Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, such as an electromechanical RF switch, which is operated by an electromagnetic coil, is provided with an indicating circuit which responds to the position of the electromagnetic armature as well as the application of driving current to the coil. A magnetically activated reed switch is mounted adjacent to the electromagnetic coil at a distance selected so that the magnetic field of the coil will operate the reed switch when current is applied to the coil and the armature is driven into a position closing a magnetic circle.

Abstract: A force and/or motion generating arrangement comprises a body (16) of magnetostrictive material and means (10, 17) for feeding a magnetic flux through said body. Said means (10, 17) comprise a pair of opposite pole surfaces (14), which are located at a short distance from each other, said pole surfaces being connected to a source (17) of said magnetic flux and defining a gap (15) for receiving said body (16) therebetween and being arranged to feed the magnetic flux through said body (16) in a first direction (x), in which said body (16) has small dimensions in relation to its dimensions in at least one other direction (y), which is substantially perpendicular to said first direction and in which the body (16) may be brought to apply a force on and/or impart a motion to another object (19).

Abstract: A relay for high frequency instruments and a reverse power protection circuit for high frequency instruments are described herein. The relay is inexpensive to construct, permits good impedance matching up to approximately 5 GHz, and can be easily mounted on a coplanar waveguide transmission line. The circuit can open the relay in response to a reverse power condition in as little as 8 microseconds and provides both good grounding and functions reliably up to 4 GHz.

Abstract: A switch has a carrier sheet with electrodes formed on an internal side thereof to form switch contacts. An armature is held in slidable contact with the internal side of the carrier and the electrodes by a magnet disposed on the external surface of the carrier. The magnet is carried in a knob mounted on the external side of the membrane carrier for rotary, linear or complex motion. When a user manipulates the knob the magnet drags the armature either into or out of shorting relation with the electrodes. A magnetic detent gear can be incorporated to provide tactile feedback. A pushbutton version of the switch can be made with a pivotable armature normally held spaced from electrodes on the substrate by a magnet. A membrane and spacer may be added to protect and seal the electrodes and armature.

Abstract: A double pole, double throw electromechanical RF switch is configured to enable the same switch mechanical arrangement to accommodate various applications, including make-before-break or break-before-make switch operations and latching or fail-safe switching. By simple interchange of the two armatures provided, the operation of the same mechanical switch can be changed.

Abstract: A switch includes switching elements which are mounted within a sealed radio frequency cavity. The switching elements provide electrical contact paths between contact portions of connectors which project into the cavity. The switching elements are urged against the contacts by magnetic forces. During operation, unselected paths have their switching elements grounded out by the action of external magnets which attract the unselected switching elements to a ground plate with a magnetic force which overcomes the magnetic forces urging the switching elements against the contacts.

Abstract: A radio frequency switch operates by permanent magnets located in a rotatable actuator. The permanent magnets of the actuator are arranged in groups so that there is at least one magnet in each group that has an opposite polarity to another magnet in the same group. The permanent magnets within the same group are located adjacent to one another. Conductors within an RF cavity have permanent magnets mounted thereon where all of the magnets have the same polarity. The switch can be moved from a first position to a second position by moving the actuator a distance not exceeding 40.degree. and, preferably from 10.degree. to 30.degree.. In the first position, one permanent magnet of one group interacts with the magnet on the conductor to move the conductor. In the second position, another magnet of the same group interacts with the magnet of the conductor to move the conductor.

Abstract: A coaxial switch for making or breaking an electric contact between inner conductors of coaxial cables includes a wall component defining an inner space into which end portions of the inner conductors project and a contact guiding assembly including first and second parallel-spaced spring diaphragms each having an outer peripheral portion and a mid portion; one portion being fixedly held and the other portion being displaceable in a switching direction towards or away from the inner conductor ends. The contact guiding assembly further has first and second leaf springs provided in the diaphragms. Each leaf spring has a first segment connected to a respective spring diaphragm for hinging displacements relative thereto; and a second segment hingedly connected to the first segment. The first and second segments are oriented such that motion components of the two segments transverse to the switching direction are opposite one another.

Abstract: A micromachined signal switch for vertical displacement includes a fixed substrate having at least one signal line and includes an actuator substrate that is thermally actuated to selectively connect a second signal line to the first signal line. The actuator substrate includes a plurality of legs constructed of materials having sufficiently different coefficients of thermal expansion to create stresses that arc the legs when the legs are subjected to elevated temperatures. In the preferred embodiment, a first material for forming the legs is silicon and a second material is a metal, such as electroplated nickel. A displaceable contact region may be formed integrally with the actuator substrate, but the contact region is preferably a region of an interposer substrate between the fixed substrate and the actuator substrate.

Abstract: An integration of a micromachined actuator and a signal transmission structure includes a thermal actuator on a side of a displaceable signal line opposite to a fixed signal line. The actuator includes first and second legs. The first leg has a cross-sectional area greater than the second leg, providing a differential in electrical resistance. As current is channeled through the legs, the second leg will elongate more and will deflect both of the legs. The deflection is in a direction to press the displaceable signal line into signal communication with the fixed signal line. Optionally, a thermally operated reset actuator can be positioned to provide a mechanical return of the displaceable signal line. In a preferred embodiment, a microwave transmission environment is provided.

Abstract: A microwave multi-port switch has three operating positions and three RF paths. Six peripheral contact junctions are provided adjacent corners of a hexagonal cavity in an RF body and a common contact provided at the cavity center. Six reeds bridge over in and out of contact with adjacent ones of the peripheral contacts and six reeds extend between and in and out of contact with the peripheral contacts and the common contact. Reeds are actuated by movement of a coil-driven rocker through three actuating mechanisms, including a center post, at three levels above the body. The mechanisms include radially extending leaf springs, an actuator loosely keyed to the center post and a pivoted leaf spring movable by rocker tilting depressing the actuator, the leaf springs and fixed dielectric posts extending upwardly from the reeds.

Abstract: An electrical circuit assembly (100) includes an electrically actuatable clamping arrangement (108) that provides a reliable, solderess electrical connection between two electrical circuits (104, 106). The present invention is readily adaptable for use with a first electrical circuit (104) that includes at least one electrical contact area (130) disposed on a substrate (102). The electrically actuatable clamping arrangement (108) is then used to provide an electrical connection between the electrical contact area (130) and a second electrical circuit (106).

Abstract: A microwave switch provides a random selection drive for selectively one or more reeds which are movable by an actuator to electrically bridge across a pair or pairs of microwave connector contacts. The preferred embodiment of the drive employs at least two actuators, normally three, in the form of cantilevered leaf springs, which are mounted at different levels or parallel plane in a drive body. Respective ones of the actuators are displaced by the rocking action of a wobble plate or rocker movable by repelling and attraction forces provided by a series of spaced magnetic coils spacedly mounted on the drive body. Integral pusher arms of various lengths extend from the bottom of the wobble plate with their distal ends terminating variously at the same different levels in which the leaf springs extend.

Abstract: A quadrant driver is disclosed, for use to drive the rotor of a microwave switch at 90.degree. from one given input-output configuration to another given input-output configuration and vice verse. The driver comprises a magnet and bearing holder rotatably mounted inside a housing. The holder supports, on one side, a thin, high magnetic density magnet and, on the other side, a bearing operatively connected to the rotor of the microwave switch to rotate this rotor when the holder is itself rotated, the holder and magnet being rotated between two rest positions, each of the rest positions corresponding to one of the two configurations of the microwave switch. A pair of coils are mounted concentric to mild steel cores mounted within the housing so that one of the cores faces with a given offset the magnet when the magnet is in one of its rest positions and the other core faces with a given offset the magnet when this magnet is in the other of its rest positions.

Abstract: A coaxial reverse power protection relay using a conductive elastomeric tube and a conductive body. The relay includes a reed switch enclosed within the central channel of the conductive body. The tube concentrically surrounds the reed switch within the channel. The tube retains the reed switch in place and serves as a conformal ground. A magnetic coil is wound around a portion of the body. When energized the coil produces a magnetic field which closes the reed switch. When de-energized, the coil's magnetic field ceases, opening the reed switch. The reed switch, along with center contacts form a center conductor within the channel of the relay body. The body and elastomeric tube form an outer conductor. The relay is impedance matched to RF connector and instrument transmission line impedances. A nonuniform impedance occurring along the length of the reed switch is balanced by the conforming tube walls. The internal wall of the conductive body has a retention thread in the vicinity of the reed switch.

Abstract: C-, T- and S-switches have a connector or reed in each conducting path. The connector or reed contains a support for a permanent magnet. All of the magnets of the connectors have the same polarity. The connectors, supports and permanent reed magnets in the supports are contained within an RF cavity housing, which can be completely sealed from an actuator or, alternatively, the housing can be open to the actuator. The actuator has a circular shape and contains permanent magnets that correspond in their configuration to the reed magnets of the housing. At least two magnets of the actuator have different polarities. The actuator can be rotated by a motor to two or more positions. In one position, one or more of the reed magnets are attracted and one or more of the reed magnets are repelled. The switch is designed so that when a reed magnet is attracted, the conducting path in which the connector is located is interrupted and when a reed magnet is repelled, the conducting path is connected.

Abstract: A four port antenna switch (300) for switching a receive port (320) and a transmit port (310) between a remote antenna port (330) and a standard antenna port (340) is provided. The switching actions of the receive port (320) between the remote antenna port (330) and the standard antenna port (340) is provided by a relay (350) under the control of a relay controller (352, 354, 400). The switching of the transmit port (310) between the standard antenna port (340) and the remote antenna port (330) is provided by diode switches (360, 370) under the control of diode switch controllers (332, 324, 312, 314, 400). The switching actions of the relay (350) and the diode switches (370, and 360) is complementary to each other, wherein sufficient isolation between the receive port and the transmit port is provided. In this arrangement, a low power relay may be used because the relay only switches low level received signals, and the high power transmit signals are switched by the pins.

Abstract: A mechanical switch for switching microwave signals and the like from one coaxial-type connector to another includes a housing to which are mounted three coaxial-type connectors with their inward ends located adjacent first and second jumpers. The first jumper is supported at one end of a first slider which is movable between a closed position at which two connector ends are electrically connected by the first jumper and an isolated position at which the two connector ends are not electrically connected by the first jumper. The second jumper is supported at one end of a second slider which is movable between a closed position at which two others of the connector ends are electrically connected by the second jumper and an isolated position at which the two other connector ends are not electrically connected together by the second jumper. A spring moves the second slider to its isolated position when the first slider is moved to its closed position and visa versa.

Abstract: A coaxial switch assembly includes a conventional reed switch (10) having a somewhat irregular enclosure (11) and protruding leads (20, 21). R.F. connectors (24, 25) are mounted at the ends of the leads, which are surrounded by predetermined lengths of dielectric tubular material (23). Electrically conductive flowable material (39) is injected within a surrounded shell (36) to fill the space remaining in a shell aperture (37) to rigidify the assembly and provide a continuous coaxial electrical conductor joining the outer body (27, 31) of the R.F. connectors to one another.

Abstract: A waveguide switch includes housing walls defining a switch housing; at least two waveguide terminals provided in the housing walls; a rotor supported for rotation in the housing; at least one waveguide element contained in the rotor for coupling to one another at least two waveguide terminals in a predetermined angular operating position of the rotor; a motor for turning the rotor into the vicinity of a desired operating position and blocking assembly for arresting the rotor in the desired operating position. The blocking assembly and the rotor include a magnetic arrangement for turning the rotor from the vicinity of the desired operating position into the desired operating position by magnetic attraction.

Abstract: The method of distributing a signal from an input conductor to a plurality of relay terminals at known locations in the plane of a circuit board which comprises meandering said input conductor to intersect said terminals in succession while avoiding other relay contacts. The meandering conductor path gives this type of relay switching system the ability to maintain a switching system characteristic impedance, Z.sub.0, in a simple, cost effective manner.

Abstract: This invention discloses a high-speed waveguide switch for diverting energy mong a plurality of waveguides. This switch is composed of a rotor, a rotor housing, biasing means, housing for the biasing means, and an electronic circuit to control the biasing means. The rotor and rotor housing are of conventional design. The biasing means is composed of two rotary solenoids mechanically linked through a geneva drive and wheel to the rotor. The electronic circuit is composed of a power supply circuit, a control circuit, and a motor circuit being the coils of the rotary solenoids. An external device such as a radar supplies a switching command signal to the control circuit. Various flip-flops are actuated based on the leading or trailing edge of the switching command signal. Signals from these flip-flops actuate switches in the power supply circuit so that a sequence of driving and braking currents is transmitted to the coils of the rotary solenoids.

Abstract: A force is translated into a pair of oppositely acting moments or electric signals up to a limited magnitude of that force by means of a folded beam structure which has a first leg presenting a first end of the folded beam structure, and a second leg, shorter than the first leg, presenting a second end of the beam structure. The first end is maintained relatively stationary and the force to be transduced is applied to the second end of the folded beam structure. The second leg is thereby moved with the applied force and there is thus applied on the first leg a first moment acting in a first portion of the first leg on one side of the second end and a second moment acting oppositely to the first moment in a second portion of the first leg on another side of the second end. According to the invention, overloading of the first leg is prevented by limiting the travel of the second leg against movement of that second leg by the applied force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical-fiber switch. The switch is used in switching between at least two optical signals which are capable of being modulated with a broadband RF signal including digital signals. The switch is comprised of at least two optical-fiber cables for feeding the at least two optical signals to at least two fixed positions. An optical-fiber output cable is provided having one end which is movable between at least two positions which are directly adjacent said two fixed positions. A drive unit is provided for moving the optical-fiber output cable between the at least two positions, whereby the optical signals are selectively fed to the optical-fiber output cable.

Abstract: A switch for coaxial circuits is shown, including a moveable contact, a controller which controls the position of the moveable contact, and a latch to hold the moveable contact in the latest position determined by the controller. The moveable contact has an end which is permanently connected to a first terminal of a coaxial switch and a free end which may be connected to either of two other terminals of a coaxial switch as determined by signals to the controller. The controller includes a coil responsive to electrical current to magnetize an armature which is mechanically linked to the moveable contact. The latch includes a permanent magnet which reacts with a magnetized portion of the armature to force the armature and therefore the free end of the moveable contact into the latest position as determined by the polarity of the magnetic field of the coil.