Abstract
A non-contact type coaxial switch that eliminates all contacts and inner conductors. The switch includes a stator/coax base assembly and a rotor. The stator/coax base assembly is fixed, while the rotor is rotatably mounted to the stator/coax base assembly and eliminates all contacts and inner conductors. The rotor is disposed between bearings, and consists of waveguide paths that couple between selected coax connectors. When the rotor is rotated, different selected coax connectors occur. For other arrangements selected, the rotor can switch between a condition of coax and waveguide outputs. The rotor, between bearings, consists of waveguide paths which couple between selected coax connectors. When the rotor is rotated, a different selected coax connector occurs. For other arrangements selected, the rotor can switch between a combination of coax and waveguide outputs. The switch can assume many configurations. For example, a Double-Pole-Double-Throw (DPDT) configuration; a 3 and 4 Way R-Type configuration; a Single-Pole-Multiple-Throw (SPMT) configuration; a T-Switch configuration; and a Multiple-Pole-Multiple-Throw (MPMT) configuration.
Claims
1. A non-contact coaxial switch, comprising: a stator/coax base assembly including a coax base having connectors for engaging an end of coaxial cable; wherein said coax base of said stator/coax base assembly is configured for resting on a support surface; and a rotor rotatably mounted to said stator/coax base assembly, said rotor eliminating all contacts and inner conductors and being a waveguide that switches to feed coax outputs to form a waveguide switch with internal coax outputs, said non-contact coaxial switch being capable of switching between at least one waveguide port and coax inputs and coax outputs; wherein coax connectors work as an antenna and sends said signal through a waveguide channel to a receiving connector.
2. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said stator/coax base assembly is external to said rotor.
3. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said rotor is internal to said stator/coax base assembly.
4. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said rotor is a section of said waveguide that is rotated between said connectors of said stator/coax base assembly to complete a circuit.
5. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact type coaxial switch includes two waveguide ports and two coax connector configurations.
6. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact type coaxial switch includes three connectors with one waveguide port configuration.
7. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact coaxial switch includes a housing with a flow of energy inside said housing from a first coax connector to a second coax connector.
8. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact coaxial switch includes a housing with a flow of energy inside said housing from a coax to a waveguide port.
9. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said rotor is capable of switching to feed said coax outputs to form said waveguide switch with internal coax outputs, between four coaxial inputs/outputs.
10. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact coaxial switch has three waveguides and one coax.
11. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said non-contact coaxial switch has four waveguides.
12. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said rotor transmits a signal between two said connectors across two paths.
13. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said waveguide switch of said rotor is an R-switch having three- or four-position switching, adjacent paths and a through path.
14. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 13, wherein said R-switch has four coaxial connectors.
15. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said waveguide switch of said rotor is a T-Switch having three coaxial connectors and one waveguide.
16. The non-contact coaxial switch of claim 1, wherein said waveguide switch of said rotor a T-Switch has four coaxial connectors.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING
(1) The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
Double-Pole-Double-Throw (DPDT) Cowave Switch
(2) FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic top plan view of a typical Coax base for a double pole double throw coax transfer switch by SMI without contact bars;
(3) FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic top plan view of a typical Coax base for a double pole double throw coax transfer switch by SMI with contact bars;
(4) FIG. 2A is diagrammatic perspective view of a typical SMI WR34 Waveguide Transfer Switch;
(5) FIG. 2B is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of a typical waveguide housing showing two waveguide ports;
(6) FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical Waveguard rotor rotating between two positions inside a waveguide housing for a double pole double throw WR34 Waveguide Transfer Switch;
(7) FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic top plan view taken in the direction of ARROW 3B in FIG. 3A of a typical Waveguide rotor rotating between two positions inside a waveguide housing for a double pole double throw WR34 Waveguide Transfer Switch;
(8) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the non-contact coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention showing two coax connectors and two waveguide ports facing each other;
(9) FIG. 5 is a reduced diagrammatic side elevational view taken in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 4 of the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention;
(10) FIG. 6 is a reduced diagrammatic front elevational view taken in the direction of ARROW 6 in FIG. 4 of the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention;
(11) FIG. 7 is a reduced diagrammatic top plan view taken in the direction of ARROW 7 in FIG. 4 of the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention;
(12) FIG. 8 is a reduced diagrammatic bottom plan view taken in the direction of ARROW 8 in FIG. 4 of the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention;
(13) FIG. 9 is a reduced diagrammatic top plan view taken in the direction of ARROW 9 in FIG. 4 of the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention;
(14) FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 10-10 in FIG. 4;
(15) FIG. 11A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view illustrating the two waveguide ports and 2 coax connectors;
(16) FIG. 11B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view illustrating the 3 connectors with one waveguide port configuration;
(17) FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view illustrating the rotor and the housing with 2 waveguide ports;
(18) FIG. 13A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating the flow of energy inside the housing from a coax to a coax;
(19) FIG. 13B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating the flow of energy inside the housing from a coax to a waveguide port;
3 and 4-Way R-TYPE Configuration
(20) FIG. 14 are diagrammatic views of the different configurations of the waveguide channels;
(21) FIG. 15A is a diagrammatic view of the coax connector mounted from the bottom side of the housing;
(22) FIG. 15B is a diagrammatic view of the coax connector mounted from the outer side of the housing;
(23) FIG. 15C is a diagrammatic view of the coax connector mounted from the front of the housing;
(24) FIG. 16A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a curved rotor with curved outer walls for a DPDT switch, and in a first position;
(25) FIG. 16B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a curved rotor with no curved outer walls for a DPDT switch, and in a second position;
(26) FIG. 16C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a curved rotor with curved outer walls for a DPDT switch, and in a third position;
(27) FIG. 16D is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a curved rotor with no outer walls for a DPDT switch, and in a fourth position;
(28) FIG. 17A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a flat rotor with no outer wall for a DPDT switch, and in a first position;
(29) FIG. 17B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a flat rotor with no outer wall for a DPDT switch, and in a transfer position;
(30) FIG. 18A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an R-switch having 3 or 4 position switching, adjacent paths, and a through path, and in a first position;
(31) FIG. 18B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an R-switch having 3 or 4 position switching, an adjacent path, and through paths, and in a second position;
(32) FIG. 18C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an R-switch having 4 coaxial connectors, and in a first position;
(33) FIG. 18D is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an R-switch having 4 coaxial connectors, and in a second position;
(34) FIG. 19A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a 4-way position rotor with no top wall or side walls;
(35) FIG. 19B is a diagrammatic side elevational view taken in the direction of ARROW 19B in FIG. 19A of a 4-way position rotor with no top wall or side walls;
Single-Pole-Multiple-Throw (SPMT) Configuration
(36) FIG. 20A is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a switch having 4 coaxial connectors and 4 waveguide ports, which provides a single input switchable to “X” output of coax or waveguide ports, and in a first position;
(37) FIG. 20B is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a switch having 4 coaxial connectors and 4 waveguide ports, which provides a single input switchable to “X” output of coax or waveguide ports, and in a second position;
(38) FIG. 20C is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a switch having 4 coaxial connectors and 4 waveguide ports, which provides a single input switchable to “X” output of coax or waveguide ports, and in a third position;
(39) FIG. 20D is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a switch having 4 coaxial connectors and 4 waveguide ports, which provides a single input switchable to “X” output of coax or waveguide ports, and in a fourth position;
(40) FIG. 21A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a SPMT rotor with no bottom wall and having a flat side;
(41) FIG. 21B is a diagrammatic perspective view of a SPMT rotor with no bottom wall and having a curved side;
T-Switch Configuration
(42) FIG. 22A is a diagrammatic view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide;
(43) FIG. 22B is a diagrammatic view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors;
(44) FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port;
(45) FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a T-Switch rotor;
(46) FIG. 25A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port;
(47) FIG. 25B is a diagrammatic perspective view taken in the direction of ARROW 25B in FIG. 25A of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port;
(48) FIG. 26A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration with side walls, and in a first position;
(49) FIG. 26B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration with side walls, and in a second position;
(50) FIG. 26C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration with side walls, and in a third position;
(51) FIG. 27A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration without outer walls, and in a first position;
(52) FIG. 27B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration without outer walls, and in a second position;
(53) FIG. 27C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor configuration without outer walls, and in a third position;
(54) FIG. 28A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port, and in a first position;
(55) FIG. 28B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port, and in a second position;
(56) FIG. 28C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port, and in a third position;
(57) FIG. 29A is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, and in a first position;
(58) FIG. 29B is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, and in a second position;
(59) FIG. 29C is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a T-Switch with 4 coaxial connectors, and in a third position;
(60) FIG. 30A is a partial diagrammatic cross sectional view inside the housing of the rotor, and having 2 coax connectors;
(61) FIG. 30B is a partial diagrammatic cross sectional view inside the housing of the rotor of FIG. 30A showing the flow of energy inside the housing from a coax to a coax;
(62) FIG. 31A is a partial diagrammatic cross sectional view inside the housing of the rotor and having 1 coax input and 1 waveguide port output; and
(63) FIG. 31B is a partial diagrammatic cross sectional view inside the housing of the rotor of FIG. 31A showing the flow of energy inside the housing from a coax to a waveguide port.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING
Introductory
(64) 20 non-contact type coaxial switch of embodiments of present invention
Overall Configuration of Non-Contact Type Coaxial Switch 20
(65) 22 stator/coax base assembly 24 rotor
Specific Configuration of Stator/Coax Base Assembly 22
(66) 26 coax base of stator/coax base assembly 22 for resting on support surface 34 28 connectors for engaging with coaxial cable ends, respectively, including poles and throws 34 support surface
Specific Configuration of Rotor 24
(67) 36 waveguide ports of rotor 24 38 bearings of rotor 24 40 housing of rotor 24
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Double-Pole-Double-Throw (DPDT) Cowave Switch
Introductory
(68) Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 4, the non-contact type coaxial switch of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 20.
The Overall Configuration of the Non-Contact Type Coaxial Switch 20
(69) The overall configuration of the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 can best be seen in FIGS. 4-10, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
(70) The non-contact type coaxial switch 20 comprises a stator/coax base assembly 22 and a rotor 24. The stator/coax base assembly 22 is fixed. The rotor 24 is rotatably mounted to the stator/coax base assembly 22, and is for eliminating all of the contacts and the inner conductors.
(71) The non-contact type coaxial switch 20 is one of a complete coax switch and a waveguide switch, and arrangements therebetween.
The Specific Configuration of the Stator/Coax Base Assembly 22
(72) The specific configuration of the stator/coax base assembly 22 can best be seen in FIG. 10, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
(73) The stator/coax base assembly 22 is external to the rotor 24 for user's use.
(74) The stator/coax base assembly 22 includes a coax base 26 and connectors 28.
(75) The coax base 26 of the stator/coax base assembly 22 is for resting on a support surface 34. The connectors 28 of the stator/coax base assembly 22 are for engaging with coaxial cable ends, respectively, including poles and throws.
The Specific Configuration of the Rotor 24
(76) The specific configuration of the rotor 24 can best be seen in FIGS. 10, 11A, 11B, 12, 13A, and 13B, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
(77) As shown in FIG. 10, the rotor 24 is internal to the stator/coax base assembly 22, and rotates on bearings 38.
(78) The rotor 24 is a waveguide that performs a switching function so as to allow for the non-contact and no inner conductors 20.
(79) The rotor 24 is a section of the waveguide that is rotated between the coax connectors 28 of the stator/coax base assembly 22 to complete circuit.
(80) The rotor 24 can be one of vertical (E plane) and horizontal (H plane), with the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 designed accordingly.
(81) The rotor 24 is capable to switching to feed the coax outputs to form a waveguide switch with internal coax outputs.
(82) A typical waveguide switch is a waveguide rotor that switches to input the waveguide to the waveguide outputs.
(83) Below are 5 randomly picked examples that the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 can assume:
Example 1
(84) As shown in FIG. 11A, the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has two waveguide ports 36 and 2 coax connectors.
Example 2
(85) As shown in FIG. 11B the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has 3 coax connectors with 1 waveguide port configuration.
Example 3
(86) As shown in FIG. 13A, the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has the flow of energy inside the housing 40 from a coax to a coax.
Example 4
(87) As shown in FIG. 13B, the non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has the flow of energy inside the housing 40 from a coax to a waveguide port.
Example 5
(88) The non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has 3 waveguides and 1 coax.
Example 6
(89) The non-contact type coaxial switch 20 has 4 waveguides.
(90) Moving on now, the rotor 24 transmits the signal across two paths. The rotor 24 can be flat or curved, with a side wall or without a side wall, as shown in FIGS. 18A-18D, 19A, 19B, 20A-20D, 21A, and 21B inputs and outputs are coaxial connectors, waveguide ports, or combination thereof.
(91) As shown in FIG. 14, the rotor 24 can have side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, or any combination thereof, and behaves like a waveguide switching device;
(92) Each port can be a waveguide port or a coaxial connector, and therefore, a plurality of possible combinations of coax switches, waveguide switches, and hybrid combinations of waveguide ports and coaxial connectors are possible.
(93) As shown in FIGS. 15A-15C, 16A-16D, 17A, and 17B, the coaxial connector can be mounted from the bottom side of the housing 40, the outer side of the housing 40, or the front of the housing 40, respectively.
(94) The waveguide channels may have single or double ridges, and not just plain, rectangular channels.
(95) With the concept of being able to stack switch housings 40, the same switch 20 can have multiple rotors 24 stacked on top of each other, so as to be able to form arrays of the switches.
(96) As shown in FIGS. 16A-16D, a curved rotor 24 can have curved outer walls for a DPDT switch, and shown in first, second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.
(97) As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, a flat rotor 24 can have no outer wall for a DPDT switch, and shown in first and second positions, respectively.
3 and 4-Way R-Type Configuration
(98) As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, an R-switch can have 3 or 4 position switching, adjacent paths, and a through path, and shown in first and second positions, respectively.
(99) As shown in FIGS. 18C and 18D, an R-switch can have 4 coaxial connectors, and shown in first and second positions, respectively.
(100) As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, a 4-way position rotor 24 can have no top wall or side walls.
Single-Pole-Multiple-Throw (SPMT) Configuration
(101) As shown in FIGS. 20A-20D, a switch can have 4 coaxial connectors and 4 waveguide ports, which provide a single input switchable to “X” output of coax or waveguide ports, and shown in first, second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.
(102) As shown in FIG. 21A, an SPMT rotor 24 can have no bottom wall and can have a flat side.
(103) As shown in FIG. 21B, an SPMT rotor 24 can have no bottom wall and can have a curved side.
T-Switch Configuration
(104) As shown in FIG. 22A, a T-Switch can have 3 coaxial connectors and one waveguide.
(105) As shown in FIG. 22B, a T-Switch can have 4 coaxial connectors.
(106) As shown in FIG. 23, a T-Switch can have 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port.
(107) Shown in FIG. 24 is a T-Switch rotor 24.
(108) As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, a T-Switch can have 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port.
(109) As shown in FIGS. 26A-26C, a T-Switch can have 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor 24 with side walls, and shown in first, second, and third positions, respectively.
(110) As shown in FIGS. 27A-27C, a T-Switch can have 4 coaxial connectors, a rotor 24 without outer walls, and shown in first, second, and third positions, respectively.
(111) As shown in FIGS. 28A-28C, a T-Switch can have 3 coaxial connectors and 1 waveguide port, and shown in first, second, and third positions, respectively.
(112) As shown in FIGS. 29A-29C, a T-Switch can have 4 coaxial connectors, and shown in first, second, and third positions, respectively.
(113) As shown in FIG. 30A, the inside of the housing 40 of the rotor 24 can have 2 coax connectors.
(114) As shown in FIG. 30B, inside of housing 40 of the rotor 24 can have a flow of energy from a coax to a coax.
(115) As shown in FIG. 31A, the housing 40 of the rotor 24 can have 1 coax input and 1 waveguide port output.
(116) As shown in FIG. 31B, inside the housing 40 of the rotor 24 can have a flow of energy from a coax to a waveguide port.
IMPRESSIONS
(117) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described, supra.
(118) While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a non-contact type coaxial switch, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated, and their operation, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
(119) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
