History of Ribbon Cable
Ribbon cable was invented in the late 1960s as a solution to carry large number of signal paths in a tightly packed bundle. The earliest ribbon connectors contained 7, 14, 26, 34 or 50 individual wires arranged side by side and laminated between layers of flexible plastic. This design allowed transferring multiple electronic signals using a single cable assembly which was much more compact compared to using individual wires. Early applications included connecting peripheral devices to main computer systems.
Types of Ribbon Cable
Based on number of conductors:
Ribbon Cable vary widely based on number of individual conductors or wires enclosed within. Common configurations include 7-conductor, 14-conductor, 26-conductor, 34-conductor, 50-conductor and 84-conductor cables. Higher conductor counts enable transfer of more signals through a single ribbon.
Based on wire size:
Standard ribbon connectors contain 30 AWG (American Wire Gauge) wires which have diameter around 0.2515 mm. For applications requiring greater current handling, lower AWG sizes like 28 AWG or 26 AWG may be used. Wires of different diameters are available to meet specific electrical needs.
Based on insulator material:
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) and flexible PVC are commonly used insulator materials that provide mechanical protection to the contained wires. Other materials like Teflon, Kapton and silicone offer higher temperature tolerance, chemical resistance or flexibility. Selection depends on environmental factors.
Common Applications of Ribbon Cable
Connecting computer peripherals:
Ribbon connectors continue finding widespread usage in connecting computer input/output (I/O) devices like printers, scanners and external drives to the main system unit. Flat flexible form factor enables tight bundling of interface signals.
Flat panel display connections:
Ribbon connectors deliver video, power and control signals from the graphics card or controller board inside a PC to the liquid crystal display (LCD) or plasma panel. The thin profile allows routing through tight spaces inside display units.
Telecommunications equipment:
Backplane cabling, circuit board connections and motherboard extensions utilize ribbon connectors within telephone switching systems, network routers and other telecom gear due to their space-saving design.
Automotive applications:
Control systems, entertainment units and instrumentation modules in cars depend on ribbon connectors to route electrical connections throughout the vehicle interior in a neat fashion. Military and aviation grade variants are also available.
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