Multi-pole conductive liquid-based switch device

Details Multi-pole conductive liquid-based switch device Multi-pole conductive liquid-based switch device

2002-02-21

2004-06-29

Enad, Elvin (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Liquid contact

Tiltable or rotatable

C200S182000, C200S187000, C200S188000, C200S214000, C200S221000, C200S228000, C200S229000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06756552

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Switching high-frequency electronic signals, such as electronic signals at ultra-high frequencies and beyond, presents substantially greater challenges than switching lower-frequency electronic signals. Such signals are carried by various types of transmission media such as coaxial cables and transmission lines to reduce signal losses. Whereas a single pair of contacts suffices to switch a low-frequency signal, complex switching arrangements are required to switch high-frequency signals in a manner that provides low signal losses, high isolation and appropriate termination impedances.
Relays are typically used in applications in which a high-frequency signal is switched in response to an electrical control signal. Relays, in which an electromagnetic coil actuates a pair of mechanical switching contacts, offer advantages of low capacitance, high isolation, low ON resistance and a high isolation between the control signal and the switched signal. When relays are used to switch high-frequency signals, multiple, commonly-controlled relays, each including its own electromagnetic coil, are often required to perform the desired switching function. The number of relays requires depends on the application.
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of an example 10 of a step attenuator for high-frequency signals. The step attenuator is composed of single-pole, double-throw relays
12
and
14
, attenuator
16
and transmission lines
18
,
19
and
20
. Relay
12
is composed of electromagnetic coil
22
and a single-pole, double-throw switch having contacts
23
,
24
and
25
. Relay
14
is composed of electromagnetic coil
26
and a single-pole, double-throw switch having contacts
27
,
28
and
29
. Contact
23
of relay
12
is connected to input terminal
30
. Contact
29
of relay
14
is connected to output terminal
27
. Transmission line
18
interconnects contacts
24
and
27
. Transmission line
19
, attenuator
16
and transmission line
20
are connected in series between contacts
25
and
28
.
In the switching state of step attenuator
10
shown in
FIG. 1
, no control signal is applied to the electromagnetic coils
22
and
26
of relays
12
and
14
, respectively. In this switching state, input terminal
30
is connected to output terminal
32
via contacts
23
and
24
of relay
12
, transmission line
18
and contacts
27
and
29
of relay
14
. The step attenuator operates as a through line in this switching state.
A control voltage applied to electromagnetic coils
22
and
26
causes relays
12
and
14
, respectively, to change to their other switching states. In this switching state, input terminal
30
is connected to one end of attenuator
16
via contacts
23
and
25
of relay
12
and transmission line
19
. The other end of the attenuator is connected to output terminal
32
via transmission line
20
and contacts
28
and
29
of relay
14
. In this switching state, step attenuator
10
operates as an attenuator, providing an attenuation determined by the attenuation provided by attenuator
16
.
The circuit shown in
FIG. 1
may also form the basis of a stepped delay circuit for a high-frequency signal. In such stepped delay circuit, a delay line (not shown) providing a predetermined delay is substituted for attenuator
16
in the circuit shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of an example 50 of an impedance-matched single-pole, double-throw switch for high-frequency signals. Switch
50
incorporates four single-pole, single-throw relays
51
,
52
,
53
and
54
. Relays
51
,
52
,
53
and
54
are composed of contacts
61
,
62
,
63
and
64
, respectively, and electromagnetic coils
71
,
72
,
73
and
74
, respectively. Coaxial reed-relays may be used as relays
51
-
54
. Switch
50
is additionally composed of termination resistors
56
and
58
, signal connections
66
,
76
and
78
and transmission lines
80
,
82
,
84
,
86
,
88
and
90
.
Termination resistors
56
and
58
have a resistance equal to the characteristic impedance of the system in which switch
50
is to be used. The characteristic impedance is typically 50 &OHgr;. Signal connections
66
,
76
and
78
provide connections for the high-signal to be switched by switch
50
. For example, signal connection
66
may be an input connection and signal connections
76
and
78
may be output connections. Alternatively, signal connections
76
and
78
may be input connections, and signal connection
66
an output connection.
Transmission lines
80
and
82
connect signal connection
66
to contacts
61
and
62
of relays
51
and
52
, respectively. Transmission line
84
connects contacts
61
to signal connection
76
. Transmission line
86
, contacts
63
of relay
53
and termination resistor
56
are connected in series between contacts
61
and ground. Transmission line
88
connects contacts
62
to signal connection
78
. Transmission line
90
, contacts
64
of relay
54
and termination resistor
58
are connected in series between contacts
62
and ground.
In the switching state of impedance-matched, single-pole, double-throw switch
50
shown in
FIG. 2
, a control signal is applied to the electromagnetic coils
71
and
74
of relays
51
and
54
, respectively, and no control signal is applied to the electromagnetic coils
72
and
73
of relays
52
and
53
, respectively. In the examples for the relays shown, a control signal applied to the electromagnetic coil closes the switch contacts. In the switching state shown in
FIG. 2
, signal connection
66
is connected to signal connection
76
by transmission line
80
, contacts
61
of relay
51
and transmission line
84
. Signal connection
78
is connected to ground through transmission lines
88
and
90
, switch contacts
64
of relay
54
and termination resistor
58
. Thus, signal connection
66
and signal connection
76
are electrically connected while signal connection
78
is isolated from the other signal connections and is connected to ground through termination resistor
58
.
In the alternative switching state of switch
50
, a control signal is applied to the electromagnetic coils
72
and
73
of relays
52
and
53
, respectively, and the control signal is removed from the electromagnetic coils
71
and
74
of relays
51
and
54
, respectively. The change in control signals reverses the states of the switch contacts from that shown in FIG.
2
. Signal connection
66
is connected to signal connection
78
and signal connection
76
is isolated from the other signal terminals and is connected to ground through termination resistor
56
.
The relays used in the above-described circuits for high-frequency signals have a substantially larger volume than that of most other components used in modern high-frequency electronic circuits. The volume of a commercially-available transfer-type reed relay for high-frequency electronic signals is about 0.7 ml.
Test sets for testing high-frequency signals and for testing other apparatus that generate, process or receive high-frequency signals typically include many examples of the circuits shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. Such test sets may include embodiments of the above-described step attenuator having multiple attenuation steps, each of which requires two reed relays. Such test sets may additionally include several examples of the double-pole, double-throw impedance matched switch shown in
FIG. 2
for selectively routing high-frequency signals in the test set. Accordingly, examples of such test sets that employ conventional switching circuits include a large number of reed relays. The aggregate volume of the reed relays and their associated drive circuits represents a substantial fraction of the volume of the test set.
Moreover, some commercially-available single-pole, double-throw switches incorporate coaxial reed relays to improve their impedance matching characteristics. However, the volume of a single-pole, double-throw switch incorporating coaxial reed relays is over 30 ml because the volume of the coaxial reed relays and thei

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