Abstract: Communications cables having fusible continuous shields are described. A cable may include one or more electrical conductors, such as one or more twisted pairs of individually insulated electrical conductors. A shielding element may be formed around the one or more conductors in order to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the one or more conductors. The shielding element may include a base layer of dielectric material extending in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced segments of electrically conductive material may be formed on the base layer. A respective fusible element may be positioned between each adjacent set of the longitudinally spaced segments included in the plurality of longitudinally spaced segments. Each fusible element may provide electrical continuity between the adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments, and each fusible element may have a minimum fusing current between 0.001 amperes and 0.500 amperes.

Abstract: In a method for forming a Category 6A communication cable suitable for Power over Ethernet applications, four pairs of individually insulated conductors may be provided, and each of the conductors may have a diameter of at least approximately 0.0240 inches. A respective twist lay for each of the pairs may be selected to result in the communications cable having a propagation delay skew of less than approximately 45 nanoseconds per one hundred meters and a direct current resistance unbalance between any two of the four pairs of less than approximately one hundred milliohms per one hundred meters. Each of the four pairs may be twisted based at least in part on the selected twist lays, and a jacket may be formed around the four twisted pairs.

Abstract: Methods for forming continuous shields for use in a cable are provided. A first layer of longitudinally extending dielectric material may be provided, and a second layer of longitudinally extending electrically conductive material may be formed on the first layer. At a plurality of spaced locations along a longitudinal direction, respective gaps may be formed through both the first layer and the second layer, and each gap may span partially across a width of the second layer. Additionally, at each of the plurality of spaced locations, the gaps may result in the formation of one or more fusible elements of the electrically conductive material spanning between an adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments of the electrically conductive material. Each fusible element may provide electrical continuity between the adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segment and may further have a minimum fusing current between 0.001 amperes and 0.500 amperes.

Abstract: Electrically continuous shielding elements for use in communication cables are described. A shielding element may include a base layer of dielectric material extending in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced segments of electrically conductive material may be formed on the base layer. A respective fusible element may be positioned between each adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments included in the plurality of longitudinally spaced segments. Each fusible element may provide electrical continuity between the adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments, and each fusible element may have a minimum fusing current between 0.001 amperes and 0.500 amperes.

Abstract: A communication cable suitable for Power over Ethernet applications may include a jacket that defines a cable core and a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors disposed within the cable core. Each of the conductors may have a diameter of at least approximately 0.0240 inches or the equivalent of a 22 American Wire Gauge conductor. Additionally, each of the plurality of twisted pairs may have a different twist lay, and the respective twist lays may be selected such that the communications cable satisfies the requirements of a Category 6A cabling standard. The communications cable may have a delay skew of less than approximately 45 nanoseconds per 100 meters and a direct current resistance unbalance between pairs of less than approximately 100 milliohms per 100 meters.

Abstract: A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulating electrical conductors, and a respective individual shield formed around each of the twisted pairs. Additionally, each individual shield may include electrically conductive material that is continuous in a longitudinal direction. An overall shield may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs and individual shields. The overall shield may include a dielectric layer, a first layer of electrically conductive material that is continuous in the longitudinal direction formed on a first surface of the dielectric layer, and a second layer of electrically conductive material that is continuous in the longitudinal direction formed on a second surface of the dielectric layer opposite the first surface. The first and second layers of electrically conductive material and each of the individual shields may be in electrical contact with one another. Additionally, a jacket may be formed around the overall shield.

Abstract: Plenum rated communication cables with reduced fluoropoloymer content may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, and each conductor may be insulated with a flame retardant polyolefin material. Additionally, each twisted pair may have a respective twist lay between approximately 0.30 inches and approximately 0.80 inches. The plurality of twisted pairs may be twisted together in a first direction and at least one of the plurality of twisted pairs may include conductors twisted together in a second direction opposite the first direction. A jacket may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs.