IP Library Granted Patent US 10,109,441
Granted Patent B1
US 10,109,441 · App. 14/989,612 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Non-blockings switch matrix

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,109,441
App. No.
14/989,612
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for implementing a non-blocking switch matrix. In one aspect, a switch matrix can include an arrangement of C-switches. Each of the C-switches can be configured to switch between two positions to couple between different channels. The C-switches can be arranged in the switch matrix as to provide non-blocking functionality such that each of the inputs of the switch matrix is routed to an output of the switch matrix in any combination of the configurations of the C-switches.

Claims (38)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of four port rotary C-switches arranged in a switch matrix, the switch matrix having N inputs and M outputs, wherein:

the plurality of C-switches are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, each column corresponding to a different number of C-switches in comparison with other columns, and each row corresponding to a different number of C-switches in comparison with other rows;

each of the plurality of C-switches is switchable from a first position to a second position, such that in the first position a first channel is coupled with a second channel and a third channel is coupled with a fourth channel, and, in the second position, the second channel is coupled with the fourth channel and the first channel is coupled with the third channel; and

the switch matrix is configured to provide a non-blocking switch-selectable routing between any of the N inputs and any of the M outputs, the switch selectable routing being determined by the respective positions of the plurality of C-switches.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein N equals M.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of C-switches is a quantity of (N(N−1))/2 C-switches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of C-switches include a first quantity of C-switches arranged in a first column of the plurality of columns, and a second quantity of C-switches arranged in a first row of the plurality of row.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

the first quantity equals N−1;

one C-switch in the first column is coupled with two of the N inputs, each of a first remaining quantity of N−2 C-switches in the first column is coupled a respective one of the N inputs;

the second quantity equals M−1; and

one C-switch in the first row is coupled with two of the M outputs, each of a second remaining quantity of M−2 C-switches in the first row is coupled with one of the M outputs.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of rows include a second row, and each C-switch in the first row receives at least one input from C-switches in the second row.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of columns include a second column, and each C-switch in the first column provides an input to a C-switch in the second column.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch matrix comprises waveguides, coaxial cables, or a combination of both to communicatively couple the C-switches together.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller configured to cause the switch matrix to switch between a plurality of switch-selectable routings by switching one or more of the C-switches in the switch matrix from the first position to the second position or the second position to the first position to route one of the N inputs to another output of the M outputs.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of four port rotary C-switches arranged in a switch matrix, the switch matrix having N inputs and M outputs; and

a controller configured to provide control signals to the plurality of C-switches; wherein

each of the plurality of C-switches has a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output, and each of the C-switches is configured to provide the first input to the first output and the second input to the second output in a first position and to provide the first input to the second output and the second input to the first output in a second position; and

the switch matrix is configured to provide a non-blocking switch-selectable routing between any of the N inputs and any of the M outputs, the switch selectable routing being determined by the control signals setting respective positions of the plurality of C-switches.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of C-switches is a quantity of (N(N−1))/2 C-switches.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein N equals M.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the C-switches in the switch matrix are arranged in columns and rows, each column corresponding to a different number of C-switches in comparison with other columns, and each row corresponding to a different number of C-switches in comparison with other rows.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the columns includes a first column having N−1 C-switches and wherein the rows includes a first row having N−1 C-switches.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

one C-switch in the first column is coupled with two of the N inputs, each of a first remaining quantity of N−2 C-switches in the first column is coupled a respective one of the N inputs; and

one C-switch in the first row is coupled with two of the M outputs, each of a second remaining quantity of M−2 C-switches in the first row is coupled with one of the M outputs.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

the rows include a second row, and each C-switch in the first row receives at least one input from C-switches in the second row, and

the columns include a second column, and each C-switch in the first column provides an input to a C-switch in the second column.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the switch matrix comprises waveguides, coaxial cables, or a combination of both to communicatively couple the C-switches together.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, data corresponding to C-switches coupled together to provide a matrix having a set of inputs and a set of outputs, the matrix being a non-blocking switch matrix with (N(N−1))/2 number of C-switches; and

generating, by the controller, control signals to adjust configurations of the C-switches of the matrix to change the routing between the set of inputs and the set of outputs.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the control signals are provided to sequentially adjust the C-switches.

Assignments (16)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 074270/0351 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 6, 2025
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 073512/0398 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063861/0016 →
RELEASE (REEL 060389/FRAME 0720) Recorded May 12, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063633/0431 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 5, 2023
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC. (F/K/A DIGITALGLOBE, INC.); AURORA INSIGHT INC.; MAXAR MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. ((F/K/A RADIANT MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. (F/K/A THE RADIANT GROUP, INC.)); MAXAR SPACE LLC (F/K/A SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC); SPATIAL ENERGY, LLC; MAXAR SPACE ROBOTICS LLC ((F/K/A SSL ROBOTICS LLC) (F/K/A MDA US SYSTEMS LLC)); MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS INC.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 063660/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 060389/0782 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063544/0074 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 044167/0396 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063543/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 051258/0720 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063542/0543 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC; RADIANT GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 060390/0282 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060389/0782 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 060389/0720 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 23, 2020
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053866/0810 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; RADIANT GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS LLC; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC (F/K/A SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL INC.)
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, - AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051262/0824 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 11, 2019
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051258/0720 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD.; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES CORPORATION; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES INC.; MDA GEOSPATIAL SERVICES INC.; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC; MDA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044167/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2016
From: SHAYEGANI, ALI
To: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 038514/0905 →