US3181086A - Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates - Google Patents

Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates Download PDF

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Publication number
US3181086A
US3181086A US116358A US11635861A US3181086A US 3181086 A US3181086 A US 3181086A US 116358 A US116358 A US 116358A US 11635861 A US11635861 A US 11635861A US 3181086 A US3181086 A US 3181086A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
plate
shield plates
transmission lines
spaced
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US116358A
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English (en)
Inventor
Samuel R Mccutcheon
Chester N Winningstad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tektronix Inc
Original Assignee
Tektronix Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL269260D priority Critical patent/NL269260A/xx
Application filed by Tektronix Inc filed Critical Tektronix Inc
Priority to US116358A priority patent/US3181086A/en
Priority to GB31879/61A priority patent/GB955435A/en
Priority to DET20712A priority patent/DE1246060B/de
Priority to FR879194A priority patent/FR1306403A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3181086A publication Critical patent/US3181086A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
    • H01H19/56—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch
    • H01H19/58—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch having only axial contact pressure, e.g. disc switch, wafer switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/10—Auxiliary devices for switching or interrupting
    • H01P1/12—Auxiliary devices for switching or interrupting by mechanical chopper
    • H01P1/125—Coaxial switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
    • H01R9/03—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections
    • H01R9/05—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections for coaxial cables

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical switch and more particularly to a switch for changing the electrical connections between a plurality of transmission lines having similar characteristic impedances by mechanical movement of the switch contacts.
  • the electrical switch of the present invention is particularly useful for changing the electrical connections between a plurality of coaxial cable transmission lines having substantially the same characteristic impedance, such as those used to transmit high frequency or pulse signals.
  • Conventional electrical switches are not suitable in such an environment because they produce a discontinuity in the transmission lines which causes undesirable reflection of signal voltages back along the input transmission line.
  • coaxial line switches which in effect operate by physically moving actual short sections of the coaxial cables from one position to another in order to provide continuous coaxial lines along alternate paths without reflection of signal voltages.
  • this has not been an adequate solution to the problem because such switches are complicated, cumbersome and expensive.
  • the electrical switch of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages byv providing broadly a simple me chanical switch in which only the central conductors of coaxial transmission lines are switched in order to change connections between the transmission lines while the outer conductors of such lines are fixedly connected to common conductors. More specifically, the switch includes a pair of spaced metal shield plates providing common connection for the outer conductors of the transmission lines,
  • the switch plate assembly includes a stationary stator plate and a a movable rotor plate properly positioned between the shield plates so that the shield plates provide in effect an equiv alent of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable transmission lines and the switch plate assembly provides an equivalent or" the signal carrying inner conductor of the transmission lines.
  • This simple, inexpensive structure provides a switch in the form of a short section of transmission line having substantially the characteristic im pedance of the transmission lines connected thereto.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical switch which permits the changing of the electrical connections between a plurality of transmission lines without voltage reflections from said switch along said transmission lines.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a simple electrical switch for changing the electrical connections between a plurality of transmission lines having similar characteristic impcdances so that such switch has a structure which is in effect a transmission line section having substantiallythe same characteristic impedance as said transmission lines.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a switch, to change the electrical connections between a plurality of coaxial cable transmission lines having similar characteristic impedances, in which a switch plate assembly adapted to be connected to the signal carrying con ductors of such lines and having a stationary stator memassists Patented Apr. 27, 1965 her and a moving rotor member is positioned in spaced relationship between a pair of spaced electrically conducting plates adapted to be connected to the outer conductors of such transmission lines so that the switch structure in effect forms a short section of transmission line having substantially the same characteristic impedance as the transmission lines connected thereto.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an electrical switch made in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the switch and coaxial transmission line connections thereto;
  • FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the switch plate and coaxial transmission lines connected thereto with connections to the outer conductors of such lines omitted.
  • FIG. 1 An electrical switch made in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as including a circular metal support plate it which may have a conventional detent switch positioning means thereon including suitable mechanical stops.
  • a suitable metal or nonmetallic shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in a hole through support plate ll so that its rotation is controlled by the detent switch positioning means on such support plate 10.
  • Two fastening bolts 14 extend through holes in the support plate it).
  • a metal spacer member 16 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve is mounted on each of these bolts 14 adjacent the support plate 1%).
  • a second metal shield plate 24 having a circular shape is mounted in a similar manner on fastening bolts 14 and spaced from switch plate 20 by insulating spacer sleeves 26 similar to sleeves 22.
  • Circular shield plates 18 and may have the same diameter and are provided with a concentric clearance hole through which the shaft 12 extends so that it is free to rotate without contacting the surface of such conductive plates.
  • the switch assembly may be held on fastening bolts 14 and support plate lii by means of a nut and lock washer combination 3th on the threaded end or" such fastening bolts 14.
  • FIG. 2 shows coaxial cable transmission lines 32 connected to appropriate switch members including a pair of electrical connectors 34 extending between the grounded outer conductor 35 of each coaxial cable 32 and the common shield plates 18 and 24.
  • Switch plate assembly 29 includes two concentric circular insulating members 36 and 38.
  • the outer insulating member is a fixed annular stator plate 36 positioned on the fastening bolts 14 between insulating spacer members 22 and 26, while the inner insulating member is a circular rotor plate 38 having a hole therein fitting a flattened portion of the shaft 12 so as to be rotated by the shaft.
  • the stator plate 36 has a plurality of pairs of fixed metal spring contacts 40 attached in spaced relationship around the stator plate so as to extend radially thereof.
  • These fixed contacts 40 are each in the form of a spring member having an end which extends outwardly from the outer periphery of the stator plate 36 for connection to the central conductor 44 of a coaxial cable, such as the cables 32, by soldering or the like.
  • the rotor plate 38 is provided with a plurality of metal contact plates 46 in spaced insulated relationship which extend along the periphery of the rotor plate 38 and for a short distance over the inside edge of the stator plate 36 so that the outer surface of the contact.
  • the switch plate assembly 20 is symmetrical in that a pair of fixed contacts 46 and a pair of movable contact plates 46 are attached by rivets 48 to such assembly with one element of the pair on each side of the stator plate 36 and rotor plate 33, respectively.
  • One reason for this symmetrical arrangement is to minimize the electrical field which passes through the insulat ing stator plate 36 and insulating rotor plate 33 when signal voltages are transmitted through the switch so that dielectric losses therein are minimized.
  • Each of the parallel shield plates 18 and 24 is placed substantially the same distance from the switch plate assembly 20 so that the switch is also symmetrical in this respect.
  • the distances between the shield plates 18 and 24 and contacts 40 and 4c are such that the switch forms in effect a short section of a transmission line having a characteristic impedance substantially the same as that of the coaxial cable transmission lines 32.
  • the coaxial cables 32. have a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms and the contacts 40 and 46 have a width of approximately A; inch, the space between such contacts and the conductive plates 18 and 24 should be approximately one-tenth of an inch.
  • the coaxial cables 32 are shown as being connected to the center contact of two oppositely disposed groups of three contacts 40 on the stator plate 36.
  • the rotor plate 38 may be rotated by the shaft 12 between two alternate positions in order to change the connections between the coaxial cables shown.
  • the input signal can enter the switch through one of the transmission lines 3-2, then pass through the connection formed by fixed contacts 40 and the movable contact plates 46 and by the connecting transmission line 2 to the other transmission line 32 which may be the output transmission line.
  • Switches Moving the rotor plate 38 counterclockwise to its alternate position will cause the signal to move through the connecting transmission line 54 so that it may be attenuatedby an attenuator 56, or otherwise modified by any other suitable modifying means, before it is transmitted to the output transmission line.
  • a greater number of switch contacts can be employed on the switch plate assembly for any switching purpose involving coaxial cable transmission lines or the like, usually with some loss of symmetry of the switch and some lack of continuity of the transmission line.
  • a switch to change the electrical connectionsbe For example, theshape of the plates 10, 18, 20 and 24 may be.
  • switch means including switch contacts positioned betweenthe shield plates for interconnecting the other conductors of said transmission lines in a plurality d of ditferent ways by movement of said switch means, and g I support means to hold said shield plates and said switch contacts in proper spaced relationship to form a trans mission line section having substantially the same characteristic impedance as said transmission lines.
  • a switch to change the electrical connections between a plurlity of transmission lines each having a pair of conductors and having similar characteristic impedances comprising:
  • shield means including a pair of spaced shield plates to provide a common connection for the ends of one of for interconnecting said fixed contacts in a plurality of ditferent ways by movement of said switch means, and 7 support means to hold said shield plates, said fixed contacts and said movable contact in proper symmetrical spaced relationship to form a transmission line section having substantially the same characteristic impedance as said transmission-lines.
  • a switch used to change the electrical connections between'a plurality of coaxial cable transmission lines having inner and outer conductors and having similar characteristic impedances, comprising:
  • shield means including a pair of spaced shield plates to provide a common connection for ends of the outer conductors in said transmission lines,
  • switch means including a plurality of fixed switch contacts positioned between said shield plates to provide a plurality of spaced insulated connectors adapted to be connected to ends of the inner conductors in said transmission lines,
  • switch means also including at least one movable switch contact positioned between said shield plates for interconnecting said fixed contacts in a plurality of ways by movement of said movable contact, and support means to hold said movable and fixed contacts approximately midway between said shield plates to form a transmission line section having substantially the same characteristic impedance as said co- 7 axial cable transmission lines;
  • a switch used to change the electrical connections between a plurality of transmission lines having similar characteristic impedances, comprising:
  • A-switch for changing the electrical connections betweena plurality of electrical transmission lines having adapted to be connected to the shield conductor in said transmission lines,
  • stator plate of insulator material mounted between said shield plates and having a hole therein
  • a plurality of movable metal contacts attached to said rotor plate in spaced relationship adjacent the pea rotor plate of insulator material mounted between 5 riphery thereof for movement with said rotor plate.
  • said shield plates and inside said hole for rotation a plurality of fixed metal connectors attached to said with respect to said stator plate, stator plate in spaced relationship and extending raa plurality of movable metal contacts attached to the dially from said hole in said stator plate so that one surface of said rotor plate in spaced, insulated relaend of said connectors is positioned adjacent the petionship adjacent the periphery thereof for movement riphery of said hole and is adapted to engage said with said rotor plate, contacts on said rotor, and the other end of said conand a plurality of fixed metal contacts attached to the nectors is positioned adjacent the outside edge of said surface of said stator plate in spaced relationship and stator plate and is adapted to be connected to the extending radially from said hole so that one end of signal carrying inner conductor of said transmission each of said fixed contacts is positioned to engage lines, said movable contacts on said rotor plate, and the said plurality of contacts and said plurality of connecother end of said fixed contacts is
  • a coaxial line switch to change the electrical connecsubstantially the same characteristic impedance as tions between a plurality of coaxial cable transmission said transmission lines. lines each having substantially the same characteristic im- 6.
  • a switch for changing the electrical connections bepedance comprising: tween a plurality of electrcal transmission lines having a support member having a detent switch positioning substantally the same characteristic impedance comprismeans thereon,
  • a pair of spaced shield plates of conductive material ing: a shaft rotatably mounted on said support member,
  • a plurality of fastening elements fixedly mounted on adapted to be connected to the shield conductors in said support member, said transmission lines, a pair of substantially parallel spaced shield plates of a stator plate of insulator material positioned between electrically conductive material fixedly mounted on said shieldplates and having a hole therein, said fastening elements in spaced relationship and a rotor plate of insulator material mounted between 7 adapted to be connected to the outer conductor of said shield plates and inside said hole for rotation said coaxial cables with the shield plate nearest said with respect to said stator plate, support member having a hole through which said a plurality of movable metal contacts attached in pairs shaft extends while spaced from said nearest shield to the opposite sides of said rotor plate with respect plate, to said shield plates in spaced, insulated relationship a stator plate of insulator material having a substantially adjacent the periphery thereof for movement with circular hole therein fixedly mounted on said fastensaid rotor plate, ing elements and spaced between said pair of shield and a pluralit
  • a coaxial line switch used to change the electrical radially from said hole in said stator plate so that one end of said fixed contacts is positioned adjacent the periphery of said hole and is adapted to engage said connections between a plurality of transmission lines each having substantially the same characteristic impedance, a0 comprising:
  • a transmission line switch assembly comprising:
  • stator plate of insulator material having a hole therea plurality of transmission lines each having a pair of in fixedly mounted on said fastening elements and conductors and having similar characteristic impedspaced between said pair of shield plates, ances,
  • a rotor plate of insulator material coaxially mounted shield means including a pair of spaced shield plates '2! 8 connected to one of the conductors to provide a comsame characteristic impedance as said transmission mon connection for one of the conductors of each of lines.
  • References Cited by the Examiner switch means including switch contacts positioned be- V UNITED STATES PA tween the shield plates for inter-connecting the other 5 1 891 47 12/ 2 h

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US116358A 1961-06-12 1961-06-12 Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates Expired - Lifetime US3181086A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL269260D NL269260A (ru) 1961-06-12
US116358A US3181086A (en) 1961-06-12 1961-06-12 Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates
GB31879/61A GB955435A (en) 1961-06-12 1961-09-05 Electrical switch mechanism
DET20712A DE1246060B (de) 1961-06-12 1961-09-05 Hochfrequenzschalter
FR879194A FR1306403A (fr) 1961-06-12 1961-11-16 Commutateur électrique

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US116358A US3181086A (en) 1961-06-12 1961-06-12 Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3181086A true US3181086A (en) 1965-04-27

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US116358A Expired - Lifetime US3181086A (en) 1961-06-12 1961-06-12 Electrical switch with the outer conductors of coaxial leads connected to spaced shield plates

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US (1) US3181086A (ru)
DE (1) DE1246060B (ru)
GB (1) GB955435A (ru)
NL (1) NL269260A (ru)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3281658A (en) * 1964-02-05 1966-10-25 Singer Co Double intermediate position switching circuits providing for coarse, and vernier adjustments
DE1919548B1 (de) * 1969-04-17 1970-08-20 Rohde & Schwarz Durch einen Stellmotor betaetigter Hochfrequenzschalter sowie damit aufgebaute Eichleitung
FR2402309A1 (fr) * 1977-09-01 1979-03-30 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Commutateur a haute frequence pour antennes directives a alimentation symetrique par rapport a la terre
US4584446A (en) * 1983-08-26 1986-04-22 Georg Spinner Radio frequency coaxial switch
US4831222A (en) * 1985-04-29 1989-05-16 Tektronix, Inc. Integrated pad switch
US5038005A (en) * 1988-05-25 1991-08-06 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Electric plug device with phase selection
US8586889B2 (en) 2011-04-12 2013-11-19 Amphenol Corporation Multiposition switch

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1891247A (en) * 1931-12-10 1932-12-20 Pilot Radio And Tube Corp Switch
US2419986A (en) * 1944-05-03 1947-05-06 William R Brown Rotary gang assembly
US2440037A (en) * 1944-07-24 1948-04-20 Globe Union Inc Frequency selecting switch
US2598534A (en) * 1949-06-24 1952-05-27 Bendix Aviat Corp Radio-frequency switching arrangement
US2784379A (en) * 1952-10-02 1957-03-05 Thompson Prod Inc Switch for coaxial lines

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR832484A (fr) * 1937-05-11 1938-09-28 Radio Air Perfectionnements aux dispositifs de commutation des circuits d'accord et des condensateurs dans les appareils de t. s. f.
FR832932A (fr) * 1937-05-28 1938-10-06 Radio Air Commutateur applicable en particulier à la commande des postes émetteurs de t. s. f.
US2594190A (en) * 1950-03-09 1952-04-22 Oak Mfg Co Electrical apparatus
US2640115A (en) * 1951-05-01 1953-05-26 Hazeltine Research Inc Electrical switch
GB715395A (en) * 1951-10-27 1954-09-15 Cole E K Ltd Improvements in or relating to change-over relays
FR1122160A (fr) * 1955-02-18 1956-09-03 Commutateur rotatif
FR1197228A (fr) * 1958-06-12 1959-11-30 Optique Electronique L Commutateur de câble coaxial

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1891247A (en) * 1931-12-10 1932-12-20 Pilot Radio And Tube Corp Switch
US2419986A (en) * 1944-05-03 1947-05-06 William R Brown Rotary gang assembly
US2440037A (en) * 1944-07-24 1948-04-20 Globe Union Inc Frequency selecting switch
US2598534A (en) * 1949-06-24 1952-05-27 Bendix Aviat Corp Radio-frequency switching arrangement
US2784379A (en) * 1952-10-02 1957-03-05 Thompson Prod Inc Switch for coaxial lines

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3281658A (en) * 1964-02-05 1966-10-25 Singer Co Double intermediate position switching circuits providing for coarse, and vernier adjustments
DE1919548B1 (de) * 1969-04-17 1970-08-20 Rohde & Schwarz Durch einen Stellmotor betaetigter Hochfrequenzschalter sowie damit aufgebaute Eichleitung
FR2402309A1 (fr) * 1977-09-01 1979-03-30 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Commutateur a haute frequence pour antennes directives a alimentation symetrique par rapport a la terre
US4584446A (en) * 1983-08-26 1986-04-22 Georg Spinner Radio frequency coaxial switch
US4831222A (en) * 1985-04-29 1989-05-16 Tektronix, Inc. Integrated pad switch
US5038005A (en) * 1988-05-25 1991-08-06 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Electric plug device with phase selection
US8586889B2 (en) 2011-04-12 2013-11-19 Amphenol Corporation Multiposition switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1246060B (de) 1967-08-03
GB955435A (en) 1964-04-15
NL269260A (ru)

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