Composite Cable With Dielectric Spline Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for both wire conductors and optical fiber in building installations leads to higher installation and maintenance costs due to the need for multiple cables, especially when integrating optical fiber into existing copper infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A composite communications cable design featuring a dielectric separator with a longitudinal spline that divides the core into quadrants, accommodating twisted insulated conductors and optical fibers within an outer jacket, reducing the need for separate cables and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate cables are installed for conductors and optical fiber, then both media types can be supported, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conductors and optical fiber into a single composite cable structure. The cable includes a common outer jacket containing both copper conductors twisted into pairs and optical fibers, with a dielectric separator organizing them into distinct quadrants. This merging eliminates the need for separate cables for each media type, reducing installation complexity and maintenance costs while maintaining full functionality for both conductor-based and fiber-based communications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cables are installed in existing infrastructure, then both copper and optical fiber needs are met, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite cable serves multiple functions within a single structure. It simultaneously provides electrical connectivity through copper conductors and optical connectivity through fiber optic strands, both protected by the same outer jacket and organized by a unified dielectric separator. This multi-functional design allows existing infrastructure to support both traditional copper-based communications and modern fiber-optic communications without requiring separate cable installations for each purpose.
3Device complexity
If conductors and optical fiber are placed together without separation, then cable structure is simplified, but interference between media types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric separator divides the cable interior into distinct quadrants, with each quadrant containing either conductors or optical fiber but not both. This segmentation physically separates the two media types while keeping them within the same outer jacket. The separator prevents electromagnetic interference from conductors from affecting optical fiber signals and vice versa, while maintaining an organized, simplified overall cable structure that is easier to install and manage than multiple separate cables.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications cable that has a core that includes a dielectric separator. The separator has a spline that extends longitudinally in the core, thereby dividing the core into at least two quadrants. The separator also has at least one compartment. At least one pair of twisted insulated conductors is received in at least one of the quadrants and at least one optical fiber is received in the compartment of the dielectric separator. An outer jacket substantially surrounds the core.