Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An unshielded, fire-resistant cable which is suitable for transmission of high frequency signals, said cable comprising: a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors, each insulated conductor comprising: an elongated metallic member; and an insulation system which is characterized by a dissipation factor that is less than about 0.004 and by an effective dielectric constant which is such that the velocity of propagation of signals at high frequencies along each conductor pair is equal at least to the product of 0.65 and the velocity of light, said insulation system comprising an inner layer which is contiguous to said elongated metallic member and an outer layer which comprises a flame-retardant plastic material; and a jacket which is disposed about said plurality of insulated conductors and which comprises a plastic material that is characterized by a suitably low dissipation factor and dielectric constant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An unshielded, fire-resistant cable which is suitable for transmission of high frequency signals, said cable comprising: a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors, each insulated conductor comprising: an elongated metallic member; and an insulation system which is characterized by a dissipation factor that is less than about 0.004 and by an effective dielectric constant which is such that the velocity of propagation of signals at high frequencies along each conductor pair is equal at least to the product of 0.65 and the velocity of light, said insulation system comprising an inner layer which is contiguous to said elongated metallic member and an outer layer which comprises a flame-retardant plastic material; and a jacket which is disposed about said plurality of insulated conductors and which comprises a plastic material that is characterized by a suitably low dissipation factor and dielectric constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein the twist length of each pair does not exceed the product of about forty and the outer diameter of an insulated conductor of said each pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein the dielectric constant of the insulation system is less than about 3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said plastic material of said insulation system is such that it is compatible with a twist length which does not exceed the product of about forty and the outer diameter of an insulated conductor of each pair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said jacket comprises a flame-retardant plastic material characterized by a dielectric constant less than about 3 and a dissipation factor less than about 0.01.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said insulation system comprises an inner layer contiguous to said elongated metallic member which is made of a polyolefin material, and an outer layer which comprises a flame-retardant polyolefin, and wherein said jacket is made of a flame-retardant polyolefin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein said inner layer of each insulation cover comprises polyethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein said outer layer of each insulation cover comprises flame-retardant polyethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein said jacket comprises flame-retardant polyethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein said outer layer of said insulation system has a thickness of 0.003 inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein the diameter of the elongated metallic material is about 0.020 inch and the thickness of the inner layer of said insulation system is about 0.0045 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein the twist length of each pair does not exceed the product of about forty and the outer diameter of an insulated conductor of said each pair.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein the conductors of each pair are twisted together in accordance with a twist frequency spacing such that the increments of the twist frequency spacing between adjacent pairs are non-uniform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein the conductor pairs are packed loosely in a core to minimize pair meshing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The cable of claim 14, wherein the conductor pairs are assembled together such that each pair is disposed in a circle having a diameter equal to twice the outer diameter of an insulated conductor and such that the circle which circumscribes the cross-sectional areas of the conductors of each pair is substantially uninterrupted by the circumscribed circle of any adjacent pair.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein each of said metallic conductors comprises untinned copper.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cable of claim 6, wherein said jacket is characterized by a dissipation factor less than about 0.01 and a dielectric constant less than about 3.