High-performance data cable

• US 5,789,711 A
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Belden Technologies, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Wire & Cable Company, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaeris, Galen Mark, Vanderlaan, Paul Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US08/629,509
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 174/28, 174/29, 174/36, 174/113 R, 174/113 C, 174/113 AS, 174/131 A, 174/34
• US Class Current: 174/113.00C
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/02 Cables with twisted pairs or quads

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.

Claims

1. In a high performance data cable having a diameter of from about 0.300" to about 0.400", a plurality of insulated conductor pairs, and an interior support, said interior support comprising:

a cylindrical longitudinally extending central portion;

a plurality of splines radially extending from said central portion along the length of said central portion, said splines having a triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle forming part of the central portion, each of said triangular splines having the same radius;

each spline of said plurality of splines being adjacent to two other splines of said plurality of splines;

said splines longitudinally extending in a helical or S-Z shaped manner;

a shield having a lateral fold, said shield supported by said triangular splines, said shield and splines defining a plurality of at least four conductor compartments;

a twisted pair conductor disposed in each of said compartments; and

said splines have a tip-to-crevice ration from about 2.1 to about 2.8.

2. A high performance data cable comprising:

an interior support extending along a longitudinal length of the data cable, said interior support having a central region, said central region extending along a longitudinal length of said interior support;

a plurality of prongs, each of said prongs being integral with said central region, said prongs extending along a longitudinal length of the central region and extending outward from said central region;

an arrangement of said plurality of prongs wherein each of said prongs is adjacent with at least two other of said prongs, said arrangement forming a plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs;

a groove defined by each of said pairs of adjacent prongs, said groove extends along the longitudinal length of the interior support, said plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs defining a plurality of said grooves;

in said plurality of prongs, each of said prongs having a first and second lateral side, a portion of said first lateral side and a portion of said second lateral side of at least one of said prongs converging towards each other;

a plurality of conductor compartments, each of said conductor compartments defined by a pair of said plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs and a foil shield having a lateral fold;

a twisted pair of insulated conductors in each of said conductor compartments; and

said prongs have a tip-to-crevice ratio of about 2.1 to about 2.8.

3. A high performance data cable comprising:

an interior support extending along a longitudinal length of the data cable, said interior support having a central region, said central region extending along a longitudinal length of said interior support;

a plurality of prongs, each of said prongs being integral with said central region, said prongs extending along a longitudinal length of the central region and extending outward from said central region;

an arrangement of said plurality of prongs wherein each of said prongs is adjacent with at least two other prongs, said arrangement forming a plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs;

a groove defined by each of said Pairs of adjacent prongs, said groove extends along the longitudinal length of the interior support, said plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs defining a plurality of said grooves;

a plurality of conductor compartments, each of said conductor compartments defined by a pair of said plurality of pairs of adjacent prongs and a foil shield having a lateral fold;

a twisted pair of insulated conductors in each of said conductor compartments; and

said prongs have a tip-to-crevice ratio of about 2.1 to about 2.8.