Electromagnetic interference shielding of electrical cables and connectors

• US 7,414,197 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deep Coat, LLC
• Original Assignee: WaveZero, Inc.
• Inventors: Ortiz, Jesus Al, Arnold, Rocky R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/400,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/110.R, 174/110.SC, 174/74.R, 174/77.R, 174/78, 174/84.R, 174/88.R
• US Class Current: 174/74.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49171 with encapsulating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49176 with molding of electrically insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49222 forming array of contacts or terminals

Abstract

A shielded cable includes a cable body that is surrounded by a vacuum metallized layer. The metallized layer can be grounded with a metallized thermoform connector. Optionally, an insulating top coating can be disposed over the metallized layer over the cable body.

Claims

1. A shielded cable comprising:

a cable body comprising electrical conductors disposed within an insulating substrate;

a vacuum metallized shielding layer disposed over the insulating substrate, and

a metallized thermoform connector coupled to an end portion of the cable body and electrically coupled to the vacuum metallized layer, wherein the connector can be electrically coupled to a grounded housing so as to ground the shielding layer and connector.

2. The cable of claim 1 further comprising an insulating top coating disposed over the vacuum metallized layer to insulate the vacuum metallized layer.

3. The cable of claim 2 wherein the insulating top layer extends to a point short of the connector such that the connector is electrically coupled to the metallized layer.

4. The cable of claim 1 wherein the vacuum metallized layer has a thickness between approximately one-half micron to twelve microns.

5. The cable of claim 1 wherein the metallized thermoform is coupled to an outsize surface of a nonconductive connector.

6. The cable of claim 1 wherein the connector further comprises spaced protrusions, wherein the connector is electrically coupled to the metallized layer with the spaced protrusions.