IP Library Granted Patent US 9,390,838
Granted Patent B2
US 9,390,838 · App. 14/208,185 · Granted Jul 12, 2016

Shielded cable with UTP pair environment

Inventors: Wayne C. Hopkinson (Hickory, NC); Trent M. Hayes (Hickory, NC)
Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
H01B11/06H01B7/1875
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,390,838
App. No.
14/208,185
Granted
Jul 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable includes a spacer surrounding a cable core. The cable core includes four twisted pairs. A separator is disposed amongst the twisted pairs. The separator may be formed with three layers, wherein a middle layer is conductive and outer layers are nonconductive. A jacket surrounds the spacer, and a shielding layer may reside between the jacket and the spacer. The spacer may be formed of plural fibers or a polymer. Preferably, the spacer presents a lower dielectric constant per unit volume than the jacket. The separator may have a tape shape or a plus shape.

Claims (47)

1. A cable comprising:

a first conductor; a first insulating material surrounding said first conductor to form a first insulated conductor; a second conductor; and a second insulating material surrounding said second conductor to form a second insulated conductor, wherein said first and second insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form a first twisted pair;

a third conductor; a third insulating material surrounding said third conductor to form a third insulated conductor; a fourth conductor; and a fourth insulating material surrounding said fourth conductor to form a fourth insulated conductor, wherein said third and fourth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form a second twisted pair;

a fifth conductor; a fifth insulating material surrounding said fifth conductor to form a fifth insulated conductor; a sixth conductor; and a sixth insulating material surrounding said sixth conductor to form a sixth insulated conductor, wherein said fifth and sixth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form a third twisted pair;

a seventh conductor; a seventh insulating material surrounding said seventh conductor to form a seventh insulated conductor; an eighth conductor; and an eighth insulating material surrounding said eighth conductor to form an eighth insulated conductor, wherein said seventh and eighth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form a fourth twisted pair;

a spacer surrounding said first, second, third and fourth twisted pairs, wherein said first and third twisted pairs reside in approximately a first half of said cable, and said second and fourth twisted pairs reside in approximately a second half of said cable, and wherein a region between said first and second halves of said cable defines a middle region;

a separator disposed proximate said middle region to separate said first and third twisted pairs from said second and fourth twisted pairs, said separator including at least three layers, with a first layer being nonconductive, a second layer being conductive, and a third layer being nonconductive, wherein said second layer is located between said first and third layers;

a shielding layer surrounding said spacer; and

a jacket surrounding said shielding layer, wherein said shielding layer is disposed between said jacket and said spacer, and wherein said spacer is formed of plural loose fibers.

2. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein said spacer has a dielectric constant per unit volume which is less than a dielectric constant per same unit volume of said jacket.

3. The cable according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a drain wire directly contacting said shielding layer.

4. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein said first and third layers of said separator are formed of a polyester film and said second layer is formed of conductive foil.

5. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein said first and third layers of said separator are formed of a polymer and said second layer is formed of conductive foil.

6. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein said separator is shaped as a flat tape.

7. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein said separator is formed in cross section as a star-shaped or plus-shaped member and also separates said first and second twisted pairs from said third and fourth twisted pairs.

8. The cable according to claim 1 , wherein a first dielectric tape is interposed between said first insulated conductor and said second insulated conductor, as said first and second insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form said first twisted pair;

wherein a second dielectric tape is interposed between said third insulated conductor and said fourth insulated conductor, as said third and fourth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form said second twisted pair;

wherein a third dielectric tape is interposed between said fifth insulated conductor and said sixth insulated conductor, as said fifth and sixth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form said third twisted pair; and

wherein a fourth dielectric tape is interposed between said seventh insulated conductor and said eighth insulated conductor, as said seventh and eighth insulated conductors are twisted about each other to form said fourth twisted pair.

9. A cable comprising:

a first twisted pair;

a second twisted pair;

a third twisted pair;

a fourth twisted pair;

a spacer surrounding said first, second, third and fourth twisted pairs; and

a jacket surrounding said spacer, wherein said spacer has a dielectric constant per unit volume which is less than a dielectric constant per same unit volume of said jacket, and wherein said spacer is formed of plural loose fibers, wherein said first and third twisted pairs reside in approximately a first half of said cable, and said second and fourth twisted pairs reside in approximately a second half of said cable, and a region between said first and second halves of said cable defines a middle region, and further comprising:

a separator disposed proximate said middle region to separate said first and third twisted pairs from said second and fourth twisted pairs, wherein said separator includes at least three layers, with a first layer being nonconductive, a second layer being conductive, and a third layer being nonconductive, and wherein said second layer is located between said first and third layers.

10. The cable according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a shielding layer disposed between said jacket and said spacer.

11. The cable according to claim 9 , wherein said

separator also separates said first twisted pair from said second, third and fourth twisted pairs, and separates said second twisted pair from said third and fourth twisted pairs, and separates said third twisted pair from said fourth twisted pair.

12. A cable comprising:

a first twisted pair;

a second twisted pair;

a third twisted pair;

a fourth twisted pair;

a binder surrounding said first, second, third and fourth twisted pairs;

a spacer surrounding said binder, wherein said first and third twisted pairs reside in approximately a first half of said cable, and said second and fourth twisted pairs reside in approximately a second half of said cable, wherein a region between said first and second halves of said cable defines a middle region;

a separator disposed proximate said middle region to separate said first and third twisted pairs from said second and fourth twisted pairs, wherein said separator includes at least three lavers, with a first layer being nonconductive, a second layer being conductive, and a third layer being nonconductive, wherein said second layer is located between said first and third lavers; and

a jacket surrounding said spacer, wherein said spacer has a dielectric constant per unit volume which is less than a dielectric constant per same unit volume of said jacket, wherein said spacer is formed of plural loose fibers.

13. The cable according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a shielding layer surrounding said spacer and being disposed between said jacket and said spacer.

14. The cable according to claim 12 , wherein said first and third layers of said separator are formed of a polyester film and said second layer is formed of conductive foil.

15. The cable according to claim 12 , wherein said first and third layers of said separator are formed of a polymer and said second layer is formed of conductive foil.

16. The cable according to claim 12 , wherein said separator is shaped as a flat tape.

17. The cable according to claim 12 , wherein said separator is formed in cross section as a star-shaped or plus-shaped member and also separates said first and second twisted pairs from said third and fourth twisted pairs.

Assignments (11)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 49678/0577 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074473/0264 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 10, 2025
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC
Reel/Frame 073888/0404 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049678/0577 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST PATENTS (RELEASES RF 036201/0283) Recorded Mar 31, 2017
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ALLEN TELECOM LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042126/0434 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2015
From: ALLEN TELECOM LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036201/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: HOPKINSON, WAYNE C.; HAYES, TRENT M.
To: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
Reel/Frame 032427/0089 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61786754 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20140262425A1 · Sep 18, 2014