The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 24, 1998
Perwaiz Nihal, Fishkill, NY (US);
Robert Alan Flavin, Yorktown Heights, NY (US);
Thompson Baum Vesecky, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Norbert George Vogl, Mahopac, NY (US);
Edward Payson Clarke, Jr., Ossining, NY (US);
Luis Rodriguez-Cortes, Annapolis, MD (US);
Geoffrey Hale Purdy, Roxbury, CT (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
This invention is a broadband matrix switch system and method of operation. The broadband matrix switch has N number of broadband inputs, each of the broadband inputs having one or more broadband signals. The matrix switch has M number of broadband outputs. There are N number of splitters. Each of the splitters has a splitter input connected to one of the broadband inputs. Each of the splitters has M number of splitter outputs that produce the splitter output signal. There are N times M number of node switches. Each node switch is uniquely connected to one of the splitter outputs. The node switches have a control input that allows the node switch to pass the respective splitter output signal upon receiving a close command at the control input and to terminate the respective splitter output signal with an input impedance upon receiving an open command at the control input. There are M number of combiners. Each combiner has a combiner output connected to one of the broadband outputs. Each combiner further having N number of combiner inputs. Each of the combiner inputs are connected to one and only one of the inputs through the respective splitter and node switch. The node switches terminate the combiner input with an output impedance upon receiving an open command. The matrix switch further has a controller that sends one or more open commands to selected node switches to connect one or more of the broadband inputs to one or more of the broadband outputs. The matrix switch has many uses in switching and monitoring and analyzing broadband networks, for example, cable TV networks.