A flexible and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable

Abstract

The application provides a soft and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable, and relates to the field of semiconductor manufacturing. The soft and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable comprises a cable core, the cable core comprises a coaxial output unit and a plurality of differential transmission units, and the cable core is formed by bundling the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission units in a twisted manner; an enhancement layer is wrapped outside the cable core, the enhancement layer is composed of braided material with electric conduction and mechanical enhancement; and a sheath is wrapped outside the enhancement layer, the sheath is made of flexible rubber material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of semiconductor manufacturing, and in particular to a flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable. Background Technology

[0002] High-frequency signal transmission cables are key interconnect components in modern electronic systems such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, high-speed computing servers, and high-end testing instruments. With the increasing demands for system integration and transmission rates, integrating multiple cables carrying different functions into a single cable body to form composite cables has become an important technological direction for achieving compact wiring within equipment and improving the overall reliability of signal transmission.

[0003] To meet the requirements of equipment for simultaneous transmission of multiple signals and compact cabling, existing technologies typically employ parallel placement of independent high-frequency coaxial cables and high-speed differential twisted-pair cables, bundled together using external binding or co-extruded outer sheaths. In this structure, the coaxial units are responsible for transmitting high-frequency signals such as radio frequency (RF) signals, while the differential units are responsible for transmitting high-speed digital signals. The design primarily focuses on the electrical performance of each unit and their electromagnetic compatibility, aiming to achieve coexistence and basic isolation of signals at the physical level.

[0004] However, existing coaxial differential composite cables still have the following shortcomings. Due to the inherent differences in material hardness, bending modulus, and other mechanical properties between coaxial and differential units, composite cables constructed by simple bundling suffer from severe uneven internal stress distribution when subjected to bending, torsion, or vibration. This can easily lead to friction, compression, or relative displacement between units. Under long-term dynamic use, this internal mechanical interference gradually damages the precision structure of each unit, ultimately manifesting as fluctuations in signal transmission performance, increased attenuation, and even failure. This fails to meet the stringent requirements of high-end applications for a balance between mechanical reliability and signal stability in highly integrated cables under long-term dynamic conditions. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides a flexible and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable, which solves the problem of strong mechanical interference between the coaxial unit and the differential unit when the cable is bent, twisted or vibrated.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this application is as follows: In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable, which includes, The cable core includes a coaxial output unit and several differential transmission units, and the cable core is formed by bundling the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission units together by twisting. A reinforcing layer, which covers the outer periphery of the cable core, is made of a braided material that provides both electrical conductivity and mechanical reinforcement; A sheath, which covers the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer, is made of a flexible rubber material.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the coaxial output unit and several differential transmission units are bundled together to form the cable core using a stranding method. This structure integrates different transmission units into a unified mechanical whole, fundamentally changing the defects of uneven stress distribution and relative slippage in traditional parallel structures. The stranded structure allows the internal stress to be evenly distributed to each unit along the helical path when the cable is bent, significantly reducing the risk of structural damage caused by local stress concentration. The reinforcing layer covering the outer periphery of the cable core is made of braided material with both conductive and mechanical reinforcement functions, integrating electromagnetic shielding and mechanical load-bearing functions. The outermost flexible rubber sheath provides soft, wear-resistant, and elastic external protection for the internal precision structure, adapting to complex installation and usage environments, and achieving the effect of improving the overall mechanical synergy, bending life, and signal transmission stability in dynamic environments.

[0008] In one optional implementation, the coaxial output unit comprises, from the inside out, a coaxial inner conductor, a coaxial insulating layer, a coaxial wrapping layer, a coaxial braided outer conductor, and a coaxial insulating wrapping layer; the differential transmission unit comprises, from the inside out, a differential inner conductor, a differential insulating layer, a differential braided layer, and a differential inner sheath layer.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the coaxial inner conductor, coaxial insulation layer, coaxial wrapping layer, coaxial braided outer conductor, and coaxial insulating wrapping layer, arranged sequentially, form a stable transmission channel. The inner insulation layer and wrapping layer ensure low-loss signal transmission and inner conductor positioning, while the outer braided outer conductor and insulating wrapping layer together provide excellent electromagnetic shielding, mechanical protection, and structural fixation. The arrangement of the differential inner conductor, differential insulation layer, differential braided layer, and differential inner sheath layer ensures impedance consistency of the differential signal pairs, anti-interference capability, and structural integrity of the unit itself, achieving the effect of ensuring high performance and high reliability of each functional unit in the composite cable.

[0010] In one alternative implementation, both the coaxial inner conductor and the differential inner conductor are formed by stranding several metal wires.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the conductor made of multiple thin metal wires twisted together has higher flexibility. When the cable is subjected to bending deformation, the metal wires inside the twisted conductor can undergo slight relative slippage, thereby converting the macroscopic bending stress into microscopic displacement between the metal wires and dissipating it. This greatly reduces the risk of metal fatigue and subsequent breakage caused by repeated bending of the conductor, and realizes the effect of enabling the current path itself to adapt to deformation and extend its service life.

[0012] In one alternative implementation, both the coaxial inner conductor and the differential inner conductor are silver-plated.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the silver plating layer can effectively reduce the contact resistance of the conductor surface and the skin effect resistance at high frequencies, thereby reducing signal loss during transmission and achieving the effect of improving transmission efficiency.

[0014] In one alternative implementation, the coaxial insulating layer has a porous structure.

[0015] By employing the above technical solution, this porous structure contains a large number of tiny air gaps. Since the dielectric constant of air is much lower than that of solid insulating materials, the overall equivalent dielectric constant of this composite dielectric structure is reduced, achieving the effects of reduced signal loss, increased transmission rate, and better bending adaptability.

[0016] In one alternative implementation, the coaxial cladding and coaxial braided outer conductor are formed by pressing with a metal pressure bar to enhance vibration resistance and bending resistance.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, a metal pressure bar is used to press and shape the coaxial cladding and coaxial braided outer conductor. The pressing process causes the metal cladding and braided outer conductor to plastically deform under pressure, closely adhering to and partially embedding into the surface of the underlying insulation layer, thereby forming a strong mechanical interlock between the two, which achieves the effect of improving the coaxial unit's resistance to periodic vibration and repeated bending stress.

[0018] In one alternative implementation, the gap between the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission unit in the cable core is filled with tensile fibers.

[0019] By employing the above technical solution, the tensile fibers possess an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent fatigue resistance. After filling, these fibers are evenly distributed within the cable core, providing reinforcement. When the cable is subjected to axial tension, the tensile fibers initially bear the majority of the tensile force, effectively protecting the delicate internal conductive conductors from direct tensile stress and reducing the possibility of conductor elongation or even breakage. When the cable bends, the filler fibers provide additional radial support, buffering the mutual compression between internal transmission units and distributing bending stress more evenly, reducing damage to the insulation layer or conductor caused by localized stress concentration. This significantly improves the overall tensile strength, bending durability, and structural stability of the cable.

[0020] In one alternative implementation, a main wrapping layer is further provided between the cable core and the reinforcing layer, and the main wrapping layer is made of insulating material.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the main wrapping layer tightly covers the outer periphery of the formed cable core, further consolidating and shaping the stranded cable core structure, reducing its looseness, and improving the roundness of the cable core cross-section. As an insulation layer, it achieves electrical isolation between all conductive units inside the cable core and the external reinforcing layer, thus reducing looseness and ensuring the effect of electrical isolation.

[0022] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. Through the synergistic design of the stranded and bundled cable core structure, the braided layer which has both conductive and reinforcing functions, and the flexible outer sheath, this solution significantly improves the overall mechanical coordination and structural stability of the cable, enabling it to withstand frequent bending and complex dynamic stress, and extending its service life under harsh working conditions. 2. By employing silver-plated stranded conductors, porous insulation layers, pressed outer conductors, and high-performance fillers and wrapping tapes, the structure is made lightweight and flexible while ensuring low loss, high shielding, and stable transmission of high-frequency and differential signals, thus solving the problem of balancing electrical performance and mechanical reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Coaxial inner conductor; 2. Coaxial insulation layer; 3. Coaxial wrapping layer; 4. Coaxial braided outer conductor; 5. Coaxial insulation wrapping layer; 6. Differential inner conductor; 7. Differential insulation layer; 8. Differential braided layer; 9. Differential inner sheath layer; 10. Tensile fiber; 11. Overall wrapping layer; 12. Reinforcing layer; 13. Sheath. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to all the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. "Fixed connection" refers to a connection where the relative positional relationship remains unchanged after the connection. It should be understood that when component A is fixedly connected to component C via component B, changes in the relative positional relationship due to deformation of components A, B, and C are permissible. The integrated structure obtained by the two components through a one-piece molding process means that during the formation of one of the two components, that component is connected to the other component, without requiring further processing (such as bonding, welding, snap-fit ​​connections, or screw connections) to connect the two components.

[0027] The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of this application, such as "upper", "lower", "side", etc., are only for reference to the direction of the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0028] The term "multiple" refers to at least two. The term "more than" includes the stated number. The term "and / or" describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0029] This application discloses a flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 A flexible and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable includes a cable core, which contains a coaxial output unit and two differential transmission units.

[0031] The coaxial output unit consists of, from the inside out, a coaxial inner conductor 1, a coaxial insulation layer 2, a coaxial wrapping layer 3, a coaxial braided outer conductor 4, and a coaxial insulation wrapping layer 5. The coaxial inner conductor 1 is made of multiple extremely fine silver-plated soft copper wires twisted together by a stranding machine. The twisting pitch is controlled to ensure a balance between its flexibility and electrical length.

[0032] A uniform silver plating layer is formed on the surface of the stranded conductor through an electroplating process. A layer of low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material is extruded around the outer periphery of the coaxial inner conductor 1 using an extruder to form a coaxial insulation layer 2. During the processing, this material forms a uniformly distributed microporous structure, which results in a stable porous morphology after curing.

[0033] Outside the porous coaxial insulation layer 2, a layer of silver-plated copper foil is first tightly wrapped using a precision wrapping machine to form a coaxial wrapping layer 3. Outside the coaxial wrapping layer 3, a coaxial braided outer conductor 4 composed of copper foil wires is braided using a high-speed braiding machine. The copper foil wires are composite wires made by wrapping copper foil around high-performance aramid fibers.

[0034] The semi-finished product, which already has a coaxial wrapping layer 3 and a coaxial braided outer conductor 4, is guided through a set of precision metal pressure bars to form a rolling die. Under specific pressure and temperature, the metal layers are pressed tightly together and partially embedded in the porous insulation layer to achieve mechanical interlocking.

[0035] After the coaxial braided outer conductor 4 is pressed and formed, two layers of low-density polytetrafluoroethylene tape are wrapped around it using a wrapping machine to form a coaxial insulating wrapping layer 5.

[0036] The differential transmission unit consists of a differential inner conductor 6, a differential insulation layer 7, a differential braided layer 8, and a differential inner sheath layer 9, from the inside out. The differential inner conductor 6 is also made of multiple silver-plated soft copper wires twisted together and its surface is plated with silver.

[0037] Outside the differential inner conductor 6, fluorinated ethylene propylene material is extruded using an extruder to form a differential insulation layer 7, the thickness of which is controlled to match the target differential impedance.

[0038] A layer of copper foil wire is braided onto the outside of the paired differential insulated wires to form a differential braided layer 8. A layer of fluorinated ethylene propylene material is then applied over the differential braided layer 8 to form a differential inner sheath layer 9.

[0039] The coaxial output unit and the differential transmission unit are twisted together using a planetary twisting machine. After twisting, aramid fibers are filled into the gap between the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission unit.

[0040] A layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) wrapping tape 11 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the formed cable core.

[0041] Around the outer periphery of the main wrapping layer 11, a reinforcing layer 12 composed of copper foil wires is applied. This reinforcing layer 12 provides both a continuous metallic conductive path and a high-strength fiber skeleton. This layer tightly wraps around the cable core, and its braiding angle is optimized to balance flexibility and coverage. Finally, outside the reinforcing layer 12, a layer of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material is applied to form a sheath 13. This sheath 13 material possesses good elasticity, abrasion resistance, and environmental resistance, tightly encapsulating all internal structures and providing final external protection.

[0042] The implementation principle of a flexible and bend-resistant high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable according to this application embodiment is as follows: the stranded and bundled cable core structure, together with the internal aramid filling and the external overall wrapping layer 11, uniformly distributes stress, significantly improving overall mechanical synergy and fatigue resistance; the copper foil braided layer, which has both conductive and mechanical reinforcement functions, provides excellent electromagnetic shielding while serving as a lightweight and high-strength load-bearing network, greatly enhancing its bending resistance and dynamic stress resistance; the outermost thermoplastic polyurethane sheath 13 gives the cable excellent soft touch, elastic recovery, and abrasion resistance. In terms of electrical performance, the silver-plated stranded conductor reduces high-frequency loss, the porous insulation structure reduces signal attenuation, the pressing and molding process ensures the electrical stability of the coaxial unit under vibration, and the independent shielding and impedance control of the differential unit ensure signal quality.

[0043] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, and any combination of features in different embodiments is also within the protection scope of this application. That is to say, the multiple embodiments described above can also be arbitrarily combined according to actual needs.

[0044] It should be noted that all the above-mentioned figures are exemplary illustrations of this application and do not represent the actual size of the product. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions between the components in the figures are not intended to limit the actual product of this application. The above are all preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable, characterized in that: include, The cable core includes a coaxial output unit and several differential transmission units, and the cable core is formed by bundling the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission units together by twisting. A reinforcing layer (12) is wrapped around the outer periphery of the cable core and is made of a braided material that has both electrical conductivity and mechanical reinforcement. Sheath (13), which covers the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer (12), is made of flexible rubber material.

2. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The coaxial output unit, from the inside out, includes a coaxial inner conductor (1), a coaxial insulation layer (2), a coaxial wrapping layer (3), a coaxial braided outer conductor (4), and a coaxial insulation wrapping layer (5); the differential transmission unit, from the inside out, includes a differential inner conductor (6), a differential insulation layer (7), a differential braided layer (8), and a differential inner sheath layer (9).

3. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 2, characterized in that: Both the coaxial inner conductor (1) and the differential inner conductor (6) are formed by twisting together several metal wires.

4. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The surfaces of both the coaxial inner conductor (1) and the differential inner conductor (6) are silver-plated.

5. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The coaxial insulating layer (2) has a porous structure.

6. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The coaxial wrapping layer (3) and the coaxial braided outer conductor (4) are formed by pressing with metal pressure bars to enhance vibration resistance and bending resistance.

7. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: In the cable core, the gap between the coaxial output unit and the differential transmission unit is filled with tensile fibers (10).

8. The flexible, bend-resistant, high-frequency coaxial differential signal composite cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A main wrapping layer (11) is also provided between the cable core and the reinforcing layer (12), and the main wrapping layer (11) is made of insulating material.

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