Electromagnetic interference shielding of electrical cables and connectors
View Patent ↗A shielded cable includes a cable body that is surrounded by a vacuum metallized layer. The metallized layer can be grounded with a metallized thermoform connector to prevent the release or impingement of harmful EMI radiation. Optionally, an insulating top coating can be disposed over the metallized layer over the cable body.
1. A shielded cable comprising:
a cable body comprising electrical conductors disposed within an insulating substrate;
a vacuum metallized shielding layer disposed over the insulating substrate;
a metallized thermoform connector coupled to an end portion of the cable body and electrically coupled to the vacuum metallized layer, wherein the connector can be electrically coupled to a grounded housing so as to ground the shielding layer and connector; and
wherein the connector further comprises spaced protrusions, wherein the connector is electrically coupled to the metallized layer with the spaced protrusions, and
wherein the spaced protrusions have a height and spacing between an adjacent protrusion that is no larger than one-half a wavelength of a released radiation.
2. The cable of claim 1 further comprising an insulating top coating disposed over the vacuum metallized layer to insulate the vacuum metallized layer.
3. The cable of claim 2 wherein the insulating top layer extends to a point short of the connector such that the connector is electrically coupled to the metallized layer.
4. The cable of claim 1 wherein the vacuum metallized layer has a thickness between approximately one-half micron to twelve microns.
5. The cable of claim 1 wherein the metallized thermoform is coupled to an outsize surface of a nonconductive connector.