GUARDED COAXIAL CABLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A guarded coaxial cable assembly includes a micro-coaxial cable and a metal rail for protecting the micro-coaxial cable from harmful compression.

Claims

1. A guarded micro-coaxial cable comprises: a flexible outer jacket; the jacket having a cross-section including two opposed sides that are parallel and longer than adjoining sides; about equidistant from the two opposed sides, a jacket centerline; within the jacket a micro-coaxial cable; a micro-coaxial cable center coincident with the jacket centerline; within the jacket a metal rail located to protect the micro-coaxial cable from harmful compression; and, an edge of a window sash or door that mates with a frame when the sash or or door is closed; wherein the micro-coaxial cable is protected from harmful compression when the opposed sides are squeezed between the edge and the mating frame.

2. An assembly for guarding an insulated electrical conductor comprising: a first metal rail extending alongside an insulated electrical conductor; the insulated electrical conductor including an electrical conductor surrounded by an insulating jacket; the electrical conductor for transporting radio frequency signals; the first metal rail and the insulated electrical conductor surrounded by a cover, the cover being flexible and an electrical insulator; the cover having a generally rectangular cross-section with two opposed wide sides and two opposed narrow sides, the two opposed wide sides extending to form opposed wide bearing surfaces for bearing transverse loads; an orientation of the first metal rail and the insulated electrical conductor within the cover operative to limit deformation of the insulated electrical conductor resulting from one or more transverse loads applied to the opposed wide bearing surfaces; and, the assembly capable of 90-degree bends as when the assembly is squeezed between a sash and a mating U shaped jamb such that the opposed wide bearing surfaces are subjected to the transverse loads.

3. A guarded coaxial cable comprising: a micro-coaxial cable extending between rails; the micro-coaxial cable for transporting one or more of radio frequency signals, DC current, and low frequency control signals; a polymer jacket enclosing a length of the rails and micro-coaxial cable; the jacket having first and second generally opposed surfaces for bearing transverse loads; and, the rails, cable, and jacket being flexible and in combination operative to enable the guarded coaxial cable to substantially retain deformation consistent with bending the guarded coaxial cable around obstructions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. These figures, incorporated herein and forming part of the specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain its principles enabling a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a guarded coaxial cable assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B show section of the cableway of the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-section of the cableway of the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-section of a coaxial cable of the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows forces applied to an enlarged cross-section of the cableway of the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 6 shows the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1 installed in a window or door frame.

[0025] FIG. 7 shows the guarded coaxial cable assembly of FIG. 1 being squeezed by a closed window or door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The disclosure provided in the following pages describes examples of some embodiments of the invention. The designs, figures, and description are non-limiting examples of embodiments they disclose. For example, other embodiments of the disclosed device and/or method may or may not include the features described herein. Moreover, disclosed advantages and benefits may apply to only certain embodiments of the invention and should not be used to limit the disclosed invention.

[0027] To the extent parts, components and functions of the described invention exchange electric power or signals, the associated interconnections and couplings may be direct or indirect unless explicitly described as being limited to one or the other. Notably, parts that are connected or coupled may be indirectly connected and may have interposed devices including devices known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a guarded coaxial cable assembly in accordance with the present invention 100. A substantially flat cableway 102 interconnects with and extends between first and second connectors 104, 108. In some embodiments, over-moldings or boots 106, 110 surround an interface between each connector and the cableway. In some embodiments, auxiliary connectors 114, 118 with respective auxiliary leads 115, 117 are included.

[0029] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a portion of the cableway 200. An exposed end of the cableway 201 reveals a cross-section including a micro-coaxial cable 206, two rails 202, 204 and an outer jacket or matrix 208. In some embodiments a single rail is used. In an embodiment, a centerline of the micro-coaxial cable lies substantially along an imaginary surface defined by a plurality of imaginary lines of shortest distance extending between the rails.

[0030] Any suitable coaxial cable connectors 104, 108 known to persons of ordinary skill in the art may be used with the micro-coaxial cable 206. In an embodiment, F type coaxial cable connectors are used. In other embodiments, BNC or RCA type connectors are used. In either case, the connectors may be male, female or mixed. In an embodiment, the guarded coaxial cable assembly includes female connectors on each end for interconnection with the male connectors of a larger feeder RF cable.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cableway 300. In the embodiment shown, the cable jacket is substantially flat having a thickness t suitable for location in narrow passages such as between a door and a door jamb or a window and a window sill. In an embodiment, the cable jacket thickness is in the range of about 2 to 5 mm. And, in an embodiment, the cable jacket thickness is about 3 mm. The cableway width w is selected such that the outer jacket envelops the micro-coaxial cables and the rails. In an embodiment, the cable jacket is in the range of about 2(d1+d1+d2) to 5(d1+d1+d2) where d1 is the outer diameter of each rail and d2 is the outer diameter of the micro-coaxial cable 206. And, in an embodiment, the cable jacket width is in the range of about 10-14 mm. In yet another embodiment, the cable jacket width is about 12 mm.

[0032] Materials suited for use as cable jackets include flexible, non-conducting and abrasion resistant materials. A number of polymers, including one or more of rubber, silicon, PVC, polyethylene, neoprene, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, and thermoplastic CPE can be used.

[0033] Construction methods for integrating the cable jacket 208, rails 202, 204 and micro-coaxial cable 206 include any suitable method known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment, the cable jacket 208 envelops the rails and micro-coaxial cable as it is extruded from a die. In some embodiments (as shown), the jacket envelopes the rails and micro-coaxial cable and fills the spaces between them. In yet another embodiment, the assembly is molded such as by filling a mold holding the micro-coaxial cable and rail(s) with a fluid that will solidify and become the cable jacket. Suitable fluids include fluids useful in making the above the above polymers and other fluids useful for making suitable jacket materials and known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the micro-coaxial cable 400. A dielectric material 404 separates a central conductor 402 and a conductive ground sheath 406 and the sheath is surrounded by a protective non-conducting outer jacket 408. The selected micro-coaxial cable should be appropriate for the intended service, such as cable TV or feeds from Direct Broadcast Satellite receiving dishes for example.

[0035] In an embodiment, the invention includes use of 75 ohm micro-coaxial cable having an outside diameter less than 2 mm which can make a 90 degree bend in a small space and maintain true coaxial performance. The micro cable is protected from radial impact and abrasion by a protective jacket.

[0036] Exemplary micro-coaxial cables include MCX brand cables sold by Hitachi Cable Manchester. In some embodiments the micro-coaxial cable outer jacket includes a non-stick material such as Teflon promoting relative motion between the cable and the outer jacket 208.

[0037] Whether a single rail or two or more rails are used (two are shown) 202, 204, the rail(s) preferentially bear transverse loads applied to the cableway 102 and tend to prevent harmful compression of the micro-coaxial cable. In various embodiments, the diameter of the micro-coaxial cable d2 is greater than or equal to the diameter of the rails d1. In some of these embodiments the ratio of the diameters d2/d1 is in the range of about 1.0 to 2.0.

[0038] In various other embodiments (as shown) the diameter of the micro-coaxial cable d2 is chosen to be somewhat less than the diameter of the rails d1 for added protection. In some of these embodiments the ratio of diameters d1/d2 is in the about 1.0 to 2.0

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a cableway subjected to a load 500. In particular, the cableway 102 is squeezed between opposed passage parts 502, 504 tending to compress the cableway. Choosing rail materials that are relatively incompressible as compared to the cableway jacket materials results in most of the load being borne along and near lines s-s and v-v passing through the respective centers of the rails. An example of such a preferential force distribution is shown in opposed force profiles 512, 514.

[0040] Materials suited for rail construction are relatively incompressible as compared to cableway jacket materials. In some embodiments, rail construction materials are flexible. And, in some embodiments rail construction materials tend, at least partially, to retain deformed shapes such as an angular profile after being bent around a corner.

[0041] In various embodiments, rail construction materials include metals and metal alloys with one or more of iron, steel, copper, aluminum, tin, nickel and other metals known by persons of ordinary skill in the art to have suitable properties. In some embodiments, rail construction materials include non-metals such as polymers. For example, a segmented/articulated rail made from PVC can be used, the segments imparting flexibility and/or a tendency to retain, at least partially, a deformed shape.

[0042] In embodiments with conductive rail materials, the rails can serve as conductors. As seen in FIG. 2B, some such embodiments use two conductive rails, the rails at one end of the guarded coaxial cable are interconnected via a lead 115 with a first electrical connector 114 and the rails at the other end of the guarded coaxial cable are interconnected via a lead 117 with a second electrical connector 118. As persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand, the power handling capability of the rails will be determined by their physical and material properties and the connectors will be chosen to suit the application.

[0043] Uses for guarded coaxial cable assemblies include passing through windows, doors and other confined spaces where an unprotected coaxial cable might otherwise be damaged. As discussed above, such protection is desirable for, inter alia, preserving signal quality. And, as discussed above various embodiments orient one or more rails 202, 204 and a micro-coaxial cable in a flat cableway 102 such that transverse loads applied to the cableway are preferentially borne by the rail(s).

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a guarded coaxial cable assembly installed in an open sliding window or door jamb 600. Here, the cable assembly passes between the opposed passage parts 502, 504 located on a respective sliding sash 602 and a fixed jamb 604. When the sash slides along a slide part 603, it presses a cableway section of the cable assembly 606 into a shape matching the U shaped profile of the confined space.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a guarded coaxial cable assembly installed in a closed sliding window or door jamb 700. As described above in connection with FIG. 5, the rails 202, 204 of the cableway 102 guard the micro-coaxial cable 206 against compression and crushing due to closing the sash or door 602 and squeezing the cableway between the passage parts 502, 504.

[0046] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to skilled artisans that various changes in the form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described examples, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and equivalents thereof.