FR2786653A1 - Flexible connection band for multiple connections has tracks at various separation distances to facilitate range of possible connections - Google Patents

Abstract

the tracks on the band are wider apart at the ends to facilitate connection, and close together for the bulk of the connection length. The flexible connection band (1) comprises a set of conductive tracks formed on a flexible substrate, the tracks being parallel to each other. For the bulk of the length of the connection band (4) the tracks are close together (4a) and the band is narrow. The ends of the band however have at least three distinct sections (8a, 8b, 8c). These sections offer different spacing between the tracks and are linked together by sections of inclined track. In order to connect the band to the required terminals, the section of band having the required step size between tracks may be selected, and so the band may be connected to a range of differently sized terminals as required.

Description

1 "Flexible device and flexible electrical connection strip" La

  The present invention relates to a flexible device and a flexible strip comprising at least one flexible strip provided with electrically conductive tracks for the purpose of electrically connecting

  remote electrical or electronic components.

  The flexible electrical connection devices commonly used have at their ends connection parts arranged adjacent and parallel so as to form two groups of connection parts which are connected electrically, by welding or gluing, to the electrical connection pads of of them

  electrical or electronic components to be electrically connected.

  As the pitch of the pads of electrical or electronic components is not always the same, it is necessary to design and manufacture each time a suitable flexible device, which requires designing and manufacturing as many corresponding tools. The present invention proposes, on the contrary, a flexible electrical connection device in which said tracks each have at least three spaced apart electrical connection parts, and said tracks extend so that their connection parts are arranged adjacent to each other. and in parallel, according to a determined pitch, so as to form groups of connection parts, at least two of which are in the vicinity of one another and have

no different connection.

  Thus, the flexible electrical connection device according to the present invention can be used to connect electrical or electronic components having pads respectively of different pitches. According to the invention, said strip preferably has

  openings corresponding respectively to said groups.

  According to the invention, the flexible device preferably comprises two flexible strips between which extend said tracks, at least one of these strips having openings

  1 corresponding respectively to said groups.

  According to the invention, the flexible device can advantageously carry at least one electrically connected electronic component

to said tracks.

  According to the invention, first and second groups of connection parts are preferably arranged respectively with

  part and others of this electronic component.

  The present invention also relates to a flexible strip comprising a multiplicity of flexible devices placed

  one after the other in the longitudinal direction of this strip.

  According to a variant of the invention, said groups of each electrical connection device are arranged so that said connection parts extend parallel to the edges

longitudinal of said strip.

  According to another variant of the invention, said groups of each electrical connection device are arranged so that said connection parts extend perpendicular to the

  longitudinal edges of said strip.

  The present invention will be better understood from the study of a flexible electrical connection device and flexible strips, described by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the drawing in which: - Figure 1 shows a top view of a flexible electrical connection device according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a partial section along II-II of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a first flexible strip according to the present invention; - And Figure 4 shows a second flexible strip according to the

present invention.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we see that there is shown a flexible electrical connection device which comprises two flexible strips 2 and 3 joined, for example polyimide, between which extends a multiplicity of tracks 4 conductive

  electricity, for example copper.

  1 The flexible device 1 comprises a central part 5 in which the tracks have parts 4a which extend parallel to each other and comprises end parts 6 and 7 located on either side of the central part 5 and in which the tracks 4 respectively have spaced electrical connection parts 8a, 8b and 8c on the one hand and 9a, 9b and 9c on the other hand, so as to form groups 10a, 10b and 10c respectively of connection parts d '' a share and groups 1la, 1 lb and 11c of

connection parts on the other hand.

  In each of groups 10a, 10b and 10c on the one hand and in each of groups 11a, 11b and 11c on the other hand, the corresponding connection parts 8a, 8b, 8c and 9a, 9b, 9c are arranged adjacent to each other and parallel to each other and parallel

to the central parts 4a.

  In the example shown, the pitch of the connection parts 8a of the group 10a is equal to the pitch of the connection parts 9a of the group 11a, the pitch of the connection parts 8b of the group 10b is equal to the pitch of the connection parts 9b of the group 1 lb and the pitch of the connecting parts 8c of group 10c is equal to the pitch of the connecting parts 9c of group 11c, the pitches in groups 10a, lOb and lOc on the one hand and in groups 1 la, 1 lb and lc on the other hand going up so that the different tracks 4 extend, between the aforementioned groups, away from the longitudinal axis of the device 1 when passing from

  the central part 4a at their ends.

  In the areas of the aforementioned connection parts of groups a, 10b and 10c on the one hand and 11a, 11b and 11c on the other hand, the strip 2 has openings 12a, 12b and 12c on the one hand and 13a, 13b and 13c

on the other hand.

  It follows from the structure described above that the flexible device 1 can be used to electrically connect electrical or electronic components including the electrical connection pads

have different steps.

  In the structure proposed as an example, the flexible device 1 can be connected on the one hand to a component whose 1 connection pads have a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the connection parts of one of the groups 10a, 10b and 10c and to another component whose studs are spaced apart by a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the parts of

  connection of one of the groups 1a, 1lb and 1lc.

  Of course, before connecting or after connecting an external electrical or electronic component to one of the groups 10a, b and 10c of the end 6 of the flexible device 1 and another electrical or electronic component external to one of the groups la, llb et llc of the end 7 of the flexible device 1, it is possible to cut the excess and unnecessary end portions of the device if necessary

flexible 1.

  Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the opposite longitudinal edges 14 and 15 of the flexible device 1 can substantially match, at a distance, the shape of the tracks 4 located most

outside.

  Referring now to Figure 3, we see that there is shown a flexible strip 16 with opposite edges 17 and 18 parallel along which it has series of openings 19 and 20 constituting

  notches intended for its training for mass production.

  The strip 16 has, in the direction of its length, successive zones in which are formed a succession of flexible devices corresponding to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, whose longitudinal axes extend along the axis

longitudinal of the strip 16.

  However, in this example, the central parts 4a of the tracks 4 are interrupted at the location of an area in which the strip 2 has an opening 21 in which an electrical or electronic component can be mounted, connected on the one hand to the portion of tracks 4 extending towards the end 6 of the flexible device 1 and other

  leaves at the portion of tracks 4 extending towards its end 7.

  The electrical or electronic components mentioned above

  above being thus mounted on the strip 16, one can then proceed to cut into pieces the strip 16 so as to separate each flexible device 1 equipped with this electrical or electronic component, 1 this cutting can be performed transversely at the most close to groups 0la, l00b and lc on the one hand and lia, llb and ilc on the other hand the closest to those corresponding to the electrical or electronic components to which the ends 6 and 7 of the flexible devices 1 must be subsequently connected. Referring to Figure 4, we see that there is shown a flexible strip 22 which differs from the strip 16 of the example described with reference to Figure 3 in that it successively includes areas in which are formed flexible devices 1, the longitudinal axes of which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of this strip 22. These flexible devices 1 will subsequently be separated by a cut transverse to the strip 22, between two adjacent flexible devices 1 and a cut in the vicinity of the groups connection according to the example described

with reference to Figure 1.

  The present invention is not limited to the examples described above. Many variants are possible without departing from the

  framework defined by the appended claims. In particular, band 1

  could include at least three electrical connection groups, one at one end and two at the other. In addition, the steps of the connection parts of said groups could be chosen in any way, adapted to the steps of the electrical components or

  external electronics to which they will be connected.

Claims (6)

1 CLAIMS   1. Flexible electrical connection device (1) comprising at least one flexible strip provided with electrically conductive tracks, characterized in that said tracks (4) each have at least three spaced apart electrical connection parts (8a, 8b, 9a), and that said tracks extend so that their connection parts are arranged adjacent and parallel, according to a determined pitch, so as to form groups (10a, 10b, 1la) of connection parts of which at least two are in the vicinity one of   the other and have different connection steps.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said strip (2) has openings (12a, 12b, 13a)   corresponding respectively to said groups.   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized by the fact that it comprises two flexible bands (2, 3) between which extend said tracks, at least one of these bands having openings corresponding respectively to said groups.   4. Device according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that it carries at least one electronic component (21) electrically connected to said tracks (4) and that it comprises first and second groups of connection parts   disposed respectively on either side of this electronic component.   5. Flexible strip (16) comprising a multiplicity of   flexible devices (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   placed one after the other in the longitudinal direction of this strip, characterized in that the said groups of each electrical connection device are arranged so that the said connection parts extend parallel to the longitudinal edges of the said bandaged.   6. Flexible strip (22) comprising a multiplicity of   flexible devices (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   placed one after the other in the longitudinal direction of this strip, characterized in that said groups of each electrical connection device 1 are arranged such that said connection parts extend perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said strip.