Blumlein assembly with solid state switch

Abstract

A blumlein assembly incorporating a solid-state switch is presented. In the exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor switch is placed between first and second conducting strips, with dielectric material filling in the space between the strips on either side of the switch. A third conductive strip, parallel to the other two strips, is separated from the middle one of the strips by another dielectric layer. Rather than having the switch attach directly to the dielectric material on either side, a holder or carrier structure is used, which may be formed of several pieces or of a monolithic structure. The holder is formed of a material whose dielectric constant is closer to that of the switch than the dielectric material on either side, but whose boundary with the dielectric on either side has at least a portion that extends in a non-orthogonal direction with respect to the conducting strips. The arrangement allows the structure to withstand higher electric field levels without breakdown. The exemplary switch is light activated and the holder structure also includes ferrules on either side of the holder, by which optic fibers can be optically coupled with the switch. The switch extends to either side beyond the conductive strips, so that the ferrules are not placed between these strips to again allow for the use of higher field values.