Multi-conductor electrical transmission ribbon cable with variable conductor spacing
First Claim
1. A multi-conductor ribbon cable which includes a generally flat section having a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction in a generally side-by-side manner with a desired center spacing between said signal conductors;
- means for fixing said center spacing of said signal conductors;
a first section of said signal conductors having a first center spacing, a second section of said signal conductors having a second center spacing, and said second center spacing being greater than said first center spacing to provide desired mechanical and electrical cable characteristics; and
said means for fixing said center spacing of said conductors comprises a woven fabric having a weave which includes a plurality of warp yarns extending in said longitudinal direction and weft yarns interwoven with said warp yarns and said signal conductors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high density multi-conductor ribbon cable (A, A'"'"', 40, 56'"'"', 65, 65'"'"', 90, 90'"'"') is disclosed having a variable width and variable center spacing (X) of conductors (12) along the cable length. The spacing of conductors (12) is determined by the vertical position of a tapered reed (B) and the cable may be extruded (40) or woven (56). Variations in the width and spacing of the signal conductors may be had to match mechanical and/or electrical characteristics of associated terminal connectors (22, 68, 68'"'"') and input and output devices (26, 28).
39 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A multi-conductor ribbon cable which includes a generally flat section having a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction in a generally side-by-side manner with a desired center spacing between said signal conductors;
- means for fixing said center spacing of said signal conductors;
a first section of said signal conductors having a first center spacing, a second section of said signal conductors having a second center spacing, and said second center spacing being greater than said first center spacing to provide desired mechanical and electrical cable characteristics; and
said means for fixing said center spacing of said conductors comprises a woven fabric having a weave which includes a plurality of warp yarns extending in said longitudinal direction and weft yarns interwoven with said warp yarns and said signal conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- means for fixing said center spacing of said signal conductors;
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10. A flat ribbon cable having a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction and arranged in a generally parallel manner with a desired center spacing between centers of said signal conductors, means fixing said center spacing of said signal conductors, wherein said cable comprises:
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a compressed width including said signal conductors having a first center spacing; an expanded width including said signal conductors having a second center spacing which is greater than said first center spacing; and said cable having a first electrical characteristic impedance at said compressed width, and a second electrical characteristic impedance at said expanded width to facilitate matching of electrical characteristics of associated external devices; and
a plurality of longitudinal warp yarns and transverse weft yarns woven with said signal conductors to form a woven fabric which fixes the center spacing of said conductors. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A woven electrical transmission cable having different widths to provide variable mechanical and electrical characteristics comprising:
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a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction in a generally side-by-side manner with a prescribed center spacing between the centers of said signal conductors; a plurality of warp yarns extending in a longitudinal direction and weft yarns extending in a transverse direction, said warp and weft yarns being woven with said longitudinal signal conductors to form a woven fabric and fix said center spacing of said signal conductors; a compressed section of said cable in which said signal conductors have a compressed center spacing; an expanded section of said signal conductors in which said signal conductors have an expanded center spacing, and said expanded center spacing is greater than said compressed center spacing; and terminal means for connecting a first end of said cable to an input device, and for connecting a second end of said cable to an output device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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18. The cable of cable 17 wherein said signal conductors and said warp and weft yarns are woven in a single layer construction in said expanded section.
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24. A method of matching electrical characteristics and mechanical characteristics of an electrical transmission cable to associated input and output devices and connector assemblies, respectively, said cable being of the type which includes a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction in a generally side-by-side manner with a prescribed center spacing between the centers of said signal conductors, said method comprising:
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spacing said signal conductors in a first section of said cable to provide a first center spacing and an electrical characteristic which matches an electrical characteristic of said input device; spacing said signal conductors in a second section of said cable to provide a second center spacing and an electrical characteristic which matches an electrical characteristic of said output device; and fixing said first and second center spacings of said cable by weaving a plurality of warp yarns in a longitudinal direction and weft yarns in a transverse direction with said signal conductors. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of matching electrical characteristics and mechanical characteristics of an electrical transmission cable to associated electrical connectors and input and output devices, said cable being of the type which includes a plurality of signal conductors extending in a longitudinal direction in a generally side-by-side manner with a prescribed center spacing between the centers of said signal conductors, said method comprising:
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spacing said signal conductors in a first section of said cable to provide a first center spacing and an electrical characteristic which matches an electrical characteristic of said input device; spacing said signal conductors in a second section of said cable to provide a second center spacing and an electrical characteristic which matches an electrical characteristic of said output device; and fixing said first and second center spacings of said cable; and
weaving said cable so that the center spacing of said first section is less than the center spacing in said second section, and fixing said center spacing of said signal conductors in said second section to match the physical dimensions of electrical pads of an associated printed circuit board on which said signal conductors are to be terminated. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification