Microwave branching switch
| 657 - Abstract: |
| The invention describes a waveguide switch used for redundancy switching and signal routing. The present invention presents 4 connecting waveguides ports and has an interior adjustable part that provides a simultaneous interconnection of 3 ports out of 4, while the fourth port is or is not terminated with a short/load or arbitrary impedance. The invention includes an electrically conducting rotor and an actuator that moves the rotor into different positions. The rotor contains a branching path from one terminal to two terminals simultaneously. The remaining terminal can present any impedance. |
Description:
There are different types of standard waveguide switches, namely C- and R- types (also referred to as T-type), employed in a variety of applications including space. These standard solutions are providing four waveguide ports. The actuation of the rotor with internal waveguide sections allow the variable change of waveguide routings between two ports. This means the signal at one port can be routed to one of the other ports by appropriate alignment (actuation) of the rotor – while the other ports are isolated.
In case of the present invention the same basic principle of such waveguide switches is considered for the implementation, however, here such a switch consists of a rotor design with a waveguide branching function, interconnecting three ports while the fourth port is isolated.
Two versions of a waveguide branching switch are possible: E-plane and H-plane.
Innovations and advantages:
The present invention is an enabling solution to achieve reconfigurable multiplexers to accommodate changing service/ capacity demands by flexible re-allocation of transmission channels. The main innovative aspects of the inventions are i) The transmission capacity (number of channels, dedicated to the output ports) can be changed between the output ports, e.g. to accommodate flexible re-allocations for different services. ii) The waveguide branching switch can be used for re-configurable multiplexers where overlapping frequency bands for different frequency bands need to be switched. iii) To compensate contiguous and non-contiguous channel allocations.
Commercialisation aspects
Applications and Markets
This invention enables novel types of reconfigurable multiplexers with and without switchable outputs and compact beam switching networks. General applications where switching and power splitting are required can make use of this invention. The main sectors that may benefit from this invention include passive hardware equipment manufacturers and satellite operators.
Intellectual property status
An international patent application has been filed.
