch by permanent magnets of the same group.

A method of operating a radio frequency cavity switch having an actuator with a first permanent magnet mounted thereon, said actuator having two positions, said switch having a radio frequency cavity containing at least one conductor reciprocatable between a closed position and an open position, said cavity having an input and output, said actuator being rotatably mounted with an armature thereon, said armature being located to interact with two electromagnets mounted on said switch, said electromagnets being connected to be activated individually, said method comprising activating a first electromagnet to rotate the actuator clockwise until the armature abuts the electromagnet that has been activated, de-activating said first electromagnet so that the actuator is in a first position, activating a second electromagnet to rotate the actuator counterclockwise so that the armature abuts the second electromagnet, de-activating the second electromagnet so that the actuator is in a the second position, alternately activating one electromagnet and de-activating the other electromagnet to move the actuator between the first and second positions.

A method of operating a radio frequency switch having an actuator having a first permanent magnet mounted thereon and a second permanent magnet mounted thereon adjacent to said first permanent magnet, said actuator having two positions, said switch having a radio frequency cavity containing at least one conductor reciprocatable between a closed position and an open position, said cavity having an input and output, said actuator being rotatably mounted and connected to a mover, each conductor having a third permanent magnet mounted thereon, said first permanent magnet and said second permanent magnet having an opposite polarity, said method comprising the steps of commencing with said actuator in a first position, activating the step motor to move the actuator a distance of substantially 20.degree. clockwise from said first position to said second position and de-activating said step motor, re-activating said step motor to move said actuator counterclockwise substantially 20.degree. from said second position to said first position and de-activating said step motor.