Hughes Aircraft Company

James F Hudson

Harold H Yee

The rotating coaxial switch first lifts the switching circuitry, including portions of the ground plane, rotates it to a new position, and then lowers the switching circuitry in the new position to make new connections. Rotation is by a stepper motor. Lifting is by any convenient solenoid. Both these functions (lift and rotate) can be combined in a single actuator module. Development and use of a combination actuator module reduces the size and weight of the switch.

Rotating coaxial switch

A switch (10) of the type comprising a rectangular arrangement of ports (21, 22, 23 and 24) includes a diagonally extending connector bar (35) disposed on one side of the rectangular arrangement opposite four laterally extending connector bars (31, 32, 33 and 34). The diagonally disposed connector bar is actuatable independently of the other bars. Electromagnetically driven rockers (79) or other means are provided to actuate the rods. In one realization of the switch, the ports are coaxial connectors for a microwave network. Each connector bar resides within a corresponding groove (51, 61) in a conductive housing and is independently actuatable. When actuated, a bar contacts the center conductors of two ports. The actuated bar cooperates with the walls of the containing groove to form an air-line microwave connection between the contacted ports. When the contained bar is unactuated, the groove becomes a waveguide-beyond-cutoff to isolate the respective ports.

Growing community of inventors

Manhattan Beach, CA, United States of America

James F Hudson