Patent ID: 7515011

Claim:
A microwave routing element, comprising: at least one inlet region configured for receiving and communicating a microwave energy; a plurality of outlet regions operably coupled to the at least one inlet region, each outlet region of the plurality configured for communicating a transmitted portion of the microwave energy from the at least one inlet region; and a plurality of junctures, each juncture of the plurality positioned substantially between the at least one inlet region and an outlet region of the plurality of outlet regions and comprising at least one electrode associated with the juncture and configured for generating an electrical arc across the juncture to inhibit transmission of the microwave energy through the juncture when the electrical arc is present and permit passage of the transmitted portion through the juncture when the electrical arc is absent; wherein the at least one electrode is further configured to generate the electrical arc with a voltage suitable for inhibiting at least a portion of the microwave energy comprising an amplitude of the microwave energy and a wavelength of the microwave energy correlated to the voltage.