Belden Inc.
SHIELD-SUPPORTING FILLER FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONS CABLES

Abstract:

Methods of design, manufacture and implementations of balanced twisted pair cables with a barrier tape or shield, with tuned attenuation, impedance, and coupling properties. A filler is included within the cable to separate the pairs and provide a support base for the shield, allowing for optimized ground plane uniformity and stability for tuned attenuation, impedance, and coupling properties. The filler orientation, shape, and size provides support for the shield such that a gap is provided between the shield and the twisted pairs with a given minimum size without increasing the maximum cable core size. The length of arms of the filler may be adjusted to fine-tune the size and shape of this gap and control air-dielectric volume and radial contact or spacing between any pair(s) and the shield, tuning electrical performance characteristics caused by non-linear effects of electromagnetic interactions at short ranges between the pairs, shield, filler, or other components.