Ribbon Cables

[30031981]

What sort of factors affect the performance of ribbon cable, and can you improve the electromagnetic compatibility of a ribbon cable. Can anyone suggest and good websites where I can read up on this, thank you.

 

[melone]

Why don't you approach this from the application point of view? Where are you trying to use a ribbon cable? What are the frequencies, votlage levels, number of conductors, cable length, etc.?

 

[Comcokid]

It's not clear exactly what you're after in terms of improving the performance of a ribbon cable.

If you have fast risetime signals in your cable, you may experience crosstalk between ajacent lines, reduced risetime at the other end of the cable, or EMI radiation from the cable. Reducing this begins in the design stage in assigning additional pins/wires in the cable as ground returns and to keep the impedance of the signal path somewhat constant. Even higher speeds may require more special ribbon cable in connectors, and special design techniques on the circuit ends. The issues are similar to PC board design for high speed or EMI issues. Ribbon cables with twisted pairs and with a foil shield are also made.

These topics are covered in books such as: High Speed Digital Design - A Handbook of Black Magic by Johnson.

More information on your design, and what problem you are experiencing would be helpful.

 

[sreid]

There is a pretty good discusion of this in the book "The Art of Electronics" plus much more valuable information.