Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making multi-conductor cable. The multi-conductor cable comprises a plurality of insulated wire conductor pairs, each of said insulated conductor pairs having alternating twist and straight portions and comprises alignment means for precisely aligning both the twisted portions and straight portions of said insulated conductor pairs in a predetermined, laterally spaced, relationship with respect to each other.The alignment means of the multi-conductor cable of this invention comprises a laminated plastic sheet, initially formed from first and second plastic sheets or films, the laminated film having(a) a plurality of precisely spaced encapsulating ducts formed therein, each encapsulating duct containing either an individual, insulated, straight portion of a conductor or an insulated conductor twisted pair and(b) nip areas extending laterally between, and joining, each of said precisely spaced encapsulating ducts.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a connector unit which has the capability of mating a plurality of side by side insulated conductors (usually in the form of a multiconductor, flat, flexible, bonded or laminated cable) with a plurality of similarly spaced contact pad areas on a printed circuit board (PCB). The multi-conductor cable is mated to the PCB in a quick-connect manner and enables also a quick-disconnect, or separation of the cable assembly, from the PCB, to be accomplished with one hand only, and with no tooling required. The resulting contact pressure between the PCB and the leads of the multi-conductor cable is above a certain predetermined minimum and is reproducible, even after repetitive quick-connect and disconnects of connector unit from the PCB. The mating of the connector unit to the PCB is accomplished with low insertion force. Further, the connector unit is capable of electrically engaging a PCB of varying thickness.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-conductor cable, which comprises a plurality of insulated wire conductor pairs, each of said insulated conductor pairs having alternating twisted portions and straight portions, and alignment means for aligning said insulated conductor pairs in a predetermined spaced relationship with respect to each other. Immediately adjacent twisted portions of each conductor pair are twisted in counter-rotation to each other, and a straight portion of conductor pairs between the said adjacent twisted portions is thereby achieved.The alignment means of the multi-conductor cable of this invention comprises a laminated plastic film, initially formed from first and second plastic films, the laminated film havingA. a plurality of spaced encapsulating ducts formed therein, each encapsulating duct containing at least one of said insulated conductor pairs and preventing untwisting of each of the insulated conductor pairs contained therein andB.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-conductor laminated cable which comprises a plurality of insulated wire conductor twisted pairs laminated between plastic film, the twisted pairs being aligned in the laminated cable in a manner such that each of the twisted pairs may be separated and terminated more readily, and faster, than present state of the art laminated twisted pair cable -- with little sacrifice in the electrical characteristics. Further, the resulting laminated cable of this invention has an overall narrower cable width for a given number of twisted pairs laminated therein.