High performance data cable
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An unshielded twisted pair data communications cable comprising:
- a plurality of twisted pair conductors configured to carry data communications signals;
a non-conductive interior support consisting of at least one non-conductive material and having a surface that defines a plurality of channels in the data communications cable within which the plurality of twisted pair conductors are individually disposed; and
an outer jacket longitudinally enclosing the plurality of twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support to form the data communications cable, the outer jacket being formed of a non-conductive material;
wherein the outer jacket in combination with the non-conductive interior support maintains the plurality of twisted pair conductors within the channels defined by the surface of the non-conductive interior support; and
wherein the unshielded data cable does not include a shield between the outer jacket and the twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
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. The interior support can have a first material and a different second material. The different second material forms an outer surface of the interior support.
110 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An unshielded twisted pair data communications cable comprising:
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a plurality of twisted pair conductors configured to carry data communications signals; a non-conductive interior support consisting of at least one non-conductive material and having a surface that defines a plurality of channels in the data communications cable within which the plurality of twisted pair conductors are individually disposed; and an outer jacket longitudinally enclosing the plurality of twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support to form the data communications cable, the outer jacket being formed of a non-conductive material; wherein the outer jacket in combination with the non-conductive interior support maintains the plurality of twisted pair conductors within the channels defined by the surface of the non-conductive interior support; and wherein the unshielded data cable does not include a shield between the outer jacket and the twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A twisted pair data communications cable comprising:
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four twisted pair conductors configured to carry data communications signals; a non-conductive interior support having a surface that defines four channels, one twisted pair conductor of the four twisted pairs of conductors respectively disposed in each of four channels; and an outer jacket longitudinally enclosing the four twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support to form the data communications cable, the outer jacket consisting of one or more non-conductive materials; wherein the outer jacket in combination with the non-conductive interior support maintains the four twisted pair conductors within the four channels defined by the surface of the non-conductive interior support; wherein the non-conductive interior support comprises a longitudinally extending central portion and four projections extending radially outward from the central portion; wherein the four channels are defined by adjacent pairs of the four projections; and wherein each projection has a non-uniform width. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A twisted pair data communications cable consisting of:
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four twisted pair conductors configured to carry data communications signals; a non-conductive interior support comprising a longitudinally extending central portion and four projections extending radially outward from the central portion; and an outer jacket longitudinally enclosing the four twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support, the outer jacket being formed of a non-conductive material; wherein the four projections form four adjacent pairs of projections that define four channels in which the four twisted pair conductors are individually disposed; wherein each projection of the four projections has a base that is integral with the central portion of the non-conductive interior support, a tip, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, the first lateral side and the second lateral side extending from the base to the tip of the projection, the first and second lateral sides converging toward one another from the base to the tip of the projection; wherein the outer jacket in combination with the non-conductive interior support maintains the four twisted pair conductors within the four channels defined by the four adjacent pairs of projections; and wherein the four twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support are twisted together about a common axis to close the data communications cable. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An unshielded twisted pair data communications cable comprising:
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a plurality of twisted pair conductors configured to carry data communications signals; a non-conductive, unshielded interior support constructed and arranged within the cable to provide at least two channels within which the plurality of twisted pair conductors are disposed, at least one channel containing at least two twisted pair conductors; and an outer jacket longitudinally enclosing the plurality of twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support; wherein the non-conductive, unshielded interior support consists of at least one dielectric material; and wherein the plurality of twisted pair conductors and the non-conductive interior support are helically twisted together about a common central axis to close the data communications cable. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification