# US 12,763,534 B2 · Self-passivating material communication cable system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,534 B2 - Document ID: US12763534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/523,466 - Filed: 2023-11-29 - Published: 2025-05-29 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-29 - Assignees: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation - Applicants: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation - Inventors: Gary E. Mastenbrook - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763534B2 ## CPC - H01R 24/56: specially adapted to a specific shape of cables, e.g. corrugated cables, twisted pair cables, cables with two screens or hollow cables - H01R 9/0521: {Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut} - H01R 24/44: comprising impedance matching means - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract In a described example, a cable can include a first conductor, a second conductor, and an offset structure. The first conductor can be formed to include a first self-passivating metal. The second conductor can be formed to include a second self-passivating metal. The offset structure can be disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor. The offset structure can be configured to enable a medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor along a length of the cable. Further, a cable connection system can include the cable, a first connector, and a second connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cable, comprising: a first conductor formed to include a first self-passivating metal; a second conductor formed to include a second self-passivating metal; and an offset structure disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor, the offset structure is configured to enable a medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor along a length of the cable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cable of claim 1, wherein the offset structure has a helical shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cable of claim 1, wherein the first conductor is at least partially surrounded by the offset structure, wherein the offset structure is at least partially surrounded by the second conductor, and wherein the offset structure includes one or more openings configured to enable the medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cable of claim 1, wherein the offset structure has an open cell structure including a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes two or more openings which are configured to interface with two or more of another cell, the first conductor, or the second conductor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cable of claim 1, wherein the offset structure is configured to maintain a constant distance between the first conductor and the second conductor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cable of claim 1, wherein the offset structure comprises: a first portion configured to at least partially surround the first conductor; and a second portion configured to at least partially surround the second conductor, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to enable the medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor along the length of the cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cable of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion includes one or more openings configured to enable the medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor or has an open cell structure including a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes two or more openings which are configured to interface with two or more of another cell, the first conductor, or the second conductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cable of claim 6, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are helically intertwined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The cable of claim 6, further comprising a cable insulator at least partially surrounding the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cable connection system, comprising the cable of claim 1, further comprising: a first connector comprising a first housing, a first contact formed from a third self-passivating metal and having a first portion configured to be in contact with the medium, and a first contact insulator at least partially surrounding a second portion of the first contact, wherein the first contact of the first connector is electrically connected to the first conductor of the cable; and a second connector comprising a second housing, a second contact formed from a fourth self-passivating metal and having a first portion configured to be in contact with the medium, and a second contact insulator at least partially surrounding a second portion of the second contact, the first housing and the second housing are configured to be coupled to provide an electrical connection between the first contact of the first connector and the second contact of the second connector. ### Claim 11 A method of forming a cable, comprising: forming a first conductor to include a first self-passivating metal; forming a second conductor to include a second self-passivating metal; and forming an offset structure to be disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor and formed to maintain a constant distance between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein the offset structure is configured to enable a medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor along a length of the cable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the offset structure is formed to have a helical shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first conductor is at least partially surrounded by the offset structure, wherein the offset structure is at least partially surrounded by the second conductor, and wherein the offset structure is formed to include one or more openings configured to enable the medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the offset structure is formed to have an open cell structure including a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes two or more openings which are configured to interface with two or more of another cell, the first conductor, or the second conductor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: forming a first portion of the offset structure to at least partially surround the first conductor; forming a second portion of the offset structure to at least partially surround the second conductor; and forming the first conductor and the second conductor to be helically intertwined. ### Claim 16 A cable connection system, comprising: a cable, comprising: a first conductor formed to include a first self-passivating metal; a second conductor formed to include a second self-passivating metal; and an offset structure disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor, the offset structure is configured to enable a medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor along a length of the cable; a first connector comprising a first housing, a first contact formed from a third self-passivating metal and having a first portion configured to be in contact with the medium, and a first contact insulator at least partially surrounding a second portion of the first contact, wherein the first contact of the first connector is electrically connected to the first conductor of the cable; and a second connector comprising a second housing, a second contact formed from a fourth self-passivating metal and having a first portion configured to be in contact with the medium, and a second contact insulator at least partially surrounding a second portion of the second contact, the first housing and the second housing are configured to be coupled to provide an electrical connection between the first contact of the first connector and the second contact of the second connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cable connection system of claim 16, wherein each of the first contact insulator and the second contact insulator is formed to include a dielectric material having a dielectric constant which is approximately equal to a dielectric constant of the medium. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cable connection system of claim 16, wherein two or more of the first self-passivating metal, the second self-passivating metal, the third self-passivating metal, and the fourth self-passivating metal are the same self-passivating metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cable connection system of claim 16, wherein the first conductor is at least partially surrounded by the offset structure, wherein the offset structure is at least partially surrounded by the second conductor, and wherein the offset structure includes one or more openings configured to enable the medium to contact the first conductor and the second conductor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The cable connection system of claim 16, wherein the offset structure has an open cell structure including a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes two or more openings which are configured to interface with two or more of another cell, the first conductor, or the second conductor.