What is a matrix switcher?

The matrix is ​​called a matrix switcher and is used to switch the input and output of various signals. The concept of matrix refers to the concept of linear algebra in high numbers. Generally speaking, there are multiple output selections in the case of multiple inputs, forming the matrix structure of the following figure.

Both outputs can be short-circuited with different input signals. "Each output can only be connected to a certain input, but a certain input can (simultaneously) switch on different outputs.

Output 1 = input 1, output 2 = input 2, and output 3 = output 4 = input 3, or each output can be selected "independently" in the input without having to care about the output of other channels, ie Unlike other outputs, it can be the same. For example, 8 to 4 means that there are 4 independent outputs, each of which can be selected from 8 inputs, or 4 independent 8 to 1, but only 8 inputs are the same. Often confused with this is the concept of allocation, such as 8 choices of 1 minute 4, which means that one output is selected from 8 inputs and is assigned to 4 identical outputs, although there are 4 outputs in appearance. But the four outputs are the same, not independent. In general practice, the structure that forms M×N is called a matrix, and the structure of M×1 is called a switch or a selector. In fact, N=1, we treat them as a matrix in the discussion.