Patent ID: 7807935

Claim:
A make-before-break mechanism for an electrical device handling both AC/DC and RF signals having frequencies ranging from 50 Hz to greater than 3 GHz, said device including a housing, at least one input port for receiving input signals from a main cable, at least one output port for outputting signals into the main cable for continuing the signal flow down the main cable line, a removable top cover plate for closing an open top of said housing, and electrical circuitry for operating said device being installed on a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted on a bottom portion of said cover plate, comprising: a bypass switch assembly mounted in said housing including: first means responsive to said cover plate in the process of being removed from said housing, for directly electrically connecting together the input and output ports of the device for passing RF signals received from the main cable directly back into the main cable; second means responsive to said cover plate being installed on said housing for both electrically connecting said first means to an interior electrically conductive grounded bottom portion of said housing, and for electrically connecting input signals from said main cable at said input port to said electrical circuitry, and output signals from said electrical circuitry to said main cable at said output port, whenever said device is in an operative mode for processing signals received from the main cable; and said first and second means being configured for insuring a 75 ohm impedance at all times between the main cable at the input port, and the main cable at the output port, for insuring passage of DC voltage and the integrity of RF signals having frequencies ranging from 50 Hz to at least 3 GHz at all times.