Conductive elements in cable jackets and separators

• US 9,076,568 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wessels, Robert A. Jr., Hayes, Trent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLEVINS, JERRY M
• Application Number:
  US14/305,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20140291020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 385/113
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4429 Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4469 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/02 Cables with twisted pairs or quads
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/04 with pairs or quads mutually positioned to reduce cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/06 with means for reducing effects of electromagnetic or electrostatic disturbances, e.g. screens
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/125 Specially adapted cable interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/02 Disposition of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/295 using material resistant to flame
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/32 with arrangements for indicating defects, e.g. breaks or leaks
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/003 including electrical control or communication wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65912 for shielded multiconductor cable coaxial cables with one conductor surrounded by shield H01R9/05; flat shielded cables H01R12/594
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/06 Cable terminating boxes, frames or other structures

Abstract

A cable, of the twisted pair or fiber optic type, includes conductors for permitting patch cord tracing between ports. In the case of a twisted pair cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a separator. Alternatively, in the case of a twisted pair cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a jacket. In the case of a fiber optic cable, the conductors may be located amongst strength members. Alternatively, in the case of a fiber optic cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a jacket.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a separator formed of a dielectric material, dimensioned to at least separate a first twisted pair from a second twisted pair within a cable core; and

first and second electrical conductors embedded within, and completed surrounded by, said dielectric material forming said separator.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors extend continuously from proximate a first end of said separator to proximate a second end of said separator.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein said separator is a generally star-shaped or plus-shaped member.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein said separator is a generally flat or tape-shaped member.

5. A cable comprising:

a separator formed of a dielectric material, dimensioned to at least separate a first twisted pair from a second twisted pair within a cable core; and

first and second electrical conductors embedded within, or attached to an outer surface of, said separator, further comprising;

a first plug attached to a first end of said cable; and

first and second electrical contact pins physically attached to said first plug, wherein said first and second contact pins are electrically connected to said first and second electrical conductors.

6. The cable of claim 5, further comprising:

a second plug attached to a second end of said cable; and

third and fourth electrical contact pins physically attached to said second plug, wherein said third and fourth contact pins are electrically connected to said first and second electrical conductors.

7. A cable comprising:

an outer jacket;

first, second, third and fourth twisted pairs of insulated conductors surrounded by said outer jacket;

a separator including a dielectric material, dimensioned to separate said first twisted pair of insulated conductors from said second twisted pair of insulated conductors along a length of said outer jacket; and

first and second electrical conductors embedded within, or attached to an outer surface of, said separator.

8. The cable of claim 7, wherein said separator is a generally star-shaped or plus-shaped member, separate from said outer jacket.

9. The cable of claim 8,

wherein said separator is dimensioned to separate said first twisted pair of insulated conductors from said third and fourth twisted pairs of insulated conductors along a length of said outer jacket, and said separator is dimensioned to separate said second twisted pair of insulated conductors from said third and fourth twisted pairs of insulated conductors along a length of said outer jacket, and said separator is dimensioned to separate said third twisted pair of insulated conductors from said fourth twisted pair of insulated conductors along a length of said outer jacket.

10. The cable of claim 9, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are embedded within said separator.

11. The cable of claim 10, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are embedded within a center section of said separator and each have a size of about 30 to 38 AWG.

12. The cable of claim 9, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are attached to an outer surface of said separator.

13. The cable of claim 12, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are attached on wings of said separator and formed of a flexible conductive material.

14. The cable of claim 7, wherein said separator is a generally flat or tape-shaped member, separate from said outer jacket.

15. The cable of claim 14,

wherein said separator separates said first and third twisted pairs of insulated conductors from said second and fourth twisted pairs of insulated conductors along a length of said outer jacket.

16. The cable of claim 15, wherein said separator has a thickness of about 10 to 20 mils and wherein said first and second electrical conductors are embedded within said separator.

17. The cable of claim 15, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are attached to an outer surface of said separator.

18. The cable of claim 17, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are attached to a same surface of said separator.