Patent Grant
11444361
The present invention relates in general to the technical field of high-frequency technology and relates in general to a switching device for connecting coaxial cables and to a switching arrangement with two or more of switching devices.
In high-frequency technology, thus for the transmission and processing of signals with very high frequencies, such as signals well above 1 GHz and up to 35 to 40 GHz, waveguides or coaxial cables are usually used. These high frequency connections, for example, can be used as a component of satellite transmission links. The satellite radio transmission link can be, for example, a Ka-band transmission link in a frequency range of 17.7-21.2 GHz for the downlink and 27.5-31 GHz for the uplink, a Ku- or X-band implementation in the range around 11 or 7 GHz, or an L-band (around 1.5 GHz), S-band (around 2.5 GHz), or C-band implementation (around 4 GHz).
Sections of a waveguide connection are typically connected to connection pieces which are manufactured separately for the purpose. In order to establish a connection between two coaxial cables, plugs or switches are typically used, which create a galvanic contact between the coaxial cables to be connected.
It may be required to connect a plurality of coaxial cables to each in pairs selectively in a specific switching scheme. In order to achieve this, switching systems are used. This switching systems comprise connectors. In accordance with the requirements of the switching scheme, conductors are connected to the connectors in order to connect pairs of the connectors to each other.
An aspect of the invention relates to a device which allows a flexibly adjustable, optional connection between coaxial connectors. Thus, a desired switching scheme can be set up or modified as required.
According to a first aspect, a switching device for connecting coaxial cables is specified. The switching device has a housing with at least two coaxial connectors, a switch rotor that can be rotated in the housing about a longitudinal axis, and a first electrical connection. The first electrical connection passes through the switch rotor and is designed in such a way that in a predetermined position of the switch rotor, the switch rotor capacitively couples a first coaxial connector and a second coaxial connector of the housing capacitive, thus forming an electrical connection between the first coaxial connector and the second coaxial connector.
The switching device is therefore designed to switch a signal applied to the first coaxial connector through to the second coaxial connector. The switching device can also have more than two coaxial connectors. In that case these coaxial connectors can in particular be connected in pairs, i.e., so that the switch rotor connects two coaxial connectors together in each case. Signals can be transmitted unidirectionally or bi-directionally via this connection. However, another possibility is that the switch rotor is designed in such a way that the switch rotor routes an input port (first coaxial connector) to two output ports (second and third coaxial connector), or vice versa.
The housing can be made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example. The switching rotor can in principle also comprise or consist of the same material.
The switch rotor can essentially be designed as a cylinder and has a longitudinal axis. The switch rotor can be rotated about this longitudinal axis to be moved into different angular positions. The electrical connection passes through the switch rotor. The electrical connection has two ends. Each end is capacitively coupled to a coaxial connector (in particular within the housing) when the switch rotor is in the corresponding angular position. The switch rotor is located between the coaxial connectors and can be moved into a desired position to create an electrical connection. This can be described by comparison to a dial of an analogue clock. The coaxial connectors can be positioned at nine o'clock and three o'clock. The switch rotor can then be rotated between the coaxial connectors such that the ends of the electrical connection are located opposite the coaxial connectors, thus at nine and three o'clock also. In this position the two coaxial connectors are electrically connected to each other. If the switch rotor is turned further, for example, by 45°, 90°, 135° or another value other than 180°, the electrical connection between the two coaxial connectors is broken.
The coaxial connectors can be an integral part of the housing. The housing can be formed as a single piece or from two half-shells, or more generally a plurality of shells. In this case, the coaxial connectors can be manufactured integrally with one of the shells or half-shells.
For example, the electrical connection extends through the switch rotor in a straight line and perpendicular to a direction of the longitudinal axis. Coaxial connectors can thus be connected to each other which extend in the housing diagonally with respect to each other, are opposite each other (180° offset) or offset by 90° relative to each other (in the latter case, one connector is located at nine o'clock and another connector at six o'clock on the dial). The electrical connection thus passes through the switch rotor in such a way that in a certain position (in particular angular position) of the switch rotor an electrical connection is created between the positions of the coaxial connectors.
According to one embodiment, the switch rotor is provided with a slot. The first electrical connection extends along the slot, wherein the first electrical connection has an inner conductor, wherein, in the longitudinal direction thereof, the inner conductor is galvanically connected to the switch rotor, at least in some sections. The inner conductor in the slot is surrounded, at least in some sections, by an insulator and/or a dielectric (for example but not exclusively: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), for example available under brand name TEFLON™).
The inner conductor is designed as a ridge or an elevation in the slot. In this embodiment, the inner conductor is galvanically connected to the switch rotor at least at one point or one position. Thus, the inner conductor can be electrically grounded.
The inner conductor is electrically conductive and designed to transmit the high frequency signal. The slot in the switch rotor can be referred to, for example, as a “recess” or “breakthrough” and in particular extends in a straight line and connects two positions on the outer surface of the switch rotor. In a through-connecting position of the switch rotor the two positions on the outer surface of the switch rotor are facing the coaxial connectors, so that in the through-connecting position of the switch rotor a capacitive coupling is created between a coaxial connection and an end of the electrical connection in each case.
The electrical connection within the switch rotor is designed similarly to a coaxial connection. One inner conductor is at least partially surrounded by an insulator and/or dielectric. The insulator or the dielectric are, in turn, surrounded by the material of the switch rotor (the inside wall of the slot surrounded by the switch rotor).
According to a further embodiment, the first electrical connection has a terminating element at each of its opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the inner conductor. The terminating element is connected electrically or inductively to the inner conductor of the electrical connection which passes through the switch rotor, wherein the two terminating elements are each configured to be capacitively coupled to a coaxial connector in the predetermined position of the switching rotor (in the through-connecting position), and thereby to create the electrical connection between the first coaxial connector and the second coaxial connector.
The terminating element can be designed in the form of a plate. The terminating element preferably has a larger diameter than the inner conductor in order to enlarge the surface area for the capacitive coupling to the coaxial connector. The coaxial connector on the housing side also has an inner conductor, which is surrounded by an insulator or dielectric. A capacitive coupling occurs when the terminating element of the inner conductor of the electrical connection of the switch rotor is opposite the inner conductor (or a part thereof) of the coaxial connector on the housing side. The inner conductor and the terminating element are inductively connected to each other, or even designed as a single piece.
Preferably, the inner conductor of the coaxial connector also has a terminating element. This terminating element is designed similarly to the terminating element of the electrical connection of the switch rotor. The terminating elements on the switch rotor and on the housing can have identical dimensions, in particular the same diameter. In the through-connecting position of the switch rotor the terminating elements are located opposite one another, preferably with no horizontal or vertical offset. Between the terminating elements a small air gap is situated. The dimensions of the air gap, i.e. the distance between the terminating elements in the through-connecting position, can vary depending on the respective application (in particular, frequency of the transmitted signals, signal power, etc.). For example, the distance between the terminating elements in the through-connecting position can have a value of between a tenth of a millimetre and one or two millimetres.
According to a further embodiment the inner conductor extends between the two terminating elements, at least in some sections in a straight line.
According to a further embodiment, in combination or independently of the inner conductor which extends in a straight line at least in some sections, the terminating element has a plate-like design. Such a plate-like design can apply to the terminating element of the switch rotor and to the terminating element of the coaxial connector of the housing.
For example, the terminating element of the switch rotor can have a convex shape. This allows the switch rotor to be rotated together with the terminating element without the terminating element colliding with the wall of the housing. Conversely, the terminating element of the coaxial connector of the housing can be concave, so that the terminating elements are preferably an equal distance apart over their entire width and height when the switch rotor is in the through-connecting position.
According to a further embodiment, in combination or independently of the inner conductor extending at least in some sections in a straight line, and in combination or independently of the plate-shaped terminating element, the terminating element is inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the inner conductor.
The terminating element is preferably inclined in the horizontal direction. This can be advantageous if the electrical connection does not extends through the centre of the switch rotor, but is offset from the central axis of the switch rotor in the direction of the outer surface. In other words, the terminating element is inclined in order to align with or generally correspond to the outer surface of the switch rotor at the position of the electrical connection. The terminating element therefore also protrudes from the switch rotor by a lesser amount and the switching device overall can have a more compact and space-saving design.
According to a further embodiment, the inner conductor is electrically connected to the switch rotor over the entire length of at least one side face.
The inner conductor can be described as a body with two base surfaces and an outer surface. The base surfaces correspond to the opposite ends of the inner conductor in the longitudinal direction. The outer surface is electrically connected at one point and additionally either thermally and/or mechanically connected to the switch rotor, specifically along the entire length of the inner conductor. The outer surface can consist of one or more side faces corresponding to the shape of the base surface. For triangular base surfaces, the outer surface of the inner conductor has three side faces, for rectangular base surfaces there are four side faces, etc. One of these side faces in this embodiment is electrically and, additionally either mechanically and/or thermally, connected to the switch rotor.
Therefore, along the longitudinal direction of the inner conductor between the inner conductor and the switch rotor along at least one side face (for example, opposite the side face galvanically connected to the switch rotor), a gap is formed, within which a high-frequency signal can propagate in the longitudinal direction of the inner conductor.
According to a further embodiment the inner conductor is designed integrally with at least one component of the switch rotor or is mechanically coupled to the switch rotor.
The switch rotor can consist of one or more components. The inner conductor is coupled to at least one of these components, either by means of a mechanical connection (e.g.: screwed, clamped, riveted) or because the component and the inner conductor are designed as a single piece. In this embodiment, a mechanical and thermal connection is created between the inner conductor and the switch rotor. Furthermore, the inner conductor is held at the intended position very reliably. The inner conductor is not completely surrounded by dielectric, but only where the inner conductor is not in contact with the switch rotor or is joined to it (in the event that inner conductor and switch rotor are integral).
According to a further embodiment, a second electrical connection which is spaced apart from the first electrical connection extends in the switch rotor.
The second electrical connection can be positioned and oriented in such a way that in one position of the switch rotor electrical connections are created between two different pairs of coaxial connectors. For example, the first electrical connection can connect a first and a second coaxial connector together and the second electrical connection can connect a third and a fourth coaxial connector together.
According to a further embodiment the second electrical connection is offset with respect to the first electrical connection in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the switch rotor.
Thus, the pairs of coaxial connectors which are each connected together by means of the first and second electrical connection are also offset with respect to each other in the same direction.
Alternatively, it is possible that the respective pairs of coaxial connectors to be connected are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the switching rotor at the same height. The coaxial connectors are then located at different positions along the circumferential direction of the switch rotor. For example, four coaxial connectors can be arranged at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock. The switch rotor with the two electrical connectors can be rotated into a position such that an electrical connection is made between two of these coaxial connectors in each case.
According to a further embodiment the second electrical connection extends at an angle between 0° and 90° with respect to the first electrical connection.
According to a further embodiment, each coaxial connector of the switching device has a coaxial post. The coaxial post is inductively coupled to an electrical conductor of the respective coaxial connector.
The coaxial post can have a positive effect on the high frequency transmission properties in the switching device, in particular between the electrical connection of the switch rotor and/or the terminating element and a coaxial connector.
The coaxial post is inductively coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial connector. The housing can form a cavity in conjunction with the switch rotor, in which the coaxial post is arranged. The cavity can be provided, for example, as an indentation in the outer surface of the switch rotor.
According to a further embodiment the first electrical connection of the switch rotor capacitively couples to the coaxial posts of the coupled coaxial connectors in the predetermined position of the switch rotor. At one end of the coaxial post, for reasons associated with high-frequency transmission characteristics, a capacitive load can be arranged.
According to a further embodiment at least two radial indentations are arranged on the switch rotor, within each of which a terminating element of the first electrical connection is located.
The terminating element therefore does not protrude, or not substantially, beyond the periphery of the switch rotor. Thus, the switch rotor can be rotated within the housing into a desired angular position without protruding or prominent elements from the switch rotor requiring a greater distance between the switch rotor and housing.
The indentation in the switch rotor can also form the above-mentioned cavity or be part of the cavity.
In accordance with a further embodiment the switching device additionally comprises a drive. The drive is connected to the switch rotor such that the drive can move the switch rotor around the longitudinal axis into different predetermined positions by means of a rotational movement.
The drive can be an electro-mechanical powered machine, for example, an electrically driven motor. The motor can, in particular, be arranged and controlled in such a way that an angular position of the switch rotor with respect to the housing is passed to a motor controller and the motor controller then controls the motor such that the switch rotor turns from the current position into the desired position.
According to a further aspect a switching arrangement for selectively connecting a plurality of coaxial cables in pairs is specified. The switching arrangement has a first switching device as described above and in the following and a second switching device as described above and in the following, wherein the first switching device is coupled to the second switching device directly (i.e., for example without having to use another conductor or cable section) using a coaxial connector.
The switching devices of the switching arrangement can be arranged in a common housing. The connection between the two switching devices is integrated into the switching arrangement. Thus, no separate external connection cable is needed for this connection. This enables a compact and space-saving design and reduces the number of separate parts required.
According to one embodiment, at a coupling point between the first switching device and the second switching device a single coaxial post is arranged, so that an electrical connection between the first and second switching device is made via a capacitive coupling of the respective electrical connections of the switching devices via the single coaxial post.
The coaxial post thus represents the link between two electrical connections of the switch rotors in the adjacent switching devices.
It is of course possible to connect an arbitrary number of switching devices directly to each other, and not only electrically but also mechanically. The switch rotors of the individual switching devices can then each be placed in such a position that a signal from a first switching device is routed through the switch rotor of a second switching device to a desired coaxial connector of the second switching device, where the signal is then used for further processing. It is conceivable to provide a two-dimensional array of switching devices connected to each other in a cascade. A plurality of switching devices (at least two) can be connected to each other in a row. A plurality of such rows (at least two) can then be connected to each other in turn. This design can also be referred to as a switching matrix.
Further embodiments of the switching device are described with reference to the following drawings.
In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be discussed in detail based on the attached drawings. The drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. Identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements. Shown are:
The first schematic diagram (
It should be noted that the electrical connections and their paths are shown schematically in
Diagram
Diagram
Diagram
A switching device designed in such a way with coaxial connectors enables the switching device to switch a broadband connection up to very high frequencies of 30 GHz or more and is characterized by low losses. Coaxial connectors can be integrated directly on or into the switching device. The switching device for coaxial cables has a compact and space-saving design and is suitable for medium power levels at low frequencies (for example, 100 to 150 Watts in the L, S, or C band) and low powers at low and high frequencies (for example, 1 Watt in the L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, Q band).
On the housing 102 (
The cross-sectional shape of the switch rotor 110 in
In
The coaxial ports 105, 107 extend into the housing 102 and open into a cavity. In this cavity, a coaxial post 114 is located, which is inductively coupled to the inner conductor of the corresponding coaxial connector. At one end of the coaxial post a capacitive load 120 is arranged. The switch rotor 110 is arranged between the coaxial ports 105, 107. An electrical connection 116 extends in the switch rotor, which capacitively couples the two coaxial ports depending on the angular position of the switch rotor. At the top and bottom of the switch rotor an air gap 122 can be arranged, so that the switch rotor can be rotated in the housing.
The switch rotor can also be held in the housing by means of a bearing, see
The switch rotor also contains another electrical connection 116B. This extends through the central axis of the switch rotor and is arranged to connect opposite coaxial ports to each other. For this purpose, the switch rotor 110 must be turned by 45° from the position shown, however.
The electrical connections 116A, 116B (first and second electrical connection) are laterally offset relative to each other in the plan view. These connections can also be offset relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of the switch rotor. Even if an electrical connection along the longitudinal axis of the switch rotor is offset with respect to a second electrical connection, these electrical connections can nevertheless capacitively couple to the same coaxial connectors at the appropriate angular positions of the switch rotor if the coaxial post has a corresponding longitudinal extension.
The terminating element 124 of the inner conductor in this example is shown rounded or circular. In the same way a terminating element 124 can be arranged on the inner conductor of the coaxial connector, wherein this terminating element is correspondingly curved.
A bearing 145, which holds the switch rotor, is arranged in the housing. The bearing can be connected to the drive 150 (see
From
The electrical connection to the inner conductor 117B extending into the drawing plane is similar in design to the electrical connection to the inner conductor 117A. However, the inner conductor 117B is arranged on the lower face of the corresponding slot in the switch rotor. This increases the distance between the inner conductors 117A and 117B. The inner conductors 117A and 117B extend at an angle of 90° relative to each other. It is possible for the inner conductors to be arranged or to extend at a different angle relative to each other.
The structure according to
In the foreground an inner conductor extends from the bottom left to the top right. In the background three inner conductors extend next to each other and perpendicular to the inner conductor in the foreground. As described above, these inner conductors can be connected electrically and/or mechanically and/or thermally to the body of the switch rotor. The terminating elements 124 are connected to the inner conductor 117 by means of a connecting piece 127. The connecting piece 127 can be, for example, screwed, plugged in, or clamped into the inner conductor. The connecting piece is preferably surrounded by dielectric in the assembled state and is not directly in contact with the switch rotor, see, for example,
If the inner conductors 117 are not implemented integrally with the switch rotor, the inner conductors are mounted in the switch rotor. During the installation the inner conductors 117 are pushed into corresponding recesses in the switch rotor 110 and fixed in place there, for example using screws or other mechanical connections. The dielectric is placed in the recess of the switch rotor in the same way. The dielectric can be held in position by the inner conductor. To this end the dielectric can be adapted to the shape of the inner conductor.
It is also clear from
For completeness, it is also noted that “comprising” does not exclude any other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to any one of the above examples can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above.
While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2019 102 274.6 | Jan 2019 | DE | national |
| 10 2019 112 169.8 | May 2019 | DE | national |
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| 1916102 | Oct 1970 | DE |
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| Extended European Search Report including Written Opinion for EP20154364.2 dated Jun. 23, 2020; 17 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200243938 A1 | Jul 2020 | US |
