Electromechanical Switch Rings for Redundant Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spacecraft communication payload systems require efficient solutions for access and redundancy protection in multibeam systems, where a large number of antenna feeds need to be connected to communication processing channels, and the configuration must change based on operational requirements, necessitating a substantial number of switches to manage both access and redundancy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an arrangement of electromechanical switches, including L rings and redundancy access rows, where each redundancy access row is composed of L electromechanical switches coupled with sets of switches from different rings, and a controller generates control signals to reroute signals between communication processing channels and redundant channels, along with a load balancing network to manage active and inactive inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a substantial number of switches are used to enable redundancy protection and facilitate switching between alternate communication processing channels, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch network is segmented into multiple functional rings (first ring, second ring, third ring) where each ring performs specific switching functions. This segmentation allows redundancy to be distributed across rings rather than requiring a monolithic complex switch array, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability through modular fault isolation and alternate routing paths.
2Reliability
If multiple switches are configured to provide access to redundant communication processing channels, then reliability is improved, but insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch network is pre-configured with multiple established paths through different rings to reach redundant communication processing channels. When a failure occurs, the system can immediately switch to pre-planned alternate paths without requiring complex real-time routing decisions, thereby maintaining signal integrity and minimizing insertion loss while ensuring reliable access to redundant channels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If switches are arranged to facilitate flexible configuration based on operational requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each ring in the switch network is designed with universal switching capabilities that can handle multiple communication processing channels and support various operational configurations. The rings can be dynamically activated or deactivated based on operational requirements, allowing the system to adapt to different scenarios (normal operation, redundancy mode, maintenance mode) without requiring separate dedicated switch structures for each function, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for implementing an arrangement of electromechanical switches. In one aspect, the arrangement includes rings of electromechanical switches configured to provide access to communication processing channels and redundancy access rows of electromechanical switches configured to provide access to redundant communication processing channels.