Electrical signal cable assembly including transparent insulating layers and associated methods

• US 6,498,300 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/110.R, 174/110.FC, 174/112, 174/113.R, 174/115, 174/120.R, 174/120.AR, 174/120.SR
• US Class Current: 174/110.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/361 being the colour of the insulation or conductor

Abstract

An electrical signal cable assembly includes an electrical cable having opposing first and second ends connected to first and second electrical connectors respectively, and wherein the cable includes at least three wire members arranged in a non-interlaced configuration. Each wire member may include at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual insulating layer thereon. Each of the metallic conductors, in turn, may include at least one of silver and copper at a purity of greater than about 90 percent. An overall insulating layer may surround the three wire members to retain them in position without requiring braiding. In addition, the overall insulating layer and the individual plastic insulating layer are preferably transparent to show a metallic color of the metallic conductors therethrough.

Claims

1. An electrical signal cable assembly comprising:

first and second electrical connectors;

an electrical cable having opposing first and second ends connected to said first and second electrical connectors respectively, said electrical cable comprising

at least three wire members arranged in a twisted, non-interlaced configuration, each wire member comprising at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual insulating layer thereon, each of said metallic conductors comprising at least one of silver and copper at a purity of greater than about 90 percent, and

an overall insulating layer surrounding said at least three wire members,

said overall insulating layer and said individual insulating layers being transparent to show a metallic color of said metallic conductors therethrough.

2. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said twisted, non-interlaced configuration comprises a helical configuration.

3. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least three wire members comprises three wire members with centers defining vertices of an imaginary equilateral triangle at a given position along said electrical cable.

4. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a single metallic conductor.

5. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a stranded metallic conductor.

6. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one metallic conductor of each wire member is generally round having an outer diameter in a range of about 0.5 to 3 mm.

7. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of at least one wire member comprise silver.

8. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 7 wherein the silver is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

9. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of at least one wire member comprise copper.

10. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 9 wherein the copper is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

11. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said overall insulating layer is directly on said at least three wire members so that said electrical cable is devoid of a conductive shield.

12. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said individual insulating layers comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

13. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said wire members is generally round having an outer diameter in a range of about 1 to 5 mm.

14. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said overall insulating layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

15. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 1 wherein said electrical cable is generally round having an outer diameter in a range of about 5 to 10 mm.

16. An electrical signal cable assembly comprising:

first and second electrical connectors;

an electrical cable having opposing first and second ends connected to said first and second electrical connectors respectively, said electrical cable comprising

three wire members arranged in a non-interlaced configuration with centers defining three vertices of an imaginary equilateral triangle at a given position along said electrical cable, each wire member comprising at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual insulating layer thereon, the at least one metallic conductor of at least one wire member comprising silver at a purity of greater than about 90 percent, and

an overall insulating layer surrounding and being directly on said three wire members so that said electrical cable is devoid of a conductive shield,

said overall insulating layer and said individual insulating layers being transparent to show a metallic color of said metallic conductors therethrough.

17. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein said non-interlaced configuration comprises a helical configuration.

18. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a single metallic conductor.

19. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a stranded metallic conductor.

20. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein the silver is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

21. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein each of said individual insulating layers comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

22. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein said overall insulating layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

23. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 16 wherein said overall insulating layer has a generally round outer shape.

24. An electrical signal cable assembly comprising:

first and second electrical connectors;

an electrical cable having opposing first and second ends connected to said first and second electrical connectors respectively, said electrical cable comprising

three wire members arranged in a non-interlaced configuration with centers defining three vertices of an imaginary equilateral triangle at a given position along said electrical cable, each wire member comprising at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual insulating layer thereon, the at least one metallic conductor of at least one wire member comprising copper at a purity of greater than about 90 percent, and

an overall insulating layer surrounding and being directly on said three wire members so that said electrical cable is devoid of a conductive shield,

said overall insulating layer and said individual insulating layers being transparent to show a metallic color of said metallic conductors therethrough.

25. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein said non-interlaced configuration comprises a helical configuration.

26. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a single metallic conductor.

27. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a stranded metallic conductor.

28. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein the copper is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

29. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein each of said individual insulating layers comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

30. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein said overall insulating layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

31. An electrical signal cable assembly according to claim 24 wherein said overall insulating layer has a generally round outer shape.

32. A method for making an electrical signal cable assembly comprising:

forming at least three wire members each comprising at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual transparent insulating layer thereon, each of the metallic conductors comprising at least one of silver and copper at a purity of greater than about 90 percent;

arranging the at least three wire members in a twisted, non-interlaced configuration;

forming an overall transparent insulating layer surrounding the at least three wire members to define an electrical cable; and

connecting first and second electrical connectors to respective opposing first and second ends of the electrical cable.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the twisted, non-interlaced configuration comprises a helical configuration.

34. A method according to claim 32 wherein the at least three wire members comprises three wire members.

35. A method according to claim 32 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a single metallic conductor.

36. A method according to claim 32 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprises a stranded metallic conductor.

37. A method according to claim 32 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprise silver.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the silver is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

39. A method according to claim 32 wherein the at least one metallic conductor of each wire member comprise copper.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein the copper is at a purity of at least about 99.7 percent.

41. A method according to claim 32 wherein forming the overall insulating layer comprises forming the overall insulating layer directly on the at least three wire members so that the electrical cable is devoid of a conductive shield.

42. A method according to claim 32 wherein forming the overall insulating layer comprises forming the overall insulating layer to have a generally round outer shape.