SHIELDING SEAM LOCATION IN A COAXIAL CABLE
Shielding seam location in a coaxial cable. In one example embodiment, a coaxial cable includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, an inner conductive tape surrounding the dielectric, a conductive braid surrounding the inner conductive tape, an outer conductive tape surrounding the conductive braid, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductive tape. The outer conductive tape includes an aluminum layer, a seam in which two edges of the aluminum layer overlap one another, and means for visibly manifesting the location of the seam.
1 . A coaxial cable comprising:
a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;
an inner conductive tape surrounding the dielectric;
a conductive braid surrounding the inner conductive tape;
an outer conductive tape surrounding the conductive braid, the outer conductive tape comprising:
an aluminum layer;
a seam in which two edges of the aluminum layer overlap one another; and
means for visibly manifesting the location of the seam; and
a jacket surrounding the outer conductive tape.
2 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for visibly manifesting the location of the seam comprises a chemical or polymer which changes the color of the aluminum layer proximate to the seam.
3 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for visibly manifesting the location of the seam comprises a chemical or polymer which changes the texture of the aluminum layer proximate to the seam.
4 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outer conductive tape further comprises a polymer layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and opposite the means for visibly manifesting the location of the seam.
5 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 4 , wherein the outer conductive tape further comprises a second aluminum layer adjacent to the polymer layer and opposite the aluminum layer.
6 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a bonding agent bonding the dielectric to the center conductor.
7 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner conductive tape comprises a second polymer layer adjacent to a second aluminum layer.
8 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 7 , wherein the inner conductive tape further comprises a third aluminum layer adjacent to the second polymer layer and opposite the second aluminum layer.
9 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 8 , wherein the inner conductive tape further comprises a bonding agent adjacent to either the second aluminum layer or the third aluminum layer.
10 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outer conductive tape further comprises means for tactily manifesting the location of the seam.
11 . A coaxial cable comprising:
a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;
an inner conductive tape surrounding the dielectric;
a conductive braid surrounding the inner conductive tape;
an outer conductive tape surrounding the conductive braid, the outer conductive tape comprising:
a polymer layer;
an aluminum layer adjacent to the polymer layer;
a seam in which two edges of the aluminum and polymer layers overlap one another, at least a portion of the seam having a visibly perceptible characteristic that contrasts with the surrounding surface of the outer conductive tape; and
a jacket surrounding the outer conductive tape.
12 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the visibly perceptible characteristic comprises a color of the aluminum layer proximate to the seam.
13 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the visibly perceptible characteristic comprises a texture of the aluminum layer proximate to the seam.
14 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the outer conductive tape further comprises a polymer layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and opposite the visibly perceptible characteristic.
15 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the outer conductive tape further comprises a second aluminum layer adjacent to the polymer layer and opposite the aluminum layer.
16 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a bonding agent bonding the dielectric to the center conductor.
17 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the inner conductive tape comprises a second polymer layer adjacent to a second aluminum layer.
18 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 17 , wherein the inner conductive tape further comprises a third aluminum layer adjacent to the second polymer layer and opposite the second aluminum layer.
19 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 18 , wherein the inner conductive tape further comprises a bonding agent adjacent to either the second aluminum layer or the third aluminum layer.
20 . The coaxial cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the seam further has a tactily perceptible characteristic that contrasts with the tactile characteristics of the surrounding surface of the outer conductive tape.