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US 6,664,466 B2Granted
Multiple shielded cable
AssigneeSpirent Communications of Rockville, Inc.
InventorGeorge R. Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical cable includes one or more conductors with one or more shields encircling the one or more conductors. Each of the shields includes a conductive layer with a nonconductive layer electrically separating the conductive layer from one another. Connection mechanisms to the conductive layers can be through the use of a plurality of drainwires, which are each in substantially continuous contact with one conductive layer of at least one shiel. Each of the connection mechanisms is eletrically separated from other conductive layer of other shields and from the other connection mechanisms. Each connection mechanism and conductive layer in contact therewith can constitute an electrode that is electrically connectable at an end of the cable.
Claims31
An electrical cable, comprising:
- at least one conductor;
- at least one shield encircling said at least one conductor, said at least one shield extending along a length of the electrical cable, each shield of said at least one shield comprising a first conductive layer separated electrically from at least a second conductive layer by at least one nonconductive layer,
- wherein each shield of said at least one shield is comprised of a first tape and a second tape, each of said first tape and said second tape comprising a nonconductive layer and a conductive layer, said at least one shield being arranged with said nonconductive layer of said first tape facing said conductive layer of said second tape;
- a first connection mechanism electrically connected to said first conductive layer;
- and
- at least a second connection mechanism electrically connected to said at least second conductive layer, each of said first and at least second connection mechanisms being in substantially continuous electrical contact with said first and at least second conductive layers of said at least one shield, respectively, and being electrically separated from other conductive layers of other shields and from other connection mechanisms, each of said first and at least second connection mechanisms and each of said first and at least second conductive layers in electrical contact therewith, respectively, comprising one electrode of a plurality of electrodes electrically connectable at an end of said electrical cable,
- wherein a first fold extends along a first overhang at a first end edge of said first tape, a second fold extends along a second overhang at a second end edge of said second tape, a third fold formed from said first tape first end edge overhangs extends at a position independent of said first end edge of said first tape, and a fourth fold formed from said second end edge overhang of said second tape extends at a position proximate said second end edge of said second tapes,
- wherein an outwardly facing conductive portion of said first fold at said first end edge of said first tape is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of an inwardly-facing conductive portion of said conductive layer of said first tape at said first fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in said conductive layer proximate another end edge of said first tapes,
- wherein an outwardly facing conductive portion of said second fold at said second end edge of said second tape is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of an inwardly-facing conductive portion of said conductive layer of said second tape at said second fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in said conductive layer proximate another edge of said second tapes,
- wherein said third fold at said first end edge of said first tape outwardly exposes an insulating surface of said first tape, thus electrically separating a conductive surface of said first tape from electrical contact with other conductive layers of other shields,
- wherein said fourth fold at said second end edge of said second tape outwardly exposes an insulating surface of said second tape, thus electrically separating a conductive surface of said second tape from electrical contact with said other conductive layers of said other shields, and
- wherein the first fold is separated from the third fold by a first predetermined distance, wherein the second fold is separated from the fourth fold by a second predetermined distance, and the first and third folds are separated from the second and fourth folds by a third predetermined distance.
9 more elements
An electrical cable, comprising:
- at least one conductor;
- at least one shield encircling the at least one conductor, the at least one shield extending along a length of the electrical cable, each of the at least one shield comprising:
- a first non-conductive layer;
- a first conductive layer formed on the first non-conductive layer to form a first layer of each of the at least one shield;
- at least a second non-conductive layer;
- at least a second conductive layer formed on the at least second non-conductive layer to form a second layer of each of the at least one shield,
- wherein the first conductive layer is electrically separated from the at least second conductive layer by the at least second non-conductive layer, and wherein the first conductive layer and the at least second conductive layer face inwardly toward the at least one conductor;
- a first fold extending along a first end edge of the first layer;
- a second fold extending along a second end edge of the first layer;
- a third fold extending along a first end edge of the at least second layer;
- and
- a fourth fold extending along a second end edge of the at least second layer,
- wherein an outwardly-facing portion of the first fold is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of the inwardly-facing first conductive layer at the first fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in the first conductive layer,
- wherein an inwardly-facing portion of the second fold is in substantially continuous contact with a portion of an outwardly-facing first non-conductive layer at the second fold,
- wherein an outwardly-facing portion of the third fold is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of the inwardly-facing at least second conductive layer at the third fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in the at least second conductive layer,
- wherein an inwardly-facing portion of the fourth fold is in substantially continuous contact with a portion of an outwardly-facing at least second non-conductive layer at the fourth fold,
- wherein the first fold is separated from the second fold by a first predetermined distance,
- wherein the third fold is separated from the fourth fold by a second predetermined distance, and
- wherein the first and second folds are separated from the third and fourth folds by a third predetermined distance;
- a first connection mechanism electrically connected to the first conductive layer;
- and
- at least a second connection mechanism electrically connected to the at least second conductive layer,
- wherein the first connection mechanism and the at least second connection mechanism are in substantially continuous electrical contact with the first conductive layer and the at least second conductive layer, respectively, and electrically separated from each other and other connection mechanisms, and
- wherein the first connection mechanism and the first conductive layer in electrical contact therewith comprise a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes and the at least second connection mechanism and the at least second conductive layer in electrical contact therewith comprise a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes,
- wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is electrically connectable at an end of the electrical cable.
22 more elements
An electrical cable, comprising:
- a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of conductors is organized into a plurality of subsets of conductors;
- a plurality of shields, wherein each of the plurality of shields encircles a subset of the plurality of subsets of conductors, each of the plurality of shields extending along a length of the electrical cable, wherein each of the plurality of shields comprises:
- a first non-conductive layer;
- a first conductive layer formed on the first non-conductive layer to form a first layer of each of the plurality of shields;
- at least a second non-conductive layer;
- at least a second conductive layer formed on the at least second non-conductive layer to form a second layer of each of the plurality of shields,
- wherein the first conductive layer is electrically separated from the at least second conductive layer by the at least second non-conductive layer, and
- wherein the first conductive layer and the at least second conductive layer face inwardly toward the subset of the plurality of conductors;
- a first fold extending along a first end edge of the first layer;
- a second fold extending along a second end edge of the first layer;
- a third fold extending along a first end edge of the at least second layer;
- and
- a fourth fold extending along a second end edge of the at least second layer,
- wherein an outwardly-facing portion of the first fold is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of the inwardly-facing first conductive layer at the first fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in the first conductive layer,
- wherein an inwardly-facing portion of the second fold is in substantially continuous contact with a portion of an outwardly-facing first non-conductive layer at the second fold,
- wherein an outwardly-facing portion of the third fold is in substantially continuous electrical contact with a portion of the inwardly-facing at least second conductive layer at the third fold, thereby facilitating circumferential electrical continuity in the at least second conductive layer,
- wherein an inwardly-facing portion of the fourth fold is in substantially continuous contact with a portion of an outwardly-facing at least second non-conductive layer at the fourth fold,
- wherein the first fold is separated from the second fold by a first predetermined distance,
- wherein the third fold is separated from the fourth fold by a second predetermined distance, and
- wherein the first and second folds are separated from the third and fourth folds by a third predetermined distance;
- wherein each of the plurality of subsets of conductors comprises:
- a first connection mechanism electrically connected to the first conductive layer;
- and
- at least a second connection mechanism electrically to the at least second conductive layer,
- wherein the first connection mechanism and the at least second connection mechanism are in substantially continuous electrical contact with the first conductive layer and the at least second conductive layer, respectively, and electrically separated from each other and other connection mechanisms,
- wherein the first connection mechanism and the first conductive layer in electrical contact therewith comprise a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes and the at least second connection mechanism and the at least second conductive layer in electrical contact therewith comprise a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, and
- wherein each of the electrodes from each of the plurality of subsets of conductors is electrically connectable at an end of the electrical cable.
24 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.