Patent ID: 7035549

Claim:
A matrix switch having plural input signals, plural output signals and plural nodes for converting said input signals to said output signals, said matrix switch comprising; plural input signal sources disposed on each circuit board for providing respective input signals, wherein each of said input signal sources includes signal generating circuitry coupled to an optical transmitter for converting each of said input signals to an associated light beam; a common beam path along which each of said light beams is directed by a respective optical transmitter; and plural output signal sources disposed on each circuit board, wherein the input and output signal source on each circuit board have associated therewith an optical combiner/splitter disposed in and aligned with said common beam path for receiving said light beams wherein each of said output signal sources includes signal receiving circuitry coupled to an optical receiver for converting each of said light beams to a respective output signal, and wherein each of said input signal sources on each circuit board can simultaneously communicate with any of said output signal sources on any other circuit board or on its associated circuit board via a respective light beam, and wherein light beams are directed in first and second opposed directions along said common beam path.