US3876964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat flexible transmission cable
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-23
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-08-23
Abstract
Abstract Improved flat flexible cable having at least one shielded transmission line is disclosed. The subject cable is formed with either a single or a plurality of signal conductors on one side of a flat flexible insulator substrate and one or a plurality of ground conductors on the opposite side of the substrate, the ground conductors preferably being interconnected. Pads are formed at periodically spaced intervals along each of the signal and ground conductors so that the cable can be produced with infinite length and cut to finite lengths at the pads nearest the desired length while maintaining constant electrical transmission properties (such as characteristic impedance, cross-talk, attenuation, etc.) throughout the length of the line and including the termination area.
Inventors
- 👤 Ammon Nazareth Balaster
- 👤 Richard John O'neill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0237; H05K1/025; H05K1/0253; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; H01B7/0838; H01B7/0846; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09218; H05K2201/09236; H05K2201/09263; H05K2201/09654; H05K2201/09727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An improved flexible flat cable with at least one shielded transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulating substrate; at least one signal conductor formed on one side of said substrate, said at least one signal conductor being transversely offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cable; and at least one ground conductor formed on the opposite side of said substrate, said at least one ground conductor having a regular meandering configuration covering substantially the entire width of said cable; each of said signal and said ground conductors having a plurality of termination pads regularly spaced along the length thereof whereby said cable may be produced in great length, cut to discrete lengths and terminated by attachment of appropriate connectors to the end most pads while maintaining continuous electrical characteristics throughout the length of the cable, said cable being folded upon itself between the end most termination pads whereby said at least one signal conductor is shielded on at least two sides by electrically connected ground lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An improved flexible flat cable with at least one shielded transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulating substrate; at least one signal conductor formed on one side of said substrate, said at least one signal conductor being transversely offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cable; and at least one ground conductor formed on the opposite side of said substrate, said at least one ground conductor having a regular meandering configuration covering substantially the entire width of said cable; each of said signal and said ground conductors having a plurality of termination pads regularly spaced along the length thereof whereby said cable may be produced in great length, cut to discrete lengths and terminated by attachment of appropriate connectors to the end most pads while maintaining continuous electrical characteristics throughout the length of the cable, said cable being folded upon itself between the end most termination pads whereby said at least one signal conductor is shielded on at least two sides by electrically connected ground lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 1 wherein said meandering pattern is a zig-zag configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 1 wherein said meandering pattern is a sinusoidal configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 1 wherein said at least one ground conductor includes a pair of conductors each following the same regular meandering pattern but being out of phase with respect to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 1 wherein said at least one ground conductor comprises a pair of spaced ground conductors, further comprising a plurality of conductors interconnecting said spaced conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved flexible flat cable with at least one shielded transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulating substrate; a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced conductors formed on one side of said substrate; a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced ground conductors formed on the opposide side of said substrate, said plurality of ground conductors exceeding said plurality of signal conductors by one, said ground and said signal conductors being transversely offset with respect to each other whereby each said signal conductor lies between two ground conductors; each of said signal and said ground conductors having a plurality of termination pads regularly spaced along the length thereof whereby said cable may be produced in great length, cut to discrete lengths and terminated by attachment of appropriate connectors to the end most pads while maintaining continuous electrical characteristics throughout the length of the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved flexible flat cable with at least one shielded transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulating substrate; a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced conductors formed on one side of said substrate; a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced ground conductors formed on the opposide side of said substrate, said plurality of ground conductors exceeding said plurality of signal conductors by one, said ground and said signal conductors being transversely offset with respect to each other whereby each said signal conductor lies between two ground conductors; each of said signal and said ground conductors having a plurality of termination pads regularly spaced along the length thereof whereby said cable may be produced in great length, cut to discrete lengths and terminated by attachment of appropriate connectors to the end most pads while maintaining continuous electrical characteristics throughout the length of the cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 6 further comprising: conductor means interconnecting each of said plurality of ground conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 6 wherein respective ones of said termination of pads of each said signal conductor are in substantial transverse alignment, and respective ones of said termination pads of each said ground conductor are in substantial transverse alignment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 8 wherein each row of transversely aligned termination pads said ground conductors are longitudinally offset from each row of transversely aligned termination pads of said signal conductors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of additional termination pads formed on each of the laterally exterior ground donductors, said additional termination pads being transversely aligned with but spaced outwardly of the responsive rows of transversely aligned termination pads of said signal conductors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 10 wherein connectors are attached to the end most aligned row of signal conductor termination pads and additional termination pads of said ground lines thereby providing an unmatched impedance connection for said cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flat flexible cable having at least one transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulator substrate; plurality of transmission line signal conductors formed on one side of said substrate, each said signal conductors having a plurality of enlarged termination pads formed therealong at regularly spaced intervals, the respective termination pads of each signal conductor being in substantial transverse alignment across said cable, a plurality of ground conductors formed on the opposite side of said substrate, each ground conductor having a plurality of enlarged termination pads formed therealong at regularly spaced intervals, the respective termination pads of each ground conductor being positioned in substantial transverse alignment across said cable and longitudinally between the termination pads of said signal conductors whereby constant specific characteristic impedance throughout the length of the cable is achieved.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flat flexible cable having at least one transmission line comprising: a flat flexible insulator substrate; plurality of transmission line signal conductors formed on one side of said substrate, each said signal conductors having a plurality of enlarged termination pads formed therealong at regularly spaced intervals, the respective termination pads of each signal conductor being in substantial transverse alignment across said cable, a plurality of ground conductors formed on the opposite side of said substrate, each ground conductor having a plurality of enlarged termination pads formed therealong at regularly spaced intervals, the respective termination pads of each ground conductor being positioned in substantial transverse alignment across said cable and longitudinally between the termination pads of said signal conductors whereby constant specific characteristic impedance throughout the length of the cable is achieved.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flat flexible transmission cable according to claim 12 further comprising a plurality of conductors interconnecting each of said plurality of ground conductors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flat flexible transmission cable according to claim 12 further comprising an additional termination pad formed on each of the transversely exterior ground conductors, said additional termination pads being in longitudinal alignment with but transversely spaced outwardly from respective rows of termination pads of said signal conductors thereby providing unmatched impedance termination for said cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flat flexible transmission cable according to claim 12 wherein said cable is terminated by matched impedance connectors fixed to the end most pads of said signal and ground conductors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of ground conductors includes at least two conductors, said signal conductors being offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cable, said cable being folded upon itself between the end most termination pads whereby each said signal conductor is shielded by ground conductors on at least two sides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 16 further comprising a plurality of conductors interconnecting each of said ground conductors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A flat flexible cable according to claim 16 further comprising a plurality of conductor means interconnecting said ground conductors and the odd numbered signal conductors through said substrate whereby said flat flexible cable simulates a plurality of coaxial cables.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |