Communication cable comprising electrically isolated patches of shielding material

• US 20090173511A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Essex International IP
• Original Assignee: Superior Essex Communications LP (LS Corporation)
• Inventors: Tyler, James S., McNutt, Christopher, Smith, Delton C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,923,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1008 Features relating to screening tape per se

Abstract

A tape can comprise a two-sided strip of dielectric material, with patches of electrical conductive material adhering to each side. Patches on one side can be longitudinally offset from patches on the opposite side. The patches can be electrically isolated from one another. The tape can be wrapped around one or more conductors, such as wires that transmit data, to provide electrical or electromagnetic shielding. The patches can circumferentially encase the conductors, with patches on one side of the tape covering gaps on the other side of the tape. The tape can be wrapped around the conductors so that an edge of a patch spirals about the conductors in a rotational direction opposite to any twisting of the conductors. The resulting cable can have a shield that is electrically discontinuous between opposite ends of the cable.

Claims

1. A communication cable comprising:

a pair of individually insulated electrical conductors comprising a twist lay; and

a tape wrapped around the pair of individually insulated electrically conductors, the tape comprising electrically conductive patches that are electrically isolated from one another and that are longitudinally separated from one another,

wherein each patch comprises an edge spiraling about the pair in a direction opposite the twist lay.

2. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the pair of individually insulated electrical conductors is twisted in a clockwise direction and wherein the edge spirals in a counterclockwise direction.

3. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the pair of individually insulated electrical conductors is twisted in a counterclockwise direction and wherein the edge spirals in a clockwise direction.

4. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive patches are disposed on a first side of the tape, and

wherein the communication cable further comprises additional electrically conductive patches disposed on a second side of the tape.

5. The communication cable of claim 4, wherein the additional electrically conductive patches are electrically isolated from one another and are longitudinally separated from one another.

6. The communication cable of claim 5, wherein one of the additional electrically conductive patches covers a separation between two of the electrically conductive patches.

7. The communication cable of claim 6, wherein one of the electrically conductive patches covers another separation between two of the additional electrically conductive patches.

8. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the electrically isolated conductive patches and additional electrically conductive patches, that are electrically isolated from one another, circumferentially cover the pair of individually insulated electrical conductors.

9. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the communication cable comprises a core comprising the pair of individually insulated electrical conductors and at least one additional conductor, wherein the core is twisted in a same rotational direction as the twist lay.

10. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the communication cable comprises a core comprising the pair of individually insulated electrical conductors and at least one additional conductor, wherein the core is twisted in a rotational direction that is opposite the twist lay.

11. An apparatus for isolating an electrical conductor, comprising:

a strip of dielectric film comprising a first edge, a second edge, a first side between the first edge and the second edge, and a second side opposite the first side;

a first plurality of conductive film segments, each disposed on the first side of the strip of dielectric film, wherein first isolation regions separate the first plurality of conductive films segments from one another; and

a second plurality of conductive film segments, each disposed on the second side of the strip of dielectric film, wherein second isolation regions separate the second plurality of conductive films segments from one another,

wherein the first plurality of film segments overlap the second isolation regions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of conductive film segments are electrically isolated from the second plurality of conductive film segments.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second plurality of film segments overlap the first isolation regions.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of film segments cover the second isolation regions, and wherein the second plurality of film segments cover the first isolation regions.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments comprises an edge disposed at a substantially acute angle with respect to the first edge.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments comprises an edge disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first edge,

and wherein each of the second plurality of conductive film segments comprises another edge disposed at another acute angle with respect to the first edge.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments comprises an edge forming an included angle with the first edge, wherein the included angle between about five degrees and about 45 degrees.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments comprises an edge forming an angle of less than about 45 degrees with the first edge, and

wherein each of the second plurality of conductive film segments comprises another edge forming another angle of less than about 45 degrees with the first edge.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of conductive film segments or the second plurality of conductive film segments comprises rectangular conductive film segments.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one conductive film segment in the first plurality of conductive film segments or the second plurality of conductive film segments comprises a parallelogram having two acute angles that are opposite one another.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments has a substantially different geometric outline than each of the second plurality of conductive film segments.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive film segments comprises a respective thickness within a first thickness range,

wherein each of the second plurality of conductive film segments comprises a respective thickness within a second thickness range, and

wherein the first thickness range is outside the second thickness range.

23. A communication cable comprising:

a core that comprises a plurality of pairs of individually insulated electrical conductors, wherein each pair is individually twisted in a first rotational direction, and wherein the core is twisted in the first rotational direction; and

a tape, curled around the core, that comprises;

a first edge extending substantially parallel to the communication cable;

a second edge extending substantially parallel to the communication cable;

a first side;

a second side; and

a plurality of electrically conductive patches that are electrically isolated from one another and that are attached to the first side, wherein each patch comprises an edge that spirals around the core opposite the first rotational direction.

24. The communication cable of claim 23, further comprising a second plurality of electrically conductive patches, disposed adjacent the second side, that are electrically isolated from one another and from the plurality of electrically conductive patches,

wherein the plurality of electrically conductive patches and the second plurality of electrically conductive patches circumferentially encase the core.

25. The communication cable of claim 24, wherein the communication cable is operative carrying a signal that comprises a frequency,

wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive patches is substantially thicker than a skin depth for the frequency,

wherein the first side faces the core,

wherein the second side faces away from the core,

wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive patches is thicker than each of the second plurality of electrically conductive patches, and

wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive patches and each of the second plurality of electrically conductive patches comprises a respective edge forming an acute angle with the first edge of the tape or the second edge of the tape.

26. The communication cable of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive patches comprises a first length, and wherein each of the second plurality of electrically conductive patches comprises a second length that is substantially different than the first length.

27. The communication cable of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductive patches has a geometric form that is different than each of the second plurality of electrically conductive patches.