Crosstalk Reducing Conductor and Contact Configuration in a Communication System

• US 20090225979A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belden Canada ULC (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden CDT (Canada) Inc. (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Vexler, Gavriel, Bohbot, Michel, Pelletier, Antoine, Milette, Luc
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/392.10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6461 Means for preventing cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6473 Impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6477 by variation of dielectric properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2416 the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/242 the contact members being plates having a single slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines

Abstract

There is disclosed conductor and connector configurations for use in communications systems which take advantage of the orientation and positioning of adjacent balanced pairs of conductors to reduce cross talk. These conductor and connector configurations may be used to reduce cross talk between adjacent balanced pairs of a single transmission path, or to reduce alien cross talk between adjacent balanced pairs located in different transmission paths.

Claims

1. A method for reducing cross talk between first and second cables in a data transmission system, each of the cables comprised of a pair of conductors, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first contact interconnected with a first conductor of the pair of conductors of the first cable, wherein said first contact emits a first signal;

providing a pair of contacts, each of said pair of contacts interconnected with a different conductor of the pair of conductors of the second cable; and

positioning said first contact relative to said pair of contacts such that an amplitude of said first signal received at one of said second pair of contacts is substantially the same as the amplitude of said first signal received at another of said second pair of contacts.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a second contact interconnected with a second conductor of the pair of conductors of the first cable and wherein said second contact emits a second signal, and positioning said second contact relative to said pair of contacts such that an amplitude of said second signal received at one of said second pair of contacts is substantially the same as an amplitude of said second signal received at another of said second pair of contacts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said contacts is substantially flat and said positioning step comprises orienting said contacts such that a long surface of said first contact is perpendicular to a long surface of each of said pair of contacts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said pair of contacts symmetrically about said first contact.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said first contact equidistant from each of said pair of contacts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of contacts is substantially flat and said positioning step comprises placing said first contact such that a line normal to a long surface of either of said pair of contacts does not intersect said first contact.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of conductors are twisted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of conductors are in parallel.

9. A method for reducing cross talk between first and second cables in a data transmission system, each of the cables comprised of a pair of conductors, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of contacts, each of said pair of contacts interconnected with a different conductor of the pair of conductors of the first cable, wherein one of said pair of contacts emits a first signal which is substantially an inverse of a second signal emitted by another of said pair of contacts;

providing at least one first contact interconnected with one of the pair of conductors of the second cable; and

positioning said pair of contacts relative to said first contact such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said first contact is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said first contact.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of providing a second contact interconnected with a second conductor of the pair of conductors of the second cable and positioning said pair of contacts relative to said second contact such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said second contact is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said second contact.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said contacts is substantially flat and said positioning step comprises orienting said contacts such that a long surface of said first contact is perpendicular to a long surface of either of said pair of contacts.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said pair of contacts symmetrically about said first contact.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said first contact equidistant from each of said pair of contacts.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said contacts is substantially flat and said positioning step comprises placing said first contact such that a line normal to a long surface of either of said pair of contacts does not intersect said first contact.

15. An assembly for terminating first and second cables in a telecommunications system, each of the cables comprising first and second conductors, the assembly comprising:

a first contact interconnected with the first conductor of the first cable, wherein said first contact emits a first signal; and

a pair of contacts interconnected with a respective one of the first and second conductors of the second cable;

wherein said first contact is positioned relative to said pair of contacts such that an amplitude of said first signal received at one of said pair of contacts is substantially the same as an amplitude of said first signal received at another of said pair of contacts.

16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a second contact interconnected with the second conductor of the first cable, wherein said second contact emits a second signal, and wherein said second contact is positioned relative to said pair of contacts such that an amplitude of said second signal received at one of said pair of contacts is substantially the same as an amplitude of said second signal received at another of said pair of contacts.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said first and second contacts are substantially flat and wherein a long surface of said first contact is in parallel with a long surface of said second contact.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said long surface of said first contact is arranged opposite said long surface of said second contact.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said pair of contacts are substantially flat and further wherein said long surface of said first contact and said long surface of said second contact are at right angles to a long surface of either of said pair of contacts.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said contacts are disposed on a first surface of the assembly and further comprising a plurality sockets adapted to receive a cable plug moulded in a second surface thereof, a first and a second of said sockets comprising a plurality of connector blades disposed therein, one of said blades in said first socket interconnected with said first contact and a pair of blades in said second socket interconnected with a respective one of said pair of contacts.

21. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a patch panel and wherein said first contact is disposed on a first surface of a first modular connector and said pair of contacts are disposed on a first surface of a second modular connector, said connectors adapted for insertion into the patch panel.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said connectors are arranged side by side in said patch panel.

23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said connectors are arranged one on top of another in said patch panel.

24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said connectors further comprises a socket adapted to receive a cable plug moulded on a second surface thereof, each of said sockets having a plurality of connector blades disposed therein, one of said blades in said socket of said first connector interconnected with said first contact and a pair of blades in said socket of said second connector interconnected with a respective one of said second pair of contacts.

25. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said modular connector is a modular jack.

26. The assembly of claim 20, wherein each of the cables comprises four twisted pairs of conductors and wherein each of said sockets comprises eight blades disposed therein.

27. The assembly of claim 20, wherein each of said sockets is adapted to receive an RJ-45 connector plug.

28. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said pair of contacts are positioned symmetrically about said first contact.

29. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said contacts are substantially flat and wherein said first contact is at right angles to said pair of contacts.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said flat pair of contacts are arranged in parallel.

31. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said flat pair of contacts lie in the same plane.

32. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said flat contacts are IDCs.

33. An assembly for terminating first and second cables in a telecommunications system, each of the cables comprising a pair of conductors, the assembly comprising:

a pair of contacts interconnected with the pair of conductors of the first cable, wherein one of said pair of contacts emits a first signal which is substantially an inverse of a second signal emitted by another of said pair of contacts; and

a first contact interconnected with a first conductor of the pair of conductors of the second cable;

wherein said pair of contacts is positioned relative to said first contact such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said first contact is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said first contact.

34. The assembly of claim 33, further comprising a second contact interconnected with a second conductor of the pair of conductors of the second cable and wherein said pair of contacts is positioned relative to said second contact such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said second contact is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said second contact.

35. The assembly of claim 34, wherein said first and second contacts are substantially flat and wherein a long surface of said first contact is in parallel with a long surface of said second contact.

36. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said long surface of said first contact and said long surface of said second contact lie in the same plane.

37. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said pair of contacts are substantially flat and further wherein said long surface of said first contact and said long surface of said second contact are at right angles to a long surface of either of said pair of contacts.

38. An assembly for terminating first and second cables in a telecommunications system, each of the cables comprising a pair of conductors, the assembly comprising:

a first substantially flat contact interconnected with one of the pair of conductors of the first cable; and

a second substantially flat contact interconnected with one of the pair of conductors of the second cable, wherein said first contact is arranged at right angles to said second contact.

39. An assembly for terminating first and second cables in a telecommunications system, each of the cables comprising a pair of conductors, the assembly comprising:

a first contact interconnected with one of the pair of conductors of the first cable; and

a pair of contacts interconnected with a respective one of the pair of conductors of the second cable, said pair of contacts positioned symmetrically about said first contact.

40. The assembly of claim 39, wherein said first contact and said pair of contacts are substantially flat, wherein said pair of contacts are in parallel and wherein said first contact is perpendicular to said pair of contacts.

41. The assembly of claim 40, wherein said flat pair of contacts are aligned side by side.

42. The assembly of claim 40, wherein said flat pair of contacts are positioned facing one another.

43. The assembly of claim 40, wherein said contacts are IDCs.

44. A connector for terminating a cable comprising first and second pairs of conductors, the connector comprising:

a first contact interconnected with a conductor of the first pair of conductors; and

a pair of contacts interconnected with a respective one of the second pair of conductors, said pair of contacts positioned symmetrically about said first contact.

45. The connector of claim 44, wherein said contacts are substantially flat, wherein said pair of contacts are in parallel and wherein said first contact is perpendicular to said pair of contacts.

46. The connector of claim 45, wherein said flat pair of contacts are aligned side by side.

47. The connector of claim 45, wherein said flat pair of contacts are positioned facing one another.

48. The connector of claim 44, wherein said flat contacts are IDCs.

49. The connector of claim 45, wherein said contacts are disposed on a first surface of the connector and further comprising a socket adapted to receive a cable plug moulded in a second surface thereof, said socket comprising a plurality of connector blades disposed therein and wherein each of said contacts is interconnected with a different one of said connector blades.

50. The connector of claim 49, wherein the connector is modular and adapted for insertion into a patch panel.

51. The connector of claim 49, wherein the cable comprises four twisted pairs of conductors and wherein each of said socket comprises eight blades disposed therein.

52. The connector of claim 49, wherein said socket is adapted to receive an RJ-45 connector plug.

53. A connector for terminating a cable comprising first and second pairs of conductors, the connector comprising:

a first substantially flat contact interconnected with a conductor of the first pair of conductors; and

a second substantially flat contact interconnected with a first conductor of the second pair of conductors, said first flat contact substantially at right angles to said second flat contact.

54. The connector of 53, further comprising a third substantially flat contact aligned with said second flat contact, said third flat contact interconnected with a second conductor of the second pair of conductors and wherein said second and third contacts are arranged symmetrically about said first contact.

55. A method for reducing cross talk in a data transmission system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first transmission path comprised of at least one first conductor, said first conductor emitting a signal;

providing a second transmission path comprised of a second pair of conductors;

positioning said first conductor relative to said second pair of conductors such that an amplitude of said signal received along one of said second pair of conductors is substantially the same as an amplitude of said signal received along another of said second pair of conductors.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said conductors comprises a conductive trace etched on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of surrounding said first and second transmission path with a cable housing.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein said first transmission path further comprises a second conductor, said second conductor emitting a second signal, and further comprising the step of positioning said second conductor relative to said pair of conductors such that an amplitude of said second signal received at one of said second pair of contacts is substantially the same as an amplitude of said second signal received at another of said second pair of contacts.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said pair of conductors symmetrically about said first conductor.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein said conductors are arranged in parallel.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said first conductor at the same distance from each of said pair of conductors.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said conductors comprises an elongate transverse cross section and said positioning step comprises placing said first conductor such that a line normal to a long surface of either of said pair of conductors does not intersect said first conductor.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said conductors comprises an elongate transverse cross section and said positioning step comprises orienting said conductors such that a long surface of said first conductor is perpendicular to a long surface of each of said pair of conductors.

64. A method for reducing cross talk in a data transmission system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first transmission path comprised of a first conductor;

providing a second transmission path comprised of a pair of conductors, wherein one of said pair of conductors emits a first signal which is substantially an inverse of a second signal emitted by another of said pair of conductors; and

positioning said pair of conductors relative to said first conductor such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said first conductor is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said first conductor.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said first transmission path further comprises a second conductor, and further comprising the step of positioning said pair of conductors relative to said second conductor such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said second conductor is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said second conductor.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said pair of conductors symmetrically about said first conductor.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein said conductors are arranged in parallel.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein said positioning step comprises placing said first conductor at the same distance from each of said pair of conductors.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein each of said conductors comprises an elongate transverse cross section and said positioning step comprises placing said first conductor such that a line normal to a long surface of either of said pair of conductors does not intersect said first conductor.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein each of said conductors comprises an elongate transverse cross section and said positioning step comprises orienting said conductors such that a long surface of said first conductor is perpendicular to a long surface of each of said pair of conductors.

71. An assembly for transmitting data comprising:

a first transmission path comprised of a first conductor, said first conductor emitting a first signal; and

a second transmission path comprised of a pair of conductors;

wherein said first conductor is positioned relative to said pair of conductors such that an amplitude of said first signal received along one of said pair of conductors is substantially the same as an amplitude of said first signal received along another of said pair of conductors.

72. The assembly of claim 71, wherein each of said conductors comprises a conductive trace on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

73. The assembly of claim 71, wherein all of said conductors are in parallel.

74. The assembly of claim 71, wherein each of said pair of conductors are substantially equidistant from said first conductor.

75. The assembly of claim 71, wherein each of said conductors further comprises an outer insulating layer and wherein the assembly further comprises a cable jacket surrounding said conductors.

76. The assembly of claim 71, wherein said first transmission path further comprises a second conductor, said second conductor emitting a second signal and wherein said second conductor is positioned such that an amplitude of said second signal received at one of said second pair of conductors is substantially the same as an amplitude of said second signal received at another of said second pair of conductors.

77. The assembly of claim 76, wherein said first and second conductors are in parallel.

78. The assembly of claim 77, wherein said pair of conductors are in parallel and further wherein said first conductor is positioned between said second conductor and said pair of conductors.

79. An assembly for transmitting data comprising:

a first transmission path comprised of a first conductor; and

a second transmission path comprised of pair of conductors, wherein one of said pair of conductors emits a first signal which is substantially an inverse of a second signal emitted by another of said pair of conductors;

wherein said first conductor is positioned relative to said pair of conductors such that an amplitude of said first signal received by said first conductor is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received by said first conductor.

80. The assembly of claim 79, wherein each of said conductors comprises a conductive trace on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

81. The assembly of claim 79, wherein all of said conductors are in parallel.

82. The assembly of claim 79, wherein each of said pair of conductors are substantially equidistant from said first conductor.

83. The assembly of claim 79, wherein each of said conductors further comprises an outer insulting later and wherein the assembly further comprises a cable jacket surrounding said conductors.

84. The assembly of claim 79, wherein said first transmission path further comprises a second conductor and further wherein said second conductor is positioned such that an amplitude of said first signal received at said second conductor is substantially opposite to an amplitude of said second signal received at said second conductor.

85. The assembly of claim 84, wherein said first and second conductors are in parallel.

86. The assembly of claim 85, wherein said pair of conductors are in parallel and further wherein said first conductor is positioned between said second conductor and said pair of conductors.

87. A data transmission cable comprising:

a first conductor;

a pair of conductors arranged in parallel to said first conductor; and

a cable jacket surrounding said first conductor and said pair of conductors;

wherein a distance between said first conductor and each of said pair of conductors is substantially the same.

88. The cable of claim 87, further comprising a second conductor in parallel to said first conductor and surrounded by said cable jacket, wherein a distance between said second conductor and each of said pair of conductors is substantially the same.

89. The cable of claim 88, wherein a distance between said first conductor and said second conductor is substantially the same as a distance between said pair of conductors.

90. The cable of claim 87, further comprising a separator spline separating said first conductor from said pair of conductors.

91. The cable of claim 87, wherein the cable is comprised of four pairs of parallel conductors and wherein said spline has a fylfot cross shaped transverse cross section.

92. The cable of claim 87, wherein said conductors have a substantially flat transverse cross section and further wherein said first conductor is arranged at rights angles to said pair of conductors.

93. The cable of claim 88, wherein said conductors have a substantially flat transverse cross section and further wherein said first and second conductors are arranged at rights angles to said pair of conductors.

94. A data transmission cable comprising:

a first pair of parallel conductors aligned on a first plane, and

a second pair of conductors aligned on a second plane;

wherein said first plane is substantially at right angles to said second plane and said first plane intersects said second plane along an axis substantially between said second pair of conductors.

95. The cable of claim 94, wherein a spacing between conductors of said first pair is substantially the same as a spacing between conductors of said second pair.

96. The cable of claim 94, further comprising a third pair of parallel conductors aligned on a third plane substantially parallel to said first plane and a fourth pair of parallel conductors aligned on a fourth plane substantially parallel to said second plane and wherein said third plane intersects said fourth plane along an axis substantially between said fourth pair of conductors.

97. The cable of claim 96, wherein said second plane intersects said third plane along an axis substantially between said third pair of conductors and said fourth plane intersects said first plane along an axis substantially between said first pair of conductors.

98. The cable of claim 97, wherein said pairs of conductors are arranged around a central axis running a long the cable and further wherein said planes curve helically about said axis along a length of the cable.

99. The cable of claim 97, further comprising a separator spline separating said pairs of conductors.

100. The cable of claim 99, wherein said spline has a fylfot cross shaped transverse cross section.

101. The cable of claim 94, wherein said conductors have a substantially flat transverse cross section and further wherein said flat transverse cross section of said first pair of conductors is aligned with said first plane and said flat transverse cross section of said second pair of conductors is aligned with said first plane.

102. A separator spline for separating pairs of conductors in a communication cable, the spline comprising:

an elongate main portion having four sides; and

a conductive pair receiving slot moulded lengthwise in each side of said main portion;

wherein said moulded main portion has fylfot cross shaped transverse cross section.