Abstract: A dimensionally flexible sparse matrix comprising multiple ports connected to a plurality of interconnected universal switches is disclosed. Each universal switch has at least three terminals and is switchable to connect any pair or all three terminals together. The plurality of interconnected universal switches are independently switchable to connect any one or more ports of the sparse matrix to any subset of the other ports. The sparse matrix may also be configurable to duplicate the connectivity of a variety of dimensionally different switch matrices by designating a first subset of the multiple ports as row ports and a second subset of the remaining ports as column ports with the added flexibility of connecting row-to-row and/or column-to column. The small physical size of signal stubs in the universal switches results in a signal path between any pair of terminals that may be suitable for the transmission of signal frequencies greater than approximately 500 mega-hertz.

Abstract: A dimensionally flexible sparse matrix comprising multiple ports connected to a plurality of interconnected universal switches is disclosed. Each universal switch has at least three terminals and is switchable to connect any pair or all three terminals together. The plurality of interconnected universal switches are independently switchable to connect any one or more ports of the sparse matrix to any subset of the others ports. The sparse matrix may also be cofigurable to duplicate the connectivity of a variety of dimensionally different switch matrices by designating a first subset of the multiple ports as row ports and a second subset of the remaining ports as column ports with the added flexibilty of connecting row-to-row and/or column-to column. The small physical size of signals stubs in the univerals switches results in a signal path between any pair of terminals that may be suitable for the transmission of signal frequencies greater than approximately 500 mega-hertz.