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US 9,287,062 B2Granted
Magnetic switching system
AssigneeNational Instruments Corporation
InventorsAlvin G. Becker, James A. Reimund
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switching element that is at least partially implemented in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs). A first input and a plurality of outputs may be integrated into the PWB(s). In some embodiments, a plurality of contacts may also be integrated into the PWB(s). The switching element is selectively operable in first and second states, the first state in which the first input is coupled to a first output and the second state in which the first input is coupled to a second output.
Claims27
An analog switching element that is at least partially implemented in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs), comprising:
- a first input and a plurality of outputs integrated into the one or more PWBs;
- a plurality of electromagnets, coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs;
- and
- a plurality of floating contact bars, wherein each floating contact bar is comprised in a respective contact bar pocket internal to at least one of the PWBs, wherein each floating contact bar comprises a conductive metal or alloy that is attracted by a magnetic field;
- wherein the switching element, via actuation of at least one of the floating contact bars by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one or more electromagnets, is selectively operable in:
- a first state wherein the first input is coupled to a first output of the plurality of outputs such that an analog signal input to the first input is routed to the first output;
- and
- a second state wherein the first input is coupled to a second output of the plurality of outputs such that an analog signal input to the first input is routed to the second output.
5 more elements
A switch system, comprising:
- a plurality of switch inputs;
- a plurality of switch outputs;
- a switch matrix comprising a plurality of 2×2 switching elements configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs during use;
- wherein each of the 2×2 switching elements comprises:
- a plurality of floating contact bars, a first input, a second input, a first output, a second output, and a respective one or more electromagnets;
- wherein the first and second inputs and the first and second outputs are integrated into one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs),
- wherein the respective one or more electromagnets are coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs;
- wherein each of the plurality of floating contact bars is comprised in a respective contact bar pocket internal to at least one of the PWBs, wherein each floating contact bar comprises a conductive metal or alloy that is attracted by a magnetic field, and is operable to switchably couple a respective one of the first or second input to a respective one of the first or second output;
- wherein the 2×2 switching element, via actuation of at least one of the floating contact bars by an externally applied magnetic field of the respective one or more electromagnets, is selectively operable in:
- a first state wherein the first input is coupled to the first output such that an analog signal input to the first input is routed to the first output,
- a second state wherein the first input is coupled to the second output such that an analog signal input to the first input is routed to the second output,
- a third state wherein the second input is coupled to the first output such that an analog signal input to the second input is routed to the first output, and
- a fourth state wherein the second input is coupled to the second output such that an analog signal input to the second input is routed to the second output.
10 more elements
A method for routing analog signals, comprising:
- receiving an analog signal at an input of a switching element, wherein the switching element at least partially resides in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs) that include:
- a first input and a plurality of outputs;
- a plurality of electromagnets, coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs;
- and
- a plurality of floating contact bars, wherein each floating contact bar is comprised in a respective contact bar pocket internal to at least one of the PWBs, wherein each floating contact bar comprises a conductive metal or alloy that is attracted by a magnetic field, wherein a first floating contact bar of the plurality of floating contact bars is operable to switchably couple the first input to one of the plurality of outputs, and wherein a second floating contact bar of the plurality of floating contact bars is operable to switchably couple the first input to another one of the plurality of outputs;
- determining which of the plurality of outputs to route the analog signal to;
- actuating, by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one or more electromagnets of the plurality of electromagnets, a floating contact bar of the plurality of floating contact bars that switchably couples the first input to the determined output, to create a path;
- and
- routing the analog signal from the first input to the determined output via the path.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.