System and Method for Mitigating Signal Propagation Skew Between Signal Conducting Wires of a Signal Conducting Cable

• US 20180366243A1
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Farkas, Sandor, Mutnury, Bhyrav M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,381,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/002 Pair constructions
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/20 Cables having a multiplicity of coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/02 Disposition of insulation

Abstract

A cable includes first and second electrically conducting wires, each of the two wires surrounded by a respective isolating dielectric material for a length of the respective wire. A signal propagation skew between the first and second wires may be detected, and a dielectric constant associated with a wire may be changed to mitigate the detected signal propagation skew. The dielectric constant may be changed by removing or adding dielectric material from or to the wire.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a first electrically conducting wire with a first circumference and a first length;

a first dielectric material surrounding the first circumference for a portion of the first length to isolate the first electrically conducting wire;

a second electrically conducting wire with a second circumference and a second length; and

a second dielectric material surrounding the second circumference for a portion of the second length to isolate the second electrically conducting wire,

wherein a signal propagation skew between the first electrically conducting wire and the second electrically conducting wire is detected, wherein signal travels faster over the first electrically conducting wire than the second electrically conducting wire, and a second dielectric constant of the second electrically conducting wire is changed to mitigate the signal propagation skew, wherein the second dielectric constant of the second electrically conducting wire is changed by removing a portion of the second dielectric material farthest from the first electrically conducting wire.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the second dielectric constant of the second electrically conducting wire is changed to mitigate the signal propagation skew.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the second dielectric constant of the second electrically conducting wire is decreased by the removing the portion of the second dielectric material.

4. The cable of claim 3, wherein the portion of the second dielectric material is removed proximate the terminal end of the second electrically conducting wire.

5. The cable of claim 4, wherein the terminal end is covered with a protective cover subsequent to removing the portion of the second dielectric material.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable is electrically complete prior to removing the portion of the second dielectric material.

7. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable is electrically complete prior to removing the portion of the second dielectric material.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining a cable with a first electrically conducting wire with a first circumference and a first length, the cable having a first dielectric material surrounding the first circumference for a portion of the first length to isolate the first electrically conducting wire, and the cable also having a second electrically conducting wire with a second circumference and a second length;

detecting a signal propagation skew between the first electrically conducting wire and the second electrically conducting wire; and

changing a first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire to mitigate the signal propagation skew.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a second dielectric material surrounds the second circumference for a portion of the second length to isolate the first electrically conducting wire.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material have the same dielectric constant.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the obtained cable is electrically complete.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire is changed by removing a portion of the first dielectric material.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the portion of the first dielectric material is removed proximate a terminal end of the first wire.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the terminal end is covered with a protective cover subsequent to removing the portion of the first dielectric material.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire is changed by adding a third dielectric material to a terminal end of the first wire.

16. A cable comprising:

a first electrically conducting wire with a first circumference and a first length, the first circumference surrounded by a first dielectric material for a portion of the first length; and

a second electrically conducting wire with a second circumference and a second length, the second circumference surrounded by a second dielectric material for a portion of the second length,

wherein a signal propagation skew between the first electrically conducting wire and the second electrically conducting wire is detected, wherein signal travels faster over the first electrically conducting wire than the second electrically conducting wire, and a first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire is changed to mitigate the signal propagation skew, wherein the first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire is changed by adding a third dielectric material to the first electrically conducting wire.

17. The cable of claim 16, wherein the first dielectric constant of the first electrically conducting wire is increased by adding the third dielectric material.

18. The cable of claim 17, wherein the third dielectric material is added to a terminal end of the first electrically conducting wire.

19. The cable of claim 18, wherein the terminal end is covered with a protective cover subsequent to adding the third dielectric material.

20. The cable of claim 19, wherein the cable is electrically complete prior to adding the third dielectric material.