In the past, copper pair cables were used solely for traffic consisting in voice analogical electrical signals. However, with the appearance of the Internet, those same copper cables have been used for data traffic. With the increasing demand for data traffic, and increasingly higher data rates, there came into existence the digital subscriber line (DSL), which further increases the data rate to be supported by the old copper pair cable network.

That technology makes use of digital signal processing, advanced algorithms, filters, analogical/digital converters, such as that in the ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) type of transmission it is possible to reach rates up to 8 Mbps for downstream transmission and 640 Kbps for upstream transmission, thus rendering the ADSL technology particularly appealing for downloading Internet files.

However, in order that such transmission rates may be reached, it is necessary to relay the service through distances of at least 2 km, in ideal transmission conditions. There is also the problem of signal interference between the conductor pairs, known as cross talk. There is a recommendation widely used by the telephony service operators, whereby only 8 of every 25 conductor pairs of a cable may be used for traffic of a digital system, in order to avoid cross talk.

In order to solve these problems, there has been developed by means of the present invention a twisted conductor pair cable having improved electrical characteristics, whereby it is possible to reach across greater distances with the service, and also to use all the conductor pairs of a cable for digital transmission purposes.

Therefore, in order to solve the first basic problem, i. e. , to allow an increase in the distance reached by the digital system, there has been made an option, according to the present invention, to reduce attenuation in the line without the need to alter the gauge of the metallic conductor. Any signal is subject to attenuation, i. e. , loses power as it is carried along a line. The parameters that are responsible for this loss of power are the resistance of the conductors, the conductance (dielectric loss), the capacitance and the inductance.

Since attenuation is directly proportional to capacitance, in order to reduce attenuation in the line, the mutual capacitance of the conductor pairs was reduced, there being achieved thereby an attenuation reduced by 20% in average as compared to conventional cables, without the need to alter the diameter of the copper conductor. The reduction in capacitance was achieved by increasing the insulation thickness, since the distance between the conductors is inversely proportional to the mutual capacitance thereof.

However, in order to achieve the desired levels of mutual capacitance, using only the insulation provided by a solid sheath of polyethylene for the conductor, it would be necessary to excessively increase the diameter of the insulated conductor, that in turn would cause an increase of diameter and weight of the overall cable assembly, which would be inconvenient from both in

terms of cost and in terms of installation. Although inconvenient, this solution using solid polyethylene is technically feasible. However, in order to avoid the problems incurred by increased weight and diameter, an option was made to use a combination of cellular and solid insulation.

The second basic problem in digital transmission is the maximum number of conductor pairs that simultaneously use the digital service within one same cable. An increasing number of conductor pairs carrying data will correspond to increasing cross talk.

Cross talk is the transfer of energy from a circuit (conductor pair) to another, causing loss of power of the signal being transmitted in the affected conductor pair.

In order to reduce the effect of cross talk, there are widely used twisted conductor pairs, since that when the conductor pairs are twisted with one another there occurs an effect of mutual cancellation of electromagnetic forces, causing a reduction in cross talk. Normally the conductor pairs of the cables are twisted with different pitches, a characteristic referred to as pitch series. This concept has been used for the present invention, although with a special pitch series, shorter than usual, with pitches distinct from one another, following a geometric progression, according to studies that were conducted and results that were achieved empirically.

The twisting pitches available for manufacture of the cable are those used in the running modes of the so-called twisting-cording machines. It is recommended to check each machine's kinematics system to know exactly which are the available pitches. As an example, there may be cited that in running mode position 4-0 of the FME-3 machine, the pitches range from 71.4

mm to 197.7 mm, and the machine speed in this running mode is 95 meters per minute. If it were required to have a reduced series of pitches, there might be used, for example, running mode 1-0 of that same machine, with a minimum pitch of 26.9 mm and a maximum pitch of 74.5 mm and a machine speed of 35 meters per minute. The ratio between the two twisting pitches follows a genometric progression: an = a1.qn-1 There is not a satisfactory mathematical model for calculation of the impact of pitches upon cross talk, but it is known that shorter pitches provide better electrical performance, but however that leads to a reduction of the machine speed. It is necessary to perform a cost/benefit analysis when deciding on a pitch series.

In the present invention there has been used a pitch series following a geometric progression and with minimum and maximum pitch values preferably comprised between about 10 and 110 mm, more preferably between about 10 and 80 mm, and with a ratio of said geometric progression preferably comprised between 1 and 2, more preferably between about 1. 01 and 1.09.

The present invention thus relates to a twisted metallic conductor cable with high electrical performance for use in digital systems comprising a bundled array of insulated metallic conductors of thermoplastic material and at least a protective layer surrounding said bundled array, wherein said conductors are twisted in pairs with a series of pitches following a geometrical progression.

Preferably, the pitches have a maximum and a minimum values comprised between 10 and 110 mm, more preferably between 10 and 80 mm.

Preferably, the geometrical progression has a rate higher that 1 and lower than 2, more preferably between about 1.01 and 1.09. The"about"has to be interpreted as an uncertainty of3% due to the machinery.

Advantageously, the conductors are provided with corresponding insulations and the ratio between the diameter of the conductor and the thickness of the corresponding insulation is preferably comprised between 2.0 and 2.2.

The insulation provides an equivalent dielectric constant comprised preferably between 1.7 and 2.

The insulation is preferably formed in two parts, of which one is an internal part made of a cellular thermoplastic material and the other part is an external part made of a rigid thermoplastic material. The cellular insulation may be made of cellular polyethylene with 20% or 40% expansion rate. The rigid insulation may be made of a material selected from solid high density, medium density or low density polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The bundled array of conductors may be sheathed in a protective banding, then by a metallic shielding, and finally by a protective cover, all these elements being disposed concentrically.

The cable of the present invention is therefore characterized by a reduced cross-talk owing to the particular choice of the series of pitches used for twisting the conductor pairs. Moreover, a lower attenuation may be achieved by opportunely selecting the thickness of the insulation with respect to the diameter of the metal conductor.

The thickness of the double insulation may vary, ranging from what would amount to a very small thickness value (almost null) of one of these

(cellular insulation or solid insulation) to a very large value of the other, including the possibility of very similar thickness values for both insulations.

Nevertheless, in order that the result is satisfactory, it is necessary to shift the level of mutual capacitance that is used in prior art with a value of 51 nF. This mutual capacitance shift should be at least about 20% less, which causes, for example for a cable configuration of dry core having insulated conductors made of solid polyethylene, that is necessary to increase by about 30% the insulation thickness leading the mutual capacitance to about 40 nF/km. Lower mutual capacitance values may be used provided that the cost/benefit relationship for the design is evaluated.

The first layer is made of cellular polyethylene, since this material has a low dielectric constant (Er). Over the layer of cellular material there is applied a layer of solid polyethylene, with much higher dielectric constant. This combination of dielectric constants is advantageous since thereby the resulting constant is lower than the constant in the case of solid polyethylene insulation, and therefore the diameter of the insulated conductor will be smaller. This is due to the fact at the dielectric constant is directly proportional to the capacitance, thus the same capacitance may be achieved without resorting to an excessive increase in diameter of the insulated conductor.

Once the diameter of the conductor has been determined, there should be calculated which will be the diameter of the assembly comprising the conductor and its thermoplastic insulation, also referred to as the insulated wire.

This diameter is directly dependent on the mutual capacitance that has to be achieved in the cable.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the conductor diameter

used was 0.392 mm and the thickness of the cellular insulation used was 0.164 mm with a thickness of solid insulation of 0.03 mm, and an equivalent dielectric constant of 1.87 was achieved. With this configuration, the mean mutual capacitance achieved was 38.0 nF/lçm.

Upon there having been determined the diameter of the insulated wire, it may be necessary to calculate the coaxial capacitance, since some machines control the diameter of the insulated wire by means of the coaxial capacitance. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <P> #0.#r<BR> Ccoaxial = 2#. .10-2<BR> <BR> <BR> #v<BR> ln<BR> <BR> #c Ccoaxial = Coaxial capacitance (pF/m) £o = vacuum permittivity (8,854. 10-12 F/m) £r = Relative dielectric constant of the insulating material (according to Table 1) v = diameter of the insulated wire (mm) oc = diameter of the conductor (mm) For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cable according to the invention comprising a conductor core surrounded by a cellular insulation and a solid insulation.

Figure 1A depicts a cross-sectional view of an alternative cable according to the invention including the conductor core and solid insulation.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view taken along the longitudinal direction of the cable, with some parts broken away to illustrate a cable produced according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a chart illustration comparing the improvement in

attenuation at 20°C for a cable according to the invention as opposed to a reference cable not in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 is a chart illustration comparing the improvement in far end-cross talk according to frequency for a cable according to the invention as opposed to a reference cable not in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 is a chart illustration comparing the improvement in near end-cross talk according to frequency for a cable according to the invention as opposed to a reference cable not in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is a chart illustration of a comparison of distance according to frequency.

In Figure 1 there is shown a cross-sectional view of a cable according to the invention, wherein a conductor core 1 (wire) is surrounded by an insulation 2 made of a cellular material (foam), sheathed in a solid insulation 3 (skin). The said cellular material is preferably cellular polyethylene, however not excluding other polymeric materials that may have a cellular state. The solid sheath is preferably made of solid polyethylene, having a higher dielectric constant. Also in this case, other polymeric materials may be used. The table I below illustrates examples of thermoplastic materials with their respective dielectric constants, that may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Table I-Dielectric constant of insulating materials Material Er Solid high-density polyethylene 2.33 Solid medium-density polyethylene 2.32 Solid low-density polyethylene 2.28 Cellular polyethylene, 20% expansion 2.0 Cellular polyethylene, 40% expansion 1.7 Polypropylene 2.24 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 4 to 6.5

Figure 1A shows a cable devoid of the cellular insulation, i. e., having a conductor core 1'with the pitch arrangement according to the invention and a solid sheath 2'.

Figure 2 shows the assembly of the cable in the finished state where a group of conductors, insulated and twisted as described in connection with Figures 1 and 1A, is indicated by reference numeral 10 and is surrounded by a protective banding 20, then by a metallic shielding 30, and finally by a protective sheath 40, all these elements being naturally concentric.

Figures 3 to 6 present the results of tests, in a comparative manner, between a cable produced using the concepts of the prior art, that will be designated as the reference cable, and a cable produced in accordance with the present invention, that will henceforth be designated as the digital cable. The table II below reports the characteristics of the two cables.

Table II-Characteristics of cables used in the tests Parameter Reference cable Invention cable Outer diameter conductive core (mm) 0.393 0.393 Type of insulation Solid Foam/skin Outer diameter foam (mm)---0. 721 Outer diameter skin (mm)---0. 801 Outer diameter insulation (mm) 0. 701 Thickness foam (mm)---0. 164 Thickness skin (mm)---0. 04 Thickness insulation (mm) 0. 154--- Minimum pitch (mm) 51.9 26.9 Maximum pitch (mm) 138. 1 71.5 Geometrical progression rate 1. 042 Figure 3 shows the results of attenuation according to frequency at

20°C, where it is apparent that there is obtained a decrease attenuation of about 13% for a frequency of 80 ltHz to about 21% for a frequency of 1000 kHz.

Figure 4 depicts the results for far end-cross talk and Figure 5 depicts the results for near end-cross talk. In both cases, for values of 100% of the reference cable, the values for far end-cross talk reach about 112-114% and the values for near end-cross talk reach 114-116%.

Figure 6 illustrates the increase in distance reached when carrying digital subscriber line system technology, comparing the reference cable to the digital cable. It can be noticed that for the same length of cable, there is obtained an increased transmission rate (Mbps) with the cable according to the present invention.

There should be noted that the absolute values shown in the comparative charts of Figures 3 to 6 are merely illustrative.