High performance data cable

• US 7,663,061 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Original Assignee: Belden Technologies, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Gareis, Galen Mark, Vanderlaan, Paul Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/877,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 174/110.R, 174/113.C, 174/113.R, 174/120.R, 174/131.AS, 174/131.A
• US Class Current: 174/110.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/02 Cables with twisted pairs or quads
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/06 with means for reducing effects of electromagnetic or electrostatic disturbances, e.g. screens

Abstract

The present invention is for 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.

Claims

1. A communications cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs that carry communications signals;

a pair separator disposed among the plurality of twisted pairs, the pair separator comprising a central body portion and a plurality of arms radially extending from the central body portion, each pair of adjacent arms defining a channel; and

a cable covering surrounding the plurality of twisted pairs and the pair separator along the length of the cable;

wherein at least one twisted pair of the plurality of twisted pairs is respectively located in the channel defined by each pair of adjacent arms;

wherein the plurality of twisted pairs and the pair separator are helically twisted together along the length of the cable; and

wherein the cable covering does not include an electrically conductive shield.

2. The communications cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of twisted pairs consists of four twisted pairs.

3. The communications cable as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of arms consists of four arms.

4. The communications cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single twisted pair is respectively located in the channel defined by each pair of adjacent arms.

5. The communications cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair separator consists of a dielectric material.

6. The communications cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications cable is about 0.300 to 0.400 is diameter.

7. A communications cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs that carry communications signals;

a pair separator disposed among the plurality of twisted pairs, the pair separator comprising a central body portion and a plurality of arms radially extending from the central body portion, each pair of adjacent arms defining a channel; and

a jacket surrounding the plurality of twisted pairs and the pair separator along the length of the cable;

wherein at least one twisted pair of the plurality of twisted pairs is respectively located in the channel defined by each pair of adjacent arms;

wherein the jacket and the pair separator together maintain the plurality of twisted pairs in the respective channels; and

wherein the communications cable does not include an electrically conductive shield.

8. The communications cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of twisted pairs consists of four twisted pairs.

9. The communications cable as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of arms consists of four arms.

10. The communications cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein a single twisted pair is respectively located in the channel defined by each pair of adjacent arms.

11. The communications cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein pair separator consists of a dielectric material.

21. The communications cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pair separator and the plurality of twisted pairs are cabled in an S-Z configuration.

12. A data communications cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs that carry data communications signals;

a dielectric interior support having a central body portion and a plurality of arms extending from the central body portion, each pair of adjacent arms of the plurality of arms defining a channel; and

a cable covering that surrounds the plurality of twisted pairs and the dielectric interior support along the length of the data communications cable;

wherein the dielectric interior support is configured in combination with the cable covering to maintain the plurality of twisted pairs within the channels defined by the plurality of arms of the dielectric interior support; and

wherein the plurality of twisted pairs and the dielectric interior support are helically twisted together along the length of the data communications cable.

13. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of twisted pairs consists of four twisted pairs.

14. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms consists of four arms defining four channels.

15. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 14, wherein one twisted pair of the plurality of twisted pairs is respectively disposed in each one channel.

16. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cable covering does not include an electrically conductive shield.

17. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein each arm of the plurality of arms is adjacent to two other arms.

18. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cable covering does not include an electrically conductive shield.

19. A data communications cable comprising:

a plurality of twisted pairs;

an interior support comprising a longitudinally extending central portion and a plurality of arms radially extending from the central portion along the length of the central portion, each arm of the plurality of arms being adjacent to two other arms of the plurality of arms, the plurality of arms forming a plurality of pairs of adjacent arms, the plurality of pairs of adjacent arms defining a corresponding plurality of grooves; and

a jacket covering the plurality of twisted pairs and the interior support along the length of the data communications cable;

wherein one twisted pair of the plurality of twisted pairs is respectively located in each groove of the plurality of grooves; and

wherein the plurality of twisted pairs and the interior support are helically twisted together along the length of the data communications cable; and

wherein the data communications cable does not include an electrically conductive shield surrounding the plurality of twisted pairs.

20. The data communications cable as claimed in claim 19, wherein the interior support consists of a dielectric material.