Abstract: A flat cable for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements. The flat cable includes a laminated carrier film and a plurality of discrete conductors held in regularly spaced parallel relationship by the carrier film to match the terminal element spacing of the connector. Each conductor has an insulating jacket made of a thermoplastic material. The carrier film includes an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulatioln having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material. The jackets of the conductor are fused to the attachment layer, and the attachment layer is held by the stabilization layer.

Abstract: An automatic cable assembly testing apparatus and procedure. The connectors at each end of a cable assembly are isolated from the cable and from a test source. Each connector is then injected with a plurality of test frequencies and the leakage currents sensed for each of these tests. The leakage current for a particular test is compared against a corresponding reference level and pass/fail lamps are used to provide a visual indication of the test results. The sequence of tests for each end of a cable assembly over a range of frequencies can either be accomplished either automatically or manually. The preferred embodiment illustrates a microprocessor based controller for operating the system.