Network cable with elliptical crossweb fin structure

• US 6,818,832 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Solutions Properties LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hopkinson, Wayne C., Wiebelhaus, David Allyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/127,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 174/110.R, 174/113.R, 174/113.C, 174/120.R, 174/113.AS
• US Class Current: 174/113.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/04 with pairs or quads mutually positioned to reduce cross-talk

Abstract

A network cable including a plurality of conductors and an associated crossweb having one or more fins of substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape. The crossweb runs longitudinally along at least a portion of a length of the conductors, and includes a central region approximately in a center of the cable and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the central region, with a given one of the fins separating at least a first one of the conductors from at least a second one of the conductors. At least the given one of the fins has a variable thickness along a cross-sectional length thereof from the central region to an opposing end of the fin with a maximum of the variable thickness being in a portion of the fin between the central region and the opposing end of the fin.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors; and

a crossweb running longitudinally along at least a portion of a length of the twisted pairs of conductors, the crossweb having a central region approximately in a center of the cable and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the central region, a given one of the fins separating at least a first one of the twisted pairs of conductors from at least a second one of the twisted pairs of conductors;

wherein at least the given one of the fins has a substantially elliptical shape and a variable thickness along a cross-sectional length thereof from the central region to an opposing end of the fin with a maximum of the variable thickness being in a portion of the fin between the central region and the opposing end of the fin aligned with the cross-sectional centers of the twisted pairs of conductors between which the fin resides.

2. The cable of claim 1 wherein the plurality of twisted pairs of conductors comprises four twisted pairs of conductors, and the crossweb comprises four fins, with each of the four twisted pairs of conductors being arranged between a pair of the fins.

3. The cable of claim 1 wherein the variable thickness along the cross-sectional length of the given one of the fins increases from a portion of the fin adjacent the central region of the crossweb to the maximum thickness and decreases from the maximum thickness to an end of the fin away from the central region.

4. The cable of claim 3 wherein the variable thickness is at a minimum thickness at the portion of the fin adjacent the central region of the crossweb.

5. The cable of claim 1 wherein the maximum thickness is in a range of approximately 0.008 inches to 0.050 inches.

6. The cable of claim 4 wherein the minimum thickness is in a range of approximately 0.004 inches to 0.025 inches.

7. The cable of claim 1 wherein the crossweb comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, polyvingy chloride, polyolefins, and zero halogen compounds.

8. The cable of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a Category 6 network cable.

9. The cable of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a multi-pair cable comprising a plurality of four-pair groups of conductors and a plurality of three-pair groups of conductors, the crossweb being associated with one of the four-pair groups of conductors.

10. The cable of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of crosswebs each having a plurality of fins of substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, a given one of the crosswebs being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of four-pair groups of conductors.

11. The cable of claim 9 wherein the cable comprises a 25-pair cable comprising four four-pair groups of conductors and three three-pair groups of conductors.

12. A cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors; and

a crossweb running longitudinally along at least a portion of a length of the twisted pairs of conductors, the crossweb having a central region approximately in a center of the cable and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the central region, a given one of the fins separating at least a first one of the twisted pairs of conductors from at least a second one of the twisted pairs of conductors;

wherein at least the given one of the fins has a substantially oblong shape and a variable thickness along a cross-sectional length thereof from the central region to an opposing end of the fin with a maximum of the variable thickness being located at the intersection of the fin with an imaginary line defined by the cross-sectional centers of the twisted pairs of conductors between which the fins resides.

13. The cable of claim 12 wherein the plurality of twisted pairs of conductors comprises four twisted pairs of conductors, and the crossweb comprises four fins, with each of the four twisted pairs of conductors being arranged between a pair of the fins.

14. The cable of claim 12 wherein the variable thickness along the cross-sectional length of the given one of the fins increases from a portion of the fin adjacent the central region of the crossweb to the maximum thickness and decreases from the maximum thickness to an end of the fin away from the central region.

15. The cable of claim 14 wherein the variable thickness is at a minimum thickness at the portion of the fin adjacent the central region of the crossweb.

16. The cable of claim 12 wherein the cable comprises a Category 6 network cable.