Cable foil tape having random or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous metallic shapes and a method for manufacturing such patterned foil tape are provided. In some embodiments, a laser ablation system is used to selectively remove regions or paths in a metallic layer of a foil tape to produce random distributions of randomized shapes, or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous shapes in the metal layer. In some embodiments, the foil tape is double-sided, having a metallic layer on each side of the foil tape, and the laser ablation system is capable of ablating nonconductive pathways into the metallic layer on both sides of the foil tape.

Cable foil tape having random or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous metallic shapes and a method for manufacturing such patterned foil tape are provided. In some embodiments, a laser ablation system is used to selectively remove regions or paths in a metallic layer of a foil tape to produce random distributions of randomized shapes, or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous shapes in the metal layer. In some embodiments, the foil tape is double-sided, having a metallic layer on each side of the foil tape, and the laser ablation system is capable of ablating nonconductive pathways into the metallic layer on both sides of the foil tape.

A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.

A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.

A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.

A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.

The present disclosure describes methods of manufacture and implementations of hybrid separators for data cables having conductive and non-conductive or metallic and non-metallic portions, and data cables including such hybrid separators. A hybrid separator comprising one or more conductive portions and one or more non-conductive portions may be positioned within a data cable between adjacent pairs of twisted insulated and shielded or unshielded conductors so as to provide physical and electrical separation of the conductors. The position and extent (laterally and longitudinally) of each conductive portion and each non-conductive portion may be selected for optimum performance of the data cable, including attenuation or rejection of cross talk, reduction of return loss, increase of stability, and control of impedance.

The present disclosure describes methods of manufacture and implementations of hybrid separators for data cables having conductive and non-conductive or metallic and non-metallic portions, and data cables including such hybrid separators. A hybrid separator comprising one or more conductive portions and one or more non-conductive portions may be positioned within a data cable between adjacent pairs of twisted insulated and shielded or unshielded conductors so as to provide physical and electrical separation of the conductors. The position and extent (laterally and longitudinally) of each conductive portion and each non-conductive portion may be selected for optimum performance of the data cable, including attenuation or rejection of cross talk, reduction of return loss, increase of stability, and control of impedance.

A twisted pair cabling line and method comprising, a source of at least two twisted pairs, a source of planar shield, a cabling station, that combines the twisted pairs and the shield into a non-twisted cable, a twisting station that twists the cable that is produced by the cabling station, a twisting space between the cabling station and the twisting station, in which the non-twisted cable produced by the cabling station is twisted, to thereby form the shield into a figure-8 cross section having two loops, with a twisted pair in each loop, and a cable storage station.

A new dielectric material for a communication cable has a dielectric base with strength members embedded therein. By a new process, vacuum voids are formed in the dielectric base and at least partially contain or abut the strength members. The material is particularly well suited for a first dielectric tape, where the cable includes a first insulated conductor, the first dielectric tape and a second insulated conductor, with the first insulated conductor being twisted with the second insulated conductor with the first dielectric tape residing between the first insulated conductor and the second insulated conductor. The material is also suitable for a separator of the cable serving to separate twisted pairs from each other within the cable, as well as other components of the cable, such as an insulation layer of one or more of the insulated conductors of the twisted pairs.