204800-587

Definition Crossbar Telephone Switch

An electromagnetically actuated switch in which contacts are closed between horizontal and vertical banks of conducting bars. It may be designed to find and hold the specific circuit from which the starting signal has originated, to choose an idle circuit and connect the incoming signal to it, to connect the trunk lines from another switch to the desired called station and/or perform other selective switching functions. See also switch, telephone, finder and switch telephone, selector.