JP2000165008A - Apparatus for connecting flexible circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the structure and reduce the cost by directly connecting a flexible circuit board to a circuit board. SOLUTION: A circuit board 3 with connection lands 10 (10a-10d) formed thereon and a flexible circuit board 2 having connection patterns 5a corresponding to the connection lands 10 at the top end are provided. The top end of the flexible circuit board 2 is divided in rectangular strips through cuts 6 so as to section the connection patterns 5a. The rectangular pieces 7 (7a-7n) of the flexible circuit board 2 are alternately bent at right angles to both sides of the base, and the connection patterns 5a of the rectangular pieces 7 are respectively bonded to the connection lands 10, thus directly connecting to the circuit board 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a flexible circuit board, which is widely used for making an electrical connection between a main body and a movable section in various electronic devices and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic device or the like, an electric component, an electronic component, and the like are mounted on a movable member movable with respect to the device main body and the like. There is a device connected to and configured. For example, a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information signals or the like by loading a disk-shaped recording medium is provided with an optical pickup. An optical pickup is an optical system having an objective lens for irradiating a laser light source or a disc-shaped recording medium with laser light and receiving the return laser light, and an electromagnetic system for driving a photodetector or the objective lens of the return laser light. An actuator and the like are provided.

An optical pickup is driven by a drive mechanism along a tracking direction on a disk-shaped recording medium mounted on a rotation support mechanism. Therefore, in order to electrically connect the electric components and electronic components such as the laser light source, the photodetector, and the electromagnetic actuator to the control unit and the power supply on the apparatus main body side, the optical pickup shown in FIG. A connection device using a flexible circuit board 100 that is flexible and has a movable amount that can be adjusted is employed.

That is, the conventional flexible circuit board 1
The connection device 00 is configured so that the flexible circuit board 100 connects one end of the flexible circuit board 100 to a circuit board 101 mounted on an optical pickup (not shown in detail) via a connector 102. Flexible circuit board 100
The other end is connected to a control unit or the like on the apparatus main body side. As is well known, the flexible circuit board 100 is formed by bonding a copper foil or the like to a synthetic resin film material to form a conductor pattern.
a is formed. The flexible circuit board 100
It has flexibility as a whole due to its material properties,
The operation of the optical pickup does not hinder the operation by being flexed appropriately with the tracking operation.

[0005] Although not shown, the above-described electrical components and electronic components are mounted on the circuit board 101, and an appropriate circuit pattern for making an electrical connection therebetween is formed. Although not shown, lands are formed on the circuit board 101 at respective circuit patterns, and connectors 102 are soldered and mounted via these lands.

[0006] The connector 102 has an opening 102a which is open on one side surface and into which the terminal 100a of the flexible circuit board 100 is fitted. Connector 10
Although not shown in detail, a plurality of connection terminal members 102b, each of which has a contact portion exposed to the opening portion 102a and a terminal portion protruding from the other side surface, are built in the second portion. The connector 102 is mounted on the circuit board 101 by performing soldering on lands to which the terminal portions of the connection terminal members 102b face each other.

The terminal portion 100a of the flexible circuit board 100 is fitted into the connector 102 from the opening 102a. Flexible circuit board 100
Accordingly, each conductor pattern formed on the terminal portion 100a is sandwiched between the contact portions of the connection terminal member 102b, and electrical connection with the corresponding circuit pattern on the circuit board 101 is performed. The optical pickup is electrically connected to a control unit or the like on the apparatus main body side via the flexible circuit board 100.

[0008]

In the conventional connection device for a flexible circuit board 100, the flexible circuit board 100 is connected to the circuit board 101 as described above.
It is configured to be connected via the connector 102. Therefore, in the conventional connection device for the flexible circuit board 100, since the connection is performed using the relatively expensive connector 102, there is a problem that the member cost and the number of assembling steps are increased and, for example, the optical pickup becomes expensive. there were.

Further, the conventional flexible circuit board 100
In the connection device, the mounting space is required on the circuit board 101 by mounting the connector 102,
For example, there is a problem that an optical pickup becomes large. Further, in the conventional connection device for the flexible circuit board 100, there is a problem that mounting the heavy connector 102 on the circuit board 101 increases the weight of the optical pickup and affects the operation characteristics.

Therefore, the present invention provides a flexible circuit board connection apparatus which is configured to connect the flexible circuit board directly to the circuit board, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the cost.

[0011]

A connecting device for a flexible circuit board according to the present invention for achieving the above object has a circuit board on which a large number of connection lands are formed, and a large number of connection lands corresponding to the connection lands. And a flexible circuit board formed with the connection pattern portion extended near the distal end portion. In the connection device for a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board has a distal end portion cut into a strip shape so as to divide the connection pattern portion.

According to the connecting device for a flexible circuit board according to the present invention configured as described above, the flexible circuit board is bent such that each of the strips is alternately orthogonal to the base on both sides thereof. In this state, the connection pattern portions are respectively joined to the connection land portions of the opposing circuit board, thereby directly connecting to the circuit board.

In addition, a connecting device for a flexible circuit board according to the present invention, which achieves the above object, comprises a circuit board having a large number of connection lands, and a large number of connection pattern portions corresponding to the connection lands. And a flexible circuit board formed to extend near the distal end.
The circuit board is formed with a slit into which the flexible circuit board is fitted, and a connection land portion is formed along an opening edge of the slit. On the front and back surfaces of the flexible circuit board, connection pattern portions are respectively formed corresponding to the connection land portions of the circuit board.

According to the flexible circuit board connecting apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above, the front end of the flexible circuit board is fitted into the slit of the circuit board, and in this state, the connection pattern section is connected to the connection land. Each part is directly connected to a circuit board by being soldered.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of a flexible circuit board connection device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment also shows a connection device 1 for a flexible circuit board 2 applied to an optical pickup provided in a recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing information signals or the like by loading a disk-shaped recording medium, for example. The optical pickup is
Although not described in detail, a laser light source, an optical system having an objective lens for irradiating laser light to the disc-shaped recording medium and receiving the return laser light, and a photodetector or objective lens for the return laser light are driven. An electromagnetic actuator or the like is provided.

The optical pickup is driven by a drive mechanism in a tracking direction on a disk-shaped recording medium mounted on a rotary drive mechanism to record and reproduce information signals and the like. Therefore, the optical pickup is provided with an electrical connection between the circuit board 3 on which the electric components and electronic components such as the laser light source, the photodetector and the electromagnetic actuator described above are mounted, and a control unit and a power supply (not shown). For this purpose, a connection device 1 using a flexible circuit board 2 having flexibility and a movable amount that can be adjusted is used.

The connection device 1 has a flexible circuit board 2 which is connected to a circuit board 3 at one end 2a thereof, as will be described in detail later.
Is directly connected. The other end of the flexible circuit board 2 is connected to a control unit or the like on the apparatus body side. As is well known, the flexible circuit board 2 is formed by joining a conductive foil such as a copper foil to a film material 4 made of a synthetic resin to form a conductive pattern 5 and covering the conductive pattern 5 with an insulating protective film. The flexible circuit board 2 has flexibility as a whole owing to its material properties, and is flexed as needed with the tracking operation of the optical pickup, so that it does not hinder the operation or cause a tangling phenomenon. This is extremely effective as an electrical connection means for the movable mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of conductor patterns 5 are formed on the front and back surfaces of the flexible circuit board 2 in the longitudinal direction while maintaining their insulation state. The flexible circuit board 2 is configured such that a plurality of cuts 6a to 6n are formed so as to separate the conductor patterns 5 from each other, so that the tip 2a is cut into a plurality of strips 7a to 7n. . The flexible circuit board 2 is configured such that the insulating protection film is peeled off at the portions of the strips 7, thereby exposing the conductor patterns 5 to form the connection patterns 5a.

In FIG. 1, the flexible circuit board 2 is formed such that one notch 6 is formed on one conductor pattern 5 on the left and right sides to form one strip 7. It is not limited to the configuration. In the flexible circuit board 2, for example, the notch 6 may be formed such that a plurality of conductor patterns 5 exist in one strip 7. Although the flexible circuit board 2 has the conductor pattern 5 formed on the front and back surfaces, it may be formed on one main surface. In this case, in the flexible circuit board 2, the strip 7 corresponding to the other main surface on which the conductor pattern 5 is not formed forms a dummy bonding piece to the circuit board 3.

In the flexible circuit board 2 configured as described above, each of the strips 7 formed by the cuts 6
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the base is alternately bent orthogonally to both sides. Flexible circuit board 2
In this case, the first strip 7a formed by the first cut 6a and the second cut 6b is
Is bent perpendicular to the base so that the connection pattern portion 5a is exposed on the lower surface. In addition, the flexible circuit board 2 is configured such that the second strip 7b formed by the second cut 6b and the third cut 6c is
Is bent at right angles to the base portion on the side opposite to the first strip 7a so that the connection pattern portion 5a is exposed on the lower surface. In the flexible circuit board 2, the strips 7 are alternately bent orthogonally to both sides of the base in the same manner.

Although not shown, the above-mentioned electrical components and electronic components are mounted on the circuit board 3 and an appropriate circuit pattern 8 is formed as shown in FIG. In the circuit board 3, a large number of connection lands 10a to 10n are formed in the bonding area 9 of the flexible circuit board 2 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. Each of the connection lands 10 is arranged in a so-called zigzag manner in which connection lands opposed to each other across the bonding region 9 are alternately positioned. Each connection land 10 is formed corresponding to each strip 7 of the flexible circuit board 2.

The circuit board 3 is connected to each connection land 10
Are configured to correspond to one conductor pattern 5 of each strip 7, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
When each of the strips 7 has a plurality of conductor patterns 5 and is cut out, for example, the circuit board 3 has a plurality of connection lands 10 formed in a region corresponding to the strips 7.

In the connecting device 1, the flexible circuit board 2 in which the strips 7 are alternately bent to both sides is joined to the joining area 9 of the circuit board 3 configured as described above. . As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 3 has a first strip 7a corresponding to the first connection land 10a and a second strip 7a on the second connection land 10b.
b, and then the strips 7 are sequentially positioned corresponding to the connection lands 10, respectively.
Are joined.

As described above, the connecting device 1 is used to
The connection pattern portion 5a of each conductor pattern 5 is exposed by peeling off the insulating film on the side of the joint surface with the connection land portion 10 opposite to the connection pattern portion 5a. Therefore,
In the connection device 1, the flexible circuit board 2 and the circuit board 3 are connected to the connection pattern portions 5a of the respective strips 7 facing each other.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the conductor patterns 5 and the connection land portions 10 are electrically connected to each other by performing a soldering process on the connection land portions 10 and the connection land portions 10. Become.

The connection device 1 includes a connection pattern portion 5 of each conductor pattern 5 electrically connected by the method described above.
a and the entire connection land portion 10 are sealed with an insulating protective material 12 such as an epoxy resin. The connection device 1 ensures that the insulation of the joint between the flexible circuit board 2 and the circuit board 3 is reliably maintained by the insulating protection material 12.
The flexible circuit board 2 and the circuit board 3 are connected with sufficient mechanical strength.

Although the connection device 1 is configured to electrically connect the connection pattern portion 5a of each conductor pattern 5 and the connection land portion 10 with the solder 11, the connection method is not limited to this. The connection device 1 may be connected by, for example, an ultrasonic welding method of applying an ultrasonic wave to each of the connection pattern portions 5a and each of the connection land portions 10 in the joined state. In this case, the connecting device 1 is preferably sealed with the above-described insulating protective material 12 in order to maintain the mechanical strength of the joint.

In the connection device 1, as described above, the flexible circuit board 2 is cut by the notch 6 such that the connection pattern portion 5 a of each conductor pattern 5 is exposed at the joint surface with the connection land portion 10 opposite thereto. Each of the configured strips 7 is bent to both sides with respect to the base, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In the connection device 1, for example, the conductor pattern 5 is formed on one main surface side of the flexible circuit board 2, and depending on the bending direction, the connection pattern portion 5 a of the conductor pattern 5 is exposed on the upper surface side to form the connection land portion 10. There may be a case where they do not face each other. Therefore, in the connecting device 1, the strip 7
A circuit board 3 having a connection land portion 10 larger than the outer shape is used, and the connection between the connection pattern portion 5a and the connection land portion 10 is performed by pouring in the solder 11.

The connection device 1 is, as described above, a circuit board 3
The flexible circuit board 2 is configured to be directly connected to the above, so that a relatively expensive connector as in a conventional connection device is not required. Therefore, the connecting device 1 can manufacture an inexpensive optical pickup by reducing the material cost. In addition, the connection device 1 can manufacture an optical pickup with good responsiveness by reducing the weight of the circuit board 3.

The connection device 20 shown in FIG. 4 as a second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a flexible circuit board 21 is fitted into a slit 23 formed in a circuit board 22 and is directly connected. have. The conductor pattern 24 is formed on each of the front and back surfaces of the flexible circuit board 21. Note that the flexible circuit board 21 may have the conductor pattern 24 formed on one surface. Although not described in detail, the flexible circuit board 21 exposes the conductor pattern 24 by peeling off the insulating film at the end portion, and forms a connection pattern portion.

The above-mentioned slit 23 is formed on the circuit board 22 at a connection area of the flexible circuit board 21 and a predetermined circuit pattern 25 is formed on the main surface thereof. Of course, the circuit pattern 22 may be formed on the front and back surfaces of the circuit board 22. The slit 23
It is formed as a rectangular opening having an opening shape substantially equal to the cross-sectional shape of the flexible circuit board 21.

A large number of connection lands 26 are formed on the circuit board 22 along the opening edge of the slit 23.
Each connection land 26 is formed corresponding to the conductor pattern 24 of the flexible circuit board 21.

The connecting device 20 is assembled by fitting the leading end of the flexible circuit board 21 into the slit 23 of the circuit board 22 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. In this state, the flexible circuit board 21 is positioned corresponding to the connection lands 26 of the circuit pattern 25 in which each conductor pattern 24 is formed on the opening edge of the slit 23. The connecting device 20 solders the opposing conductor pattern 24 and the connection land 26 as shown in the figure, and electrically and mechanically connects the conductor pattern 24 and the connection land 26 with the solder 27. .

As shown in the drawing, the connecting device 20 has a flexible circuit board 21 penetrating through the slit 23 and a distal end portion sealed with an insulating resin 28. In the connection device 20, the joint between the conductor pattern 24 and the connection land 26 is also sealed with the insulating resin 28.

The connecting device 20 is configured as described above, so that the overall structure is simplified, and a relatively expensive connector unlike the conventional connecting device is not required. Therefore, the connecting device 20 enables the manufacture of an inexpensive optical pickup by reducing the material cost. Also,
The connection device 20 reduces the weight of the circuit board 22,
It becomes possible to manufacture an optical pickup having good responsiveness.

The present invention is not limited to the connecting devices 1 and 20 for the flexible circuit boards 2 and 21 provided in the above-described optical pickup, and it goes without saying that the present invention is applied to various electronic devices and the like. .

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the flexible circuit board connecting apparatus of the present invention, since the flexible circuit board and the circuit board are directly connected without using a connector, Material cost is reduced, and cost reduction is achieved. The connection device for a flexible circuit board achieves simplification of the structure and efficiency of the space by eliminating the need for a mounting space for the connector on the circuit board.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a connection device for a flexible circuit board provided in an optical pickup according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the connection device for the flexible circuit board.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the connection device for the flexible circuit board.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a connection device for a flexible circuit board shown as another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part of a conventional connection device for a flexible circuit board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connection device 2 Flexible circuit board 3 Circuit board 5 Conductor pattern 6 Cut 7 Strip 8 Circuit pattern 10 Connection land part 11 Solder 12 Insulating resin 20 Connection device 21 Flexible circuit board 22 Circuit board 23 Slit 24 Conductor pattern 25 Circuit pattern 26 Connection Land 27 Solder 28 Insulating resin

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A circuit board having a large number of connection lands formed thereon and a flexible circuit board formed with a large number of connection pattern portions extending in the vicinity of the tip corresponding to the connection lands. The flexible circuit board has a tip portion cut into strips so as to divide the connection pattern portions, and the strips are alternately bent at right angles to both sides of the base portion. A connection device for a flexible circuit board, wherein the connection portion is directly connected to the circuit board by being joined to the connection land portions facing each other. 2. A circuit board having a large number of connection lands formed thereon, and a flexible circuit board formed with a large number of connection pattern portions extending near the distal end corresponding to the connection lands. The circuit board is formed with a slit into which the flexible circuit board is fitted, and a connection land portion is formed along an opening edge of the slit. A connection pattern portion is formed corresponding to the connection land portion, and the connection pattern portion is soldered to the connection land portion in a state where the connection pattern portion is fitted in the slit, thereby directly connecting to the circuit board. A connection device for a flexible circuit board. 3. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portions are sealed with an insulating resin material in a state where the connection pattern portions are respectively connected to connection land portions of the circuit board. Or the connecting device of the flexible circuit board according to claim 2.