Switch matrix system and method
View Patent ↗A switch system having a plurality of switch inputs, a plurality of switch outputs, a switch matrix comprising a plurality of N×N switching elements to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs during use.
1. A radio frequency (RF) switch system, comprising:
a plurality of switch inputs;
a plurality of switch outputs;
an RF analog switch matrix comprising a plurality of 2×2 RF analog switching elements configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing RF analog signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs during use, wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements, each comprising a respective plural subset of the plurality of 2×2 RF analog switching elements;
wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a first topology that defines connectivity of the RF analog switch matrix, wherein at least one of the one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements comprises a second topology that defines connectivity of the at least one multi-dimensional RF analog switching element, and wherein the first topology is topologically distinct from the second topology.
2. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein each of the 2×2 RF analog switching elements comprise:
a first input;
a second input;
a first output; and
a second output,
wherein the 2×2 RF analog switching element is selectively operable in:
a first state wherein the first input is coupled to the first output and the second input is coupled to the second output such that an RF analog signal input to the first input is routed to the first output and an RF analog signal input to the second input is routed to the second output, and
a second state wherein the first input is coupled to the second output and the second input is coupled to the first output such that an RF analog signal input to the first input is routed to the second output and an RF analog signal input to the second input is routed to the first output.
3. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises an N×N RF analog switch matrix comprising the same number of inputs and outputs.
4. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a cylindrical topology.
5. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a J-Type topology.
6. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a multiplexer-matrix-multiplexer topology.
7. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a sorting topology corresponding to a topology of a sorting network.
8. The RF switch system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the 2×2 RF analog switching elements corresponds to a comparator of the sorting network, and wherein at least one of the inputs and outputs of the 2×2 RF analog switching element corresponds to wires of the sorting network coupled to the comparator.
9. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein each switching element of the plurality of 2×2 RF analog switching elements is substantially stub-less, thereby reducing reflections and interference and inhibiting degradation of signals routed through the switching element.
10. The RF switch system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switch inputs comprise a set of switch inputs which have a corresponding set of switch outputs comprised in the plurality of switch outputs, wherein the switch matrix is further configured to selectively couple the set of switch inputs to the corresponding set of switch outputs during use to provide a parallel path for routing a set of RF analog signals for the set of switch inputs to the corresponding set of switch outputs.
11. A method for routing radio frequency (RF) signals, comprising:
receiving an RF analog signal at one of a plurality of switch inputs of an RF analog switch, wherein the RF analog switch comprises:
the plurality of switch inputs;
a plurality of switch outputs;
an RF analog switch matrix comprising a plurality of N×N RF analog switching elements configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing RF analog signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs during use, wherein the switch matrix comprises one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements, each comprising a respective plural subset of the plurality of N×N RF analog switching elements;
wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a first topology that defines connectivity of the RF analog switch matrix, wherein at least one of the one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements comprises a second topology that defines connectivity of the at least one multi-dimensional RF analog switching element, and wherein the first topology is topologically distinct from the second topology;
identifying one of the plurality of switch outputs to route the RF analog signal to;
configuring one or more of the N×N RF analog switching elements of the RF analog switch matrix to provide a path for routing the RF analog signal from the switch input receiving the RF analog signal to the identified switch output; and
routing the RF analog signal from the switch input to the identified switch output via the path.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the N×N RF analog switching elements comprises 2×2 RF analog switching elements.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the 2×2 RF analog switching elements comprise:
a first input;
a second input;
a first output; and
a second output,
wherein the 2×2 switching element is selectively operable in:
a first state wherein the first input is coupled to the first output and the second input is coupled to the second output such that an RF analog signal input to the first input is routed to the first output and an RF analog signal input to the second input is routed to the second output, and
a second state wherein the first input is coupled to the second output and the second input is coupled to the first output such that an RF analog signal input to the first input is routed to the second output and an RF analog signal input to the second input is routed to the first output.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises an N×N RF analog switch matrix comprising the same number of inputs and outputs.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a cylindrical topology.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a J-Type topology.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a multiplexer-matrix-multiplexer topology.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a sorting topology corresponding to a topology of a sorting network.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the N×N RF analog switching elements corresponds to a comparator of the sorting network, and wherein at least one of the inputs and outputs of the N×N RF analog switching element corresponds to wires of the sorting network coupled to the comparator.
20. A radio frequency (RF) switch system, comprising:
a plurality of switch inputs;
a plurality of switch outputs;
an RF analog switch matrix comprising a plurality of N×N RF analog switching elements configured to selectively couple one or more of the plurality of switch inputs to one or more of the plurality of switch outputs during use to provide one or more paths for routing RF analog signals from one or more of the switch inputs to one or more of the switch outputs during use, wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements, each comprising a respective plural subset of the plurality of N×N RF analog switching elements;
wherein the RF analog switch matrix comprises a first topology that defines connectivity of the RF analog switch matrix, wherein at least one of the one or more multi-dimensional RF analog switching elements comprises a second topology that defines connectivity of the at least one multi-dimensional RF analog switching element, and wherein the first topology is topologically distinct from the second topology.
21. The RF switch system of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of switch inputs comprise a set of switch inputs which have a corresponding set of switch outputs comprised in the plurality of switch outputs, wherein the switch matrix is further configured to selectively couple the set of switch inputs to the corresponding set of switch outputs during use to provide a parallel path for routing a set of RF analog signals for the set of switch inputs to the corresponding set of switch outputs.