Abstract: Transponder systems are disclosed for routing signals from a plurality of input frequency channels at each of a plurality of receive antennas to a plurality of output frequency channels at each of a plurality of transmit antennas. The routing is preferably processed at an intermediate frequency. A plurality of bandpass filters are coupled to each receive antenna to define input signal paths. First and second mixers are positioned in series with each bandpass filter. A mixing signal at the first mixer adjusts the frequency of a selected one of the input signals to pass it through the bandpass filter and onto the respective input signal path. A mixing signal on the second mixer translates the frequency of that input signal to have a frequency order in the intermediate frequency band that corresponds with the frequency order of a selected one of the output frequency channels at its respective transmit antenna. Each of the transmit antennas is coupled to a common signal path of an adder.

Abstract: A switch matrix having internal redundancy by combining outputs of two internal channels to form one single internally redundant channel. 1 by N, M by 1 and M by N switch matrices may be constructed using the principles of the present invention. Each input signal line is coupled between a signal input and a terminating resistor and each output signal line is coupled between a signal output and a terminating resistor. Switching nodes are formed that comprise an input line, a plurality of output lines, and a plurality of pairs of couplers that are respectively interconnected by way of respective switches used to select the input line and couple it to a respective output line. Pairs of output signal lines are connected to a single signal output to form internally redundant channels. The nodes may include a second serially coupled switch connected between the input and output couplers to provide redundancy if either one of the switches fail in a closed state.

Abstract: Microwave ports and low-frequency ports of a microwave enclosure are configured to realize high return losses and low insertion losses and suppress resonance modes below a predetermined microwave frequency. The microwave ports include microwave transmission lines which have first and second microstrip portions and a stripline portion which connects the first and second microstrip portions. The microwave transmission lines are positioned with the stripline portion received in a housing aperture. The low-frequency ports include a dielectric member and a plurality of metallic signal lines carried within the dielectric member. The dielectric member is relieved to expose inner and outer ends of the signal lines. The connector systems are received in housing apertures with metallic members positioned through the dielectric members and across the connector apertures to electrically partition the connector apertures into subapertures which each have a predetermined microwave cutoff frequency.