HIGH PERFORMANCE DATA CABLE

• US 20080041609A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Original Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Inventors: Gareis, Galen, Vanderlaan, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,663,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/113C
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/02 Cables with twisted pairs or quads
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/06 with means for reducing effects of electromagnetic or electrostatic disturbances, e.g. screens

Abstract

The present invention is for a high performance data cable which has an interior support or star separator. The star separator or interior support extends along the longitudinal length of the data cable. The star separator or interior support has a central region. A plurality of prongs or splines extend outward from the central region along the length of the central region. Each prong or spline is adjacent with at least two other prongs or splines. The prongs or splines may be helixed or S-Z shaped as they extend along the length of the star separator or interior support. Each pair of adjacent prongs or splines defines grooves which extend along the longitudinal length of the interior support. At least two of the grooves have disposed therein an insulated conductor. The star separator in particular improves control of near end cross-talk and allows for the achievement of positive ACR ratios when twisted pair conductors are disposed in the grooves. The interior support can have a first material and a different second material. The different second material forms an outer surface of the interior support.

Claims

1. A data cable interior support for carrying a plurality of twisted pair conductors comprising:

a longitudinally extending central portion forming a portion of said support;

a plurality of projections extending from said central portion;

each projection of said plurality of projections being adjacent to two other projections of said plurality of projections, and said plurality of projections forming a plurality of adjacent projections;

an open space defined by each of said plurality of adjacent projections; and

said open space being sized to contain at least one twisted pair conductor from said plurality of twisted pair conductors.

2. The interior support of claim 1 wherein

said open space is sized to contain only one twisted pair conductor:

and

said interior support is sized to be a support for a data cable being about 0.300 inches to 0.400 inches in diameter.

3. The interior support of claim 1 wherein there are four projections and each of said projections is a projection selected from a group consisting of a prong, a spline, and an arm;

and

said open space is an open space selected from a group consisting of a channel, a groove, an open duct, and a passage.

4. The interior support of claim 2 wherein

there are four projections and each of said projections is a projection selected from a group consisting of a prong, a spline, and an arm;

and

said open space is an open space selected from a group consisting of a channel, a groove, an open duct, and a passage.

8. The interior support of claim 1 wherein

the central portion has embedded throughout the length thereof a strength member selected from a group consisting of solid polyethylene, nylon, aramid, fiberglass and metal.

5. A data cable interior support for carrying a plurality of twisted pair conductors comprising:

a longitudinally extending central portion forming a portion of said support;

a plurality of projections extending from said central portion;

each projection of said plurality of projections being adjacent to two other projections of said plurality of projections, and said plurality of projections forming a plurality of adjacent projections;

said projections having on a major portion of their surface a shield to provide shielded projections,

an open space defined by each of said plurality of adjacent shielded projections; and

said open space being sized to contain at least one twisted pair conductor from said plurality of twisted pair conductors.

6. The interior support of claim 5 wherein

said open space is sized to contain only one twisted pair conductor and said interior support is sized to be a support for a data cable having about a 0.300 to 0.400 inch diameter.

7. The interior support of claim 5 wherein

there are four shielded projections and each of said shielded projections is a projection selected from a group consisting of a prong, a spline, and an arm;

and

said open space is an open space selected from a group consisting of a channel, a groove, an open duct, and a passage.

9. The interior support of claim 5 wherein

the central portion has embedded throughout the length thereof a strength member selected from a group consisting of solid polyethylene, nylon, aramid, fiberglass and metal.

10. The interior support of claim 6 wherein

there are four shielded projections and each of said shielded projections is a projection selected from a group consisting of a prong, a spline, and an arm;

and

said open space is an open space selected from a group consisting of a channel, a groove, an open duct, and a passage.

11. A data cable having a plurality of twisted pair conductors, a cable covering, and an interior support, said data cable being about 0.300 to 0.400 inches in diameter;

said interior support comprising;

a longitudinally extending central portion forming a portion of said support;

a plurality of projections extending from said central portion;

each projection of said plurality of projections being adjacent to two other projections of said plurality of projections, and said plurality of projections forming a plurality of adjacent projections;

said projections having on a major portion of their surface a shield to provide shielded projections,

an open space defined by each of said plurality of adjacent shielded projections; and

said open space being sized to contain at least one twisted pair conductor from said plurality of twisted pair conductors.

12. The cable claim 11 wherein

said open space is sized to contain only one twisted pair conductor and there are four shielded projections and each of said shielded projections is a projection selected from a group consisting of a prong, a spline, and an arm;

and

said open space is an open space selected from a group consisting of a channel, a groove, an open duct, and a passage.

13. The cable of claim 11 wherein

said cable covering includes an overall shield.

14. The cable of claim 12 wherein

said cable covering includes an overall shield.