Triboelectric, ranging, or dual use security sensor cable and method of manufacturing same

An integrated flexible sensor cable for use in an intrusion detection system having a processor, the flexible sensor cable having an input and an output, both the input and the output of the sensor cable for coupling to the processor, the integrated sensor cable comprising:

• a first electrically conductive cable member;
• a second electrically conductive cable member;
• an air separator and an plastic electrically insulating member both being disposed between the first conductive cable member and the second conductive cable member;
• the first electrically conductive cable member having one surface in contact with the air separator and being freely movable within the air separator relative to the plastic electrically insulating member, such that the flexible sensor cable is capable of providing an impedance change in response to a disturbance;
• and
• the plastic electrically insulating member being made of a material selected based on triboelectric series properties and being processed such that the cable is capable of producing a terminal voltage with an acceptable signal to noise in response to the disturbance, the acceptable signal to noise ratio being at least an order of magnitude larger than the noise averaged over a period of time.

A method of manufacturing an integrated flexible sensor cable for use with an intrusion detection system, comprising steps of:

• a) selecting materials for construction of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a first electrically conductive cable member, a second electrically conductive cable member, and an air separator, a threaded member, and an plastic electrically insulating member, the air separator, the threaded member, and the plastic electrically insulating member being disposed between the first electrically conductive cable member and the second electrically conductive cable member, and the threaded member being wound around the first electrically conductive cable member to prevent movement of the first electrically conductive cable member within the air separator, relative to the insulating member;
• and
• b) altering the construction to omit the threaded member from the manufacturing method to form a threadless coaxial cable, the first electrically conductive cable member having one surface in contact with the air separator and being freely movable within the air separator relative to the plastic electrically insulating member, and the plastic electrically insulating member being made of a material having suitable triboelectric series properties and being processed such that the threadless coaxial cable is capable of producing a terminal voltage with acceptable signal to noise in response to a disturbance.

A method of manufacturing an integrated flexible sensor cable for use with an intrusion detection system, comprising steps of:

• a) selecting materials for construction of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a first electrically conductive cable member, a second electrically conductive cable member, and an air separator, a threaded member, and an plastic electrically insulating member, the air separator, the threaded member, and the plastic electrically insulating member being disposed between the first electrically conductive cable member and the second electrically conductive cable member, and the threaded member being wound around the first electrically conductive cable member to prevent movement of the first electrically conductive cable member within the air separator, relative to the insulating member;
• and
• b) altering the construction to omit the threaded member from the manufacturing method to form a threadless coaxial cable, the first electrically conductive cable member having one surface in contact with the air separator and being freely movable within the air separator relative to the plastic electrically insulating member, such that the flexible sensor cable is capable of providing an impedance change in response to a disturbance, and the plastic electrically insulating member being made of a material having suitable triboelectric series properties and being processed such that the de-threaded coaxial cable is capable of producing a terminal voltage with an acceptable signal to noise in response to the disturbance, the acceptable signal to noise ratio being at least an order of magnitude larger than the noise averaged over a period of time.