MEMS-based switching system
AssigneeNational Instruments Corporation
InventorsAlvin G. Becker, James A. Reimund, Kevin R. Kreitz
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 plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs may be integrated into the PWB(s). In some embodiments, a plurality of contact bars may also be comprised in respective contact bar pockets bounded at least partially ab at least one of the PWB(s). The switching element is selectively operable in first and second states, the first state in which at least one contact bar couples one of the plurality of inputs to one of the plurality of outputs such that an analog signal input to the respective input is routed to the respective output and the second state in which at least one contact bar is held in an off state.
Claims20
An analog switching element that is at least partially implemented in one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs), comprising:
- a plurality of inputs 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 contact bars, wherein each contact bar is comprised in a respective contact bar pocket bounded at least partially by at least one of the PWBs, wherein each contact bar comprises a conductive metal or alloy that is attracted by a magnetic field, wherein each of the contact bars, via actuation by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, is selectively operable in:
- a first state, wherein the at least one contact bar couples one of the plurality of inputs to one of the plurality of outputs such that an analog signal input to the respective input is routed to the respective output;
- and
- a second state, wherein the at least one contact bar is held in an off state.
A method for routing signals, comprising:
- receiving a 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 plurality of electromagnets, coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs;
- and
- a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein a first contact bar of a plurality of contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnet field of a first respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple a first of the plurality of inputs to one of the plurality of outputs, and wherein a second contact bar of the plurality of contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnet field of a second respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple the first input to another one of the plurality of outputs;
- determining which of the plurality of outputs to route the signal to;
- actuating, via an externally applied magnetic field of a respective electromagnet, a contact bar of the plurality of contact bars that couples the first input to the determined output to create a path;
- and
- routing the signal from the first input to the determined output via the path.
A switch system, comprising:
- a plurality of switch inputs and a plurality of switch outputs integrated into one or more printed wiring boards (PWBs);
- a switch matrix comprising a plurality of 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, and
- a plurality of electromagnets coupled to or comprised in at least one of the one or more PWBs,
- wherein each of the switching elements comprises:
- one or more contact bars,
- one or more inputs, and
- one or more outputs,
- wherein the one or more inputs and the one or more outputs are integrated into the one or more PWBs, and
- wherein each of the one or more contact bars is operable, via actuation by an externally applied magnetic field of a respective one of the plurality of electromagnets, to couple a respective one of the one or more inputs to a respective one of the one or more outputs;
- wherein each switching element is selectively operable in:
- a first state, wherein the one or more contact bars couples one of the one or more inputs to one of the one or more outputs such that an analog signal input to the respective input is routed to the respective output, and
- a second state, wherein the one or more contact bars are held in an off state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.