Power cable assembly

Abstract

 A power cable assembly includes a power cable and a radio frequency cable. The power cable includes a core, an insulating layer enclosing the core, and a coat enclosing the insulating layer. The radio frequency cable connects to the power cable, and includes a signal line and a cladding layer enclosing the signal line. Radio frequency signals can be transmitted via the power cable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention generally relates to a power cable assembly, particularly to a power cable assembly having a power cable and a radio frequency (RF) cable.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] A conventional power cable has a line which has two conductive wires respectively as a positive and a negative wire or a lead wire and a ground wire. One end of the line connects to an external electronic device via a connector for the purpose of power supply.

[0003] The conventional power cable is used exclusively for power supply. However a power cable could be made more efficient and useful if it offers an extra function of radio frequency transmission in addition to its inherent power supply function.

[0004] The inventors have made an intensive research effort and finally obtained a novel duel-functional cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a power cable assembly which has a radio cable and a power cable connected to the radio frequency cable so that radio frequency signals can be transmitted via the power cable assembly.

[0006] In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the power cable assembly of the invention includes a power cable and a radio frequency cable. The power cable assembly includes a core, an insulating layer enclosing the core, and a coat enclosing the insulating layer. The radio frequency cable includes a signal cable and a cladding layer enclosing the signal cable.

[0007] The power cable assembly of the invention provides the following advantages. The radio frequency cable of the power cable assembly according to the invention can be used as an antenna for transmitting radio frequency signals of an external electronic device when the power cable connects to the external electronic device. Therefore, the electronic device has no need of an additional antenna to receive radio frequency programs.

[0008] To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention, this detailed description being provided only for illustration of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] 

FIG. 1

is a schematic view of a power cable assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along line 2-2;

FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along line 3-3;

FIG. 4

is a schematic view of a power cable assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 along line 5-5;

FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view of a core of power cable assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view of a power cable and a radio frequency cable respectively having a shielding layer inside thereof according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8

is a cross-sectional view of a power cable and a radio frequency cable respectively having two shielding layers according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9

is a schematic view of a power cable assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10

is a schematic view of a power cable assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 along line 11-11; and

FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional view of a power cable assembly having a plurality of conductive wires therein according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIIMENTS

[0010] Wherever possible in the following description, like reference numerals will refer to like elements and parts unless otherwise illustrated.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a power cable assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention includes a power cable 10, an anti-interference unit 20, a radio frequency cable 30 and a stress buffering part 40.

[0012] The power cable 10 includes a core 11, an insulating layer 12 and a coat 13, as shown in FIG. 2. The core 11 in this embodiment includes two conductive wires 111. However, the number of conductive wires used in the invention is not limited to two. The two conductive wires 111 are used respectively as a positive and a negative wire or as a lead wire and a ground wire of the power cable 10. Each conductive wire 111 includes an electrical conductor 1111 and an electrical insulator 1112.

[0013] The insulating layer 12 enclosing the core is a tissue paper which offers moisture-proof, flame resistant and insulating functions.

[0014] The coat 13 enclosing the insulating layer 12 is made of polyethylene chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU), providing good insulation performance.

[0015] The anti-interference unit 20 is molded by using insulating material and has an iron-powder sleeve (not shown). The power cable 10 inserts into the iron sleeve in order to prevent the power cable 10 from being interfered by any power noises. In this embodiment, the anti-interference unit 20 is positioned in the middle of the power cable 10. However, the location of the anti-interference unit 20 is not particularly limited.

[0016] The radio frequency cable 30 in this embodiment is shorter than the power cable 10. The radio frequency cable 30 includes a signal line 31 and a cladding layer 32, as shown in FIG. 3. The signal line 31 includes a conductor 311 and an insulator 312 enclosing the conductor 311. The cladding layer 32 is made of polyethylene chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU), providing a good insulating performance. The cladding layer 32 encloses the signal line 31. A front end of the radio frequency cable 30 connects to a middle section of the power cable 10 close to a rear of the anti-interference unit 20 in a way to form a branch from the power cable 10.

[0017] The stress buffering part 40 is located at an intersection of the radio frequency cable 30 and the power cable 10. The stress buffering part 40 is made of flexible insulating material to give the power cable an aesthetic outline, scratch resistance and an elongated service life.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, the power cable assembly in this second embodiment is almost the same as that in first embodiment, except the following features. The radio frequency cable 30 is arranged to locate in parallel to the power cable 10. The cladding layer 32 of the radio frequency cable 30 is adjacent, side by side, to the coat 13 of the power cable 10, as shown in FIG. 5. One end of the radio frequency cable 30 and one end of the power cable 10 are collectively connected to an external connector (not shown). The two conductive wires 111 of the power cable 10 and the signal line 31 of the radio frequency cable 30 respectively electrically connect to terminals inside the connector.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, the power cable 10 has a core 11 which has a conductive wire 111 and a winding wire 112. The winding wire 12 winds around the conductive wire 111 to block any power noises. The conductive wire 111 and the winding wire 112 are respectively used as a positive and a negative wire or as a lead wire and a ground wire.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 7, a first shielding layer 14 is further disposed between the insulating layer 12 and the coat 13 of the power cable 10. The first shielding layer 14 can be made of metallic foil such as aluminum foil or woven net to block any external noises. A first shielding layer 33 can be further disposed between the signal line 31 and the cladding layer 32 of the radio frequency cable 30. The first shielding layer 33 can be made of metallic foil such as aluminum foil or woven net to block any external noises.

[0021] The first shielding layer 14 of the power cable 10 and the first shielding layer 33 of the radio frequency cable 30 can both be present, or only either of them could be present. For example, the power cable 10 can have the first shielding layer 14 while the radio frequency cable 30 has no shielding layers, or vice versa.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 8, a second shielding layer 15 is further disposed between the first shielding layer 14 and the coat 13 of the power cable 10. For example, when the first shielding layer 14 is made of metallic foil, a woven net can be disposed as the second shielding layer 15 between the metallic foil and the coat 13 to form a multi-layered shield for further blocking any noises. A second shielding layer 34 such as a woven net can be further disposed between the first shielding layer 33 and the cladding layer 32 of the radio frequency cable 30 for enhancing the noise blocking performance. This multi-layered shield can be applied to the first embodiment of the invention so that the power cable 10 and the radio frequency cable 30 positioned in branched way offer an enhanced noise blocking performance.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 9, the power cable in this third embodiment is almost the same as that in second embodiment, except that the radio frequency cable 30 has the same length as the power cable 10 and is adjacent to the power cable 10 along its whole length.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the power cable assembly in this fourth embodiment is almost the same as that in second embodiment, except the following features. The power cable 10 has at least one radio frequency cable 30 at each side. The number of radio frequency cables 30 around the power cable 10 is not particularly limited.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 12, the core 11 of the power cable 10 includes more than two even-numbered conductive wires 111. The first half of the conductive wires 111 are used as positive wires or lead wires and the second half of the conductive wires 111 are used as negative wires or ground wires. In this case, the diameter of each conductive wire 111 is small enough that the whole diameter of the power cable will not be made large, in light of production cost.

[0026] The power cable assembly of the invention advantageously offers functions of power supply to the external electronic device via the power cable 10, and signal transmission of the electronic device via the radio frequency cable 30. Therefore, no additional antenna is needed for the purpose of signal transmission of the electronic device.

[0027] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A power cable assembly, comprising
a power cable including a core, an insulating layer enclosing the core, and a coat enclosing the insulating layer;
at least one radio frequency cable connecting to the power cable, wherein the radio frequency cable includes a signal line and a cladding layer enclosing the signal line.

2. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the core of the power cable includes more than two even-numbered conductive wires.

3. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the core of the power cable includes a conductive wire and a winding wire, the winding wire being wound around the conductive wire.

4. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer of the power cable is made of tissue paper.

5. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one shielding layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the coat of the power cable.

6. The power cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the shielding layer is made of metallic foil or woven net.

7. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one shielding layer is disposed between the signal line and the cladding layer of the radio frequency cable

8. The power cable assembly of claim 7, wherein the shielding layer is made of metallic foil or woven net.

9. The power cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency cable is arranged to locate in parallel to the power cable, and the cladding layer of the radio frequency cable is adjacent side by side to the coat of the power cable.

Drawing