Ribbon Cable With Structured Insulation For Low Signal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical cables face issues with high signal loss and limited reach due to solid dielectric constructions, which cannot be bent tightly without compromising impedance and introducing reflections, and foamed dielectrics struggle with uniform dielectric constant and mode conversion losses.
Innovation Solution
A ribbon cable design featuring spaced, parallel insulated conductors with structured insulative materials and ridges extending in different azimuthal directions, along with a multilayer film and protrusions to maintain conductor spacing and reduce loss, while allowing for tight bending without impedance discontinuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If solid dielectric constructions are used, then mechanical strength and structural simplicity are improved, but signal loss increases and transmission reach is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air holes through structured insulative material with ridges that create void spaces around conductors. This porous structure reduces the effective dielectric constant and allows tighter bending without compromising signal integrity, thereby reducing signal loss while maintaining mechanical flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines solid insulative material with air spaces to create a composite dielectric structure. This composite approach leverages the mechanical strength of solid materials while incorporating the low-loss properties of air, achieving both structural integrity and reduced signal attenuation
2Loss of energy
If foamed dielectrics are used, then signal loss is reduced, but uniformity of dielectric constant deteriorates causing mode conversion losses
Solution Approach 1:
The structured insulative material with controlled ridge configurations creates a regular, predictable porous pattern rather than random foam structures. This controlled porosity ensures uniform dielectric properties while maintaining low signal loss, eliminating the mode conversion issues associated with non-uniform foamed dielectrics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the dielectric structure by introducing controlled air spaces through ridge configurations, changing the effective dielectric constant parameter. This parameter change reduces signal loss while the regular geometric pattern maintains uniformity, preventing mode conversion losses
3Adaptability or versatility
If tight bending is implemented, then cable flexibility and routing capability are improved, but impedance discontinuity and reflections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air holes created by structured insulative material provide compression zones that allow the cable to bend tightly without deforming the conductor geometry. This maintains consistent impedance even in tight bends, preventing reflections and preserving signal integrity while enabling flexible routing
Solution Approach 2:
The structured insulative material segments the dielectric into distinct regions separated by air spaces. This segmentation allows independent compression and deformation of individual segments during bending, accommodating tight routing while maintaining overall impedance consistency
Data Source
AI summary
A ribbon cable with a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel insulated conductors. The parallel insulated conductors extend along a length of the cable and arranged along a width of the cable. Each insulated conductor has a central conductor surrounded by a structured insulative material formed directly onto the central conductor along substantially the entire length of the cable. The structured insulative material has a plurality of ridges extending from the central conductor along different azimuthal directions. Each pair of adjacent ridges define an angle θ there between greater than about 10 degrees.