Cables and cable assemblies

Abstract

The present invention provides a cable (100) and a cable assembly. The cable includes: a pair of insulated cores (110) arranged to extend longitudinally parallel to each other, each insulated core (110) including a center conductor (111) and a core insulation layer (112) circumferentially wrapped around the center conductor (111); an inner insulation layer (120) wrapped around the core insulation layers (112) of the pair of insulated cores (110) to secure the pair of insulated cores (110) such that the core insulation layers (112) of the pair of insulated cores (110) abut against each other on their outer peripheries on a first side facing each other; a metal shielding layer (130) wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulation layer; an outer insulation layer (140) wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the metal shielding layer; and a single ground wire (150) disposed between the metal shielding layer and the outer insulation layer and located on a second side of the core insulation layer of one of the pair of insulated cores, radially away from the other insulated core.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to cables, and more specifically, to cables such as biaxial cables and cable assemblies including the cables, which are capable of transmitting data at high data transmission rates. Prior Technology

[0002] The structure of a conventional high-speed data transmission cable mainly consists of a pair of insulated core wires, a ground wire located between the insulated core wires, a metal shielding layer surrounding the insulated core wires and the ground wire, and an insulation layer wrapped around the metal shielding layer. However, this conventional structure can only achieve a low high-frequency test bandwidth, and the insulated core wires are prone to displacement during bending and use, resulting in poor performance stability, and the ground wire is also prone to misalignment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure is made in order to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned and other problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cable is provided, comprising: a pair of insulated core wires arranged to extend longitudinally parallel to each other, each of the insulated core wires including a central conductor and a core wire insulation layer circumferentially wrapped around the central conductor; an inner insulation layer wrapped around the core wire insulation layer of the pair of insulated core wires to fix the pair of insulated core wires such that the core wire insulation layers of the pair of insulated core wires abut against each other on their outer peripheries at a first side facing each other; a metal shielding layer wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulation layer; an outer insulation layer wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the metal shielding layer; and a single ground wire disposed between the metal shielding layer and the outer insulation layer, and located on a second side of the core wire insulation layer of one of the pair of insulated core wires that is radially away from the other insulated core wire.

[0005] In some embodiments, the conductive surface of the metal shielding layer faces the outer insulating layer.

[0006] In some embodiments, the conductive surface of the metal shielding layer is in electrical contact with the ground wire.

[0007] In some embodiments, the metal shielding layer includes a conductive layer having the conductive surface, the conductive layer being bonded to the inner insulating layer via an adhesive, or a filler being present between the conductive layer and the inner insulating layer.

[0008] In some embodiments, a filler is provided in the space between the core insulation layer of the pair of insulated core wires and the inner insulation layer.

[0009] In some embodiments, the metal shielding layer is adapted to be electrically connected to an external ground.

[0010] In some embodiments, the center of the center conductor of the pair of insulated core wires and the center of the ground wire are located in the same radial plane.

[0011] In some embodiments, the metal masking layer has a first end and a second end in a radial cross-section, the first end and the second end being located at different positions along the circumferential direction, such that the metal masking layer forms a closed loop in the circumferential direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first end and the second end of the metal shielding layer are respectively located on opposite radial sides of the inner insulating layer.

[0013] In some embodiments, the metal masking layer has overlapping portions between the first end and the second end.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cable is a cable suitable for data transmission at rates of 20Gbps to 40Gbps.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a cable assembly is provided, comprising: at least two cables, each cable being a cable described in any embodiment of the present invention; a first shielding layer covering the exterior of the at least two cables; a second shielding layer covering the exterior of the first shielding layer; and an outer sheath disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second shielding layer.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cable assembly further includes a buffer layer disposed between the at least two cables and the first shielding layer.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cable assembly further includes filler that at least partially fills the space between the cables.

[0018] In some embodiments, the number of the at least two cables in the cable assembly is 2, 4, 8 or more. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0019] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic radial cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a cable according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021] Figures 2A to 2C are schematic radial cross-sectional views illustrating the structure of a cable assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. The following description of various embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to illustrate the overall concept of the invention and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0023] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth for ease of explanation to provide a full understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.

[0024] As shown in FIG1, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a cable 100, which is, for example, a biaxial or differential cable, for stable data transmission at a high transmission rate, for example, a speed higher than 10Gbps, such as a speed in the range of 20Gbps to 40Gbps.

[0025] As shown in the figure, the cable 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of insulated core wires 110 for signal or data transmission. The pair of insulated core wires 110 are arranged to extend longitudinally and parallel to each other. Each insulated core wire 110 includes a center conductor 111 and a core wire insulation layer 112 circumferentially wrapped around the center conductor 111. For example, the core wire insulation layer 112 may be in the form of an insulating tape, wound longitudinally around the center conductor 111. The center conductor may be made of a high-conductivity material such as copper conductor or silver-plated wire, and the core wire insulation layer may be made of an insulating polymer material such as polyolefin.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the cable 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes an inner insulation layer 120, a metal shielding layer 130, and an outer insulation layer 140 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The inner insulation layer 120 wraps around the outer periphery of the core wire insulation layer 112 of a pair of insulated core wires 110 to fix the pair of insulated core wires 110, such that the outer periphery of the core wire insulation layers 112 of the pair of insulated core wires 110 abuts against each other on their first facing sides or inner sides. Compared with conventional cables, by fixing the insulated core wires by setting an additional inner insulation layer between the metal shielding layer and the insulated core wires, it can be ensured that the insulated core wires will not shift during use, such as during bending, thereby improving the stability of cable performance.

[0027] For example, the inner insulation layer 120 may be in the form of an insulating tape, wound longitudinally around the outside of the core insulation layer 112 of a pair of insulated core wires 110. Exemplarily, the inner insulation layer may be bonded to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the core insulation layer of the pair of insulated core wires, for example, by heat fusion. In other examples, the inner insulation layer may be bonded to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the core insulation layer of the pair of insulated core wires, for example, by an adhesive. The inner insulation layer is made of an insulating polymer material. For example, the inner insulation layer may be made of an insulating material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0028] In some examples, filler may be provided in the space between the core insulation layer 112 and the inner insulation layer 120 of a pair of insulated cores 110, thereby providing the cable with toughness when bent and further preventing displacement of the insulated cores during use.

[0029] A metal shielding layer 130 wraps around the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulation layer 120 to provide electromagnetic shielding for the insulated core wires. For example, the metal shielding layer 130 may be in the form of a shielding strip, wound longitudinally around the outside of the inner insulation layer 120. The presence of the inner insulation layer prevents the metal shielding layer from entering the gaps between the insulated core wires. For example, the metal shielding layer may be bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulation layer by heat fusion or by adhesive. Exemplarily, the metal shielding layer may include a conductive layer bonded to the inner insulation layer via adhesive, or a filler may be present between the conductive layer and the inner insulation layer to further improve cable stability. As an example, the conductive layer of the metal shielding layer is made of aluminum or copper, for example, an aluminum / polypropylene strip. However, it should be noted that those skilled in the art will understand that in other embodiments of the invention, the conductive layer of the metal shielding layer may also be made of other conductive materials.

[0030] An outer insulation layer 140 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the metal shield layer 130. The outer insulation layer may also be in the form of an insulating tape, wound longitudinally around the outside of the metal shield layer. The outer insulation layer may be bonded to the outer periphery of the metal shield layer by heat fusion or by adhesive. The outer insulation layer may be made of insulating materials such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In some examples, the outer insulation layer may be formed by stacking multiple sub-insulation layers to enhance the cable's resilience during bending.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the cable 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a single ground wire 150, which is disposed between the metal shielding layer 130 and the outer insulation layer 140, and is located on a second side or outside of the core wire insulation layer 112 of one of the pair of insulated core wires in the radial direction away from the other insulated core wire. The second side is opposite to the first side in the radial direction. As shown in the figure, the center of the center conductor 111 of the pair of insulated core wires 110 and the center of the ground wire 150 may be located in the same radial plane, and the center of the ground wire 150 is located radially outside the center of the center conductor 111 of the pair of insulated core wires 110.

[0032] For example, the ground wire can be securely pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the metal shielding layer by the outer insulation layer. Compared with conventional technology where the ground wire is located between a pair of insulated core wires and is prone to misalignment or displacement, this invention places the ground wire on the side of one insulated core wire away from the other, which can firmly hold the ground wire and prevent it from shifting during use. The use of a single ground wire can reduce costs, reduce the outer contour of the cable, and facilitate cable layout and positioning.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal shielding layer may be adapted to be electrically connected to an external ground to also function as a ground wire. For example, the conductive surface of the metal shielding layer may face outwards, i.e., towards the external insulating layer, which facilitates the electrical connection between the metal shielding layer and the external ground. In some examples, the conductive surface of the metal shielding layer 130 or its conductive layer may be in electrical contact with the ground wire 150, thereby improving the electromagnetic shielding effect.

[0034] As shown in the figure, the metal shielding layer 130 has a first end 131 and a second end 132 in its radial cross-section. The first end 131 and the second end 132 are located at different positions in the circumferential direction, so that the metal shielding layer 130 forms a closed loop in the circumferential direction, thereby further improving the electromagnetic shielding effect. Furthermore, there is no seam between the first end 131 and the second end 132, which avoids the problem of the seam widening during cable bending and use, preventing the formation of a complete shielding ring. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 1, the first end 131 and the second end 132 of the metal shielding layer 130 are respectively positioned radially opposite to the outer side of the inner insulating layer 120. As an example, the metal shielding layer 130 has an overlapping portion 133 between the first end 131 and the second end 132, thereby further improving the electromagnetic shielding effect.

[0035] According to embodiments of the present invention, a cable assembly 10 is also provided, as shown in Figures 2A to 2C, comprising at least two cables 100 described herein, which may be arranged within an outer sheath 13. For example, the cables may be twisted or wound together in the longitudinal direction, and the outer sheath may be in the form of a tubular material, such as a metal tube or a plastic tube, to provide a certain level of protection. As shown, the cable assembly 10 further includes a first shielding layer 11 and / or a second shielding layer 12 disposed within the outer sheath 13. The first shielding layer 11 wraps or wraps around the exterior of all cables 100, and the second shielding layer 12 wraps or wraps around the exterior of the first shielding layer 11. The first shielding layer 11 and / or the second shielding layer 12 may provide improved electromagnetic shielding for the cables 100 and may take the form of a layer / tape of metal or other conductive material.

[0036] In some examples, as shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the cable assembly 10 may also include a buffer layer 14 disposed between all cables 100 and the first shielding layer 11 to provide external force buffering or vibration damping for the cables 100.

[0037] In some examples, as shown in Figures 2B and 2C, the cable assembly 10 may also include filler 15, which may at least partially fill the space between the cables and / or the space between the cables and the buffer layer or shielding layer.

[0038] The number of cables in a cable assembly can be two or more. Figure 2A shows a cable assembly with two cables, Figure 2B shows a cable assembly with four cables, and Figure 2C shows a cable assembly with eight cables, thereby providing more signal, data, or power transmission functions, and there is no signal interference between the individual cables.

[0039] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the terms "comprising," "including," and "having" as used herein do not exclude other elements or steps. Additionally, any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0040] 100: Cable 110: A pair of insulated core wires 111: Center conductor 112: Core wire insulation layer 120: Internal insulation layer 130: Metallic masking layer 131: First end 132: Second end 133: Overlapping parts 140: External insulation layer 150: Single ground wire 10: Cable Assembly 11: First mask layer 12: Second masking layer 13: Outer sheath 14: Buffer layer 15: Packing

Claims

1. A cable (100), comprising: A pair of insulated cores (110) arranged to extend longitudinally parallel to each other, each of the insulated cores (110) including a central conductor (111) and a core insulation layer (112) circumferentially wrapped around the central conductor (111); an inner insulation layer (120) wrapped around the core insulation layers (112) of the pair of insulated cores (110) to fix the pair of insulated cores (110) such that the core insulation layers (112) of the pair of insulated cores (110) abut against each other on the outer periphery of their first facing sides; A metal shielding layer (130) is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulating layer (120) in the longitudinal direction, and the metal shielding layer (130) has a first end (131) and a second end (132) in the radial cross section, the first end (131) and the second end (132) being respectively positioned on opposite radial sides of the inner insulating layer (120); an outer insulating layer (140) is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the metal shielding layer (130); and a single ground wire (150) is disposed between the metal shielding layer (130) and the outer insulating layer (140), and is located on the second side of the core wire insulation layer (112) of one of the pair of insulated core wires (110) that is radially away from the other insulated core wire.

2. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, The conductive surface of the metal shielding layer (130) faces the outer insulating layer (140).

3. The cable as described in claim 2, wherein, The conductive surface of the metal shielding layer (130) is in electrical contact with the ground wire (150).

4. The cable as described in claim 2, wherein, The metal shielding layer (130) includes a conductive layer having the conductive surface, which is bonded to the inner insulating layer (120) via an adhesive, or there is a filler between the conductive layer and the inner insulating layer (120).

5. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, A filler is provided in the space between the core insulation layer (112) and the inner insulation layer (120) of the pair of insulated core wires (110).

6. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, The metal shielding layer (130) is adapted to be connected to an external grounding power supply.

7. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, The center of the center conductor (111) of the pair of insulated core wires (110) and the center of the ground wire are located in the same radial plane.

8. The cable as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The first end (131) and the second end (132) are located at different positions along the circumferential direction, so that the metal mask layer (130) forms a closed loop in the circumferential direction.

9. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, The metal mask layer (130) has overlapping portions (133) between the first end (131) and the second end (132).

10. The cable as described in claim 1, wherein, This cable is suitable for data transmission at rates from 20Gbps to 40Gbps.

11. A cable assembly (10), comprising: At least two cables, each cable being a cable (100) as described in any one of claims 1-10; a first shielding layer (11) covering the outside of the at least two cables; and a second shielding layer (12) covering the outside of the first shielding layer. And an outer sheath (13), which is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the second shielding layer.

12. The cable assembly as claimed in claim 11 further includes a buffer layer (14) disposed between the at least two cables and the first shielding layer.

13. The cable assembly as claimed in claim 11 further includes filler (15) that at least partially fills the space between the cables.

14. The cable assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11-13, wherein the number of said at least two cables is 2, 4, 8 or more.

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