Method and apparatus for shield slot signal coupler
AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorRobert Gunnels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a cable coupler for coupling a co-axial trunk cable having a trunk outer conductor, to a coupler cable. A channel is formed in the trunk outer conductor; a first coupler conductor is coupled to a first side of the channel; and a second coupler conductor is coupled to a second side of the channel. Alternatively, a trough may be formed and a conductor coupled with one end of a conductor inserted in the trough. Channels or troughs may be pre-formed in a trunk cable creating coupler connection points that may be quickly adapted to form a coupler with minimal field installation requirements. The coupler coupling factor may be varied by electrically shortening the channel or trough with, for example, a conductive ring, conductive foil or a conductive collar.
Claims23
A coaxial cable having a plurality of coupler connection points, each of the coupler connection points comprising:
- a channel formed in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, between a first connection point and a second connection point;
- the channel forming an electrical discontinuity that is less than a complete break in the outer conductor;
- and the channel has one of an open ended rectangular shape, a U-shape and a V-shape.
A coaxial cable having a plurality of coupler connection points, each of the coupler connection points comprising:
- a channel formed in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, between a first connection point and a second connection point;
- the channel forming an electrical discontinuity that is less than a complete break in the outer conductor;
- the channel is arranged with an open end aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cable.
A coaxial cable having a plurality of coupler connection points, each of the coupler connection points comprising:
- a channel formed in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, between a first connection point and a second connection point;
- the channels configured to generate a coupling factor calculated to create a substantially common signal level in a tap cable connected at each of the connection points.
A coaxial cable having a plurality of coupler connection points, each of the coupler connection points comprising:
- a channel formed in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, between a first connection point and a second connection point;
- a coupling factor of each connection point is equal to or greater than a coupling factor for each successive connection point from a first end of the cable to a second end of the cable.
A signal coupler for coupling a signal from a co-axial trunk cable, to a coupler cable, comprising:
- a first trunk connector, coupling a trunk outer conductor and a trunk center conductor to a second trunk connector, and
- a coupler connector, coupling a tap outer conductor to a first side of a channel formed in the trunk outer conductor and a tap inner conductor to a second side of the channel;
- the channel forming an electrical discontinuity in the trunk outer conductor that is less than a complete break in the trunk outer conductor.
A coaxial cable signal coupler, comprising:
- an electrical discontinuity,
- a first connection point, and
- a second connection point,
- the first connection point and the second connection point located on opposing sides of the electrical discontinuity in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable;
- the electrical discontinuity forming less than a complete break in the outer conductor, and
- a tap cable center conductor is coupled with the outer conductor at the first connection point and a tap outer conductor is coupled with the outer conductor at the second connection point.
A method for coupling a first cable to a second cable, comprising the steps of:
- coupling a first conductor of the second cable and a second conductor of the second cable to opposite sides of an electrical discontinuity in an outer conductor of the first cable;
- the electrical discontinuity forming less than a complete break in the outer conductor.
A method for manufacture of a signal coupler between a coaxial cable and a tap cable, comprising the steps of:
- forming an electrical discontinuity in an outer conductor of the coaxial cable between a first tap cable connection point and a second tap cable connection point;
- the electrical discontinuity forming less than a complete break in the outer conductor;
- coupling a tap cable center conductor with the outer conductor at the first tap cable connection point;and
- coupling a tap outer conductor with the outer conductor at the second tap connection point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.