US Patent 7880194 Cross point switch using phase change material

A cross-point switch and cross-point switch fabric utilizing phase change material, and method of operating the same. The cross-point switch includes a phase change cross-point circuit containing a plurality of terminal nodes connected to a central node. The connections between the terminal nodes and the central nodes are regulated by phase change switches comprised of a phase change material. The phase change switches being controlled by heating elements capable of melting or crystallizing the phase change material in the phase change switch. The heating elements are operated by a separate heating circuit. Each individual heating element is regulated by an individual transistor.