Patent attributes
The present invention relates to an electrical space switch matrix having m input ports and n output ports, the switch matrix comprising (m.n)/(i.j) switch blocks, each having i input ports and j output ports, where i is less than m and j is less than n; and a plurality of input elements and a plurality of output elements, the plurality of input elements and plurality of output elements being arranged so as to connect the switch blocks to the input and output ports of the switch matrix. In an embodiment of the invention, the input and output elements can be power splitters and power combiners respectively and are arranged so as to include crossover connection paths therebetween, with the result that crossover of connection paths is distributed between the power dividing/combining function and the switching function.
