JP2009026591A - Component for electrical connection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-profile component for electrical connection electrically connecting a cable and a substrate circuit. <P>SOLUTION: According to the present invention, the electrical connection component 1 is composed of: an FPC cable 20 formed in a band shape in which a plurality of FPC conductors 40 laid side by side are held between an upper film 30 and a lower film 45, a portion of the lower film at the front portion of the FPC cable 20 being removed; and an FPC connection clip 50 that has a fixing portion fixed to a substrate 10 and a holding portion extending from the fixing portion and that is formed such that the holding portion, which has an insertion gap, is positioned above a circuit pad 14 when the fixing portion is fixed to a predetermined position of the substrate. In the holding portion is formed a clip pressing portion 60 above the circuit pad so as to project downward when the fixing portion is fixed to the predetermined position of the substrate, the front portion of the FPC cable is inserted into the insertion gap, and the clip pressing portion presses the FPC cable downward to allow the circuit pad to contact the FPC conductor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connection component that electrically connects an electrical cable and a board circuit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of electrically connecting a flat cable (hereinafter simply referred to as a cable) such as an FPC and FFC cable and a substrate circuit, a method of connecting via a connector fixed on the substrate is known ( For example, see Patent Document 1). Here, the connector is formed by inserting a metal contact for electrically connecting the conductor of the cable and the board circuit into a housing formed of an insulating resin and having an opening into which the cable end can be inserted. ing. Then, by inserting the end of the cable into the connector fixed to such a board and bringing the conductor of the cable into contact with the contact, the cable and the board circuit are electrically connected, while the cable is pulled out from the connector. Thus, the electrical connection between the cable and the board circuit can be released.

  In recent years, the shape of electrical devices (for example, mobile phones and digital cameras) in which the connector having the above configuration is used is often thin, and accordingly, the height from the board surface to the connector is low (low profile). There is a request to configure. As a result, a connector having a height of, for example, about 1 mm from the substrate surface recently exists.

JP 2001-307804 A

  By the way, as a strong demand from the side of developing electrical equipment, there is a further demand for lowering the height of connectors. However, when considering the cable thickness, housing, and contact strength in a connector with a height of about 1 mm, it is difficult to ensure the strength of the connector against external forces due to the low profile, which may affect the connector performance. There was a problem that it was difficult to further reduce the height because there was not.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-profile electrical connection component that electrically connects a cable and a board circuit.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrical connection component according to the present invention is configured in a belt shape by sandwiching a plurality of line-shaped conductors from above and below by an upper insulating layer and a lower insulating layer having electrical insulation. A flat cable from which the lower insulating layer is removed at the front portion to expose the conductor, a fixing portion fixed to the substrate, and a holding portion extending to the fixing portion, the fixing portion being a predetermined portion of the substrate A holding member formed so that the holding portion extends along the surface of the substrate and is positioned above the terminal pattern provided on the surface of the substrate with an insertion gap in a fixed state. It is composed of The holding portion is formed with a pressing portion that protrudes downward above the terminal pattern in a state where the fixing portion is fixed at a predetermined position of the substrate. Then, a front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap formed between the holding portion and the substrate, and the pressing portion presses the flat cable downward, so that the terminal pattern and the front portion And the exposed conductor is brought into contact with each other.

  In the electrical connection component having the above-described configuration, the flat cable has the plate-shaped reinforcing member fixed to the upper surface of the upper insulating layer in the front portion, so that the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap. In some cases, it is preferable that the pressing portion presses the flat cable downward through the reinforcing member to bring the terminal pattern into contact with the conductor. Further, in the electrical connection component having the above-described configuration, the reinforcing member has a plurality of arm-shaped swinging portions formed to extend corresponding to each of the plurality of line-shaped conductors, and further It is preferable that the portion has a protrusion protruding downward, and the pressing portion presses the upper portion of the protrusion downward while the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap.

  Further, in the electrical connection component having the above-described configuration, the upper insulating layer of the flat cable has a plurality of notches having a predetermined length from the vicinity of the front end toward the rear so as to correspond to the plurality of line-shaped conductors. Is preferably applied. Further, in the electrical connection component having the above configuration, when the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap, the holding member has guide portions that are close to the front end surface and both end surfaces of the front portion of the flat cable. The configuration is preferable.

  According to the electrical connection component of the present invention, the flat cable subjected to the process of removing the lower insulating layer at the front part and exposing the conductor is inserted into the insertion gap formed between the holding part of the holding member and the substrate. By inserting, the pressing part of the holding part presses the flat cable downward, and the conductor of the flat cable and the terminal pattern of the substrate are brought into contact with each other to be electrically connected. In the electrical connection component of this configuration, the height of the holding member fixed to the board is the maximum height, and the maximum height is approximately the sum of the thickness of the flat cable and the thickness of the holding member. It is possible to realize a significant reduction in the height of the connecting part that electrically connects the flat cable and the board, and the flat cable and the board can be electrically connected even in a narrow device limited in the vertical direction of the board. It becomes.

  In addition, by fixing a plate-shaped reinforcing member to the upper surface of the flat cable, it becomes possible to improve the strength of the front portion of the flat cable, so that even when it is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the insertion gap of the holding member, The front portion of the cable is less likely to be damaged, and the reliability of electrical connection between the conductor and the terminal pattern can be improved. Furthermore, since the reinforcing member is fixed to the upper surface of the front portion of the flat cable, it has a guide effect when the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap, and the workability of the flat cable insertion / extraction can be improved. . Furthermore, it has a plurality of arm-like swinging portions that extend so as to correspond to the plurality of line-shaped conductors, and a protrusion projecting downward is formed on the swinging portion. . Therefore, the pressing force applied downward by the pressing portion of the holding member can be more reliably applied to the conductor, and further, the lower portion of the protruding portion is strongly pressed downward by the protruding portion, so that the conductor and the terminal are reliably connected. It becomes possible to contact the pattern. That is, the reliability of electrical connection between the conductor and the terminal pattern can be improved.

  Similarly, the upper insulating layer of the flat cable is cut by a plurality of predetermined lengths from the vicinity of the front end to the rear so as to correspond to the plurality of line-shaped conductors. It is possible to more reliably apply the pressing force acting on the conductor to the conductor, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the conductor and the terminal pattern. Further, when the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap, the holding member is formed with guide portions adjacent to the front end surface and both end surfaces of the front portion of the flat cable. In other words, when the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap, the conductor of the flat cable is inevitably guided to the vertical position so that it can be electrically connected by contacting the corresponding terminal pattern. It becomes possible to improve the reliability of electrical connection.

  Below, preferable embodiment of the electrical-connection component 1 which concerns on this invention is described, referring FIGS. 1-8. Here, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connection component 1 is mainly composed of an FPC cable 20 and an FPC connection clip 50 fixed on the substrate 10. Further, by inserting and removing the front end portion of the FPC cable 20 in the front-rear direction with respect to the FPC connection clip 50, an FPC conductor 40 of the FPC cable 20 described later and a circuit pad 14 of the substrate 10 described later are brought into contact with each other. Electrical connection is made or electrical connection is released.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the FPC cable 20 includes a reinforcing plate 21, an upper film 30, an FPC conductor 40, and a lower film 45. The FPC cable 20 is generally composed of an upper film 30, an FPC conductor 40 and a lower film 45, which are generally called flat cables, and a reinforcing plate 21 is placed on the upper surface of the front end portion. It is comprised by fixing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing plate 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view using, for example, an elastically deformable resin material. The reinforcing plate 21 has a base portion 22 at the rear portion thereof, a moving space 25 opened up and down at the front portion, and an edge portion 26 formed at the front end portion. The plate shape extends forward from the front end surface 22a of the base portion 22. Nine elastic fingers 23 are formed at equal intervals in the left-right direction. Here, each elastic finger 23 has a configuration in which a moving space 25 is formed in the left-right direction and is not in contact with each other, and the front end portion of each elastic finger 23 is between the edge 26 and the moving space 25. Is formed and is not connected to the edge portion 26.

  Further, in the vicinity of the front side of the elastic finger 23, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper surface of the elastic finger 23 is depressed downward to form a concave portion 24a, and the lower surface thereof protrudes downward to form a convex portion 24b. Finger pressing portions 24 are formed. With the above configuration, the reinforcing plate 21 can swing up and down around the front end face 22a of the base 22 by external force acting in the vicinity of the finger pressing portion 24 in the vertical direction. The front-rear width of the reinforcing plate 21 is a length B, and the front end surface 22a of the base 22 is formed at a position of a length A in the front-rear direction from the front end surface 27 of the reinforcing plate 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the FPC conductor 40 is formed in a plate shape by using a material that can conduct electricity and extends back and forth, and since the thickness in the vertical direction is relatively thin, it is elastically deformed within a certain range. It is possible. Further, the FPC conductor 40 is surrounded and held by the upper film 30 and the lower film 45 from above and below, and the front end portion thereof is substantially in the same position as the front end surface 32 of the upper film 30 described later. Further, the nine FPC conductors 40 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper film 30 is formed in a plate shape by, for example, a deformable insulating resin material, and the left and right widths in the vicinity of the front are substantially the same as the left and right widths of the reinforcing plate 21. Further, the upper film 30 is provided with a plurality of cutouts 31 having a length D from the vicinity of the front end toward the rear, and the cutout 31 is cut and separated in the left-right direction. The driven portion 33 is formed to be elongated in the front-rear direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the notch 31 is provided at substantially the center position of the gap in the left-right direction between the FPC conductors 40. With the above configuration, the driven portion 33 can be deformed up and down independently in the portion where the notch 31 is provided without interfering with the left and right adjacent portions.

  The lower film 45 is formed in a plate shape by, for example, a deformable insulating resin material, like the upper film 30, and its left and right width is substantially the same as the left and right width of the reinforcing plate 21 in the vicinity of the front thereof. . Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower film 45 is removed from the front end surface 32 (the front end portion of the FPC conductor 40) of the upper film 30 in the range of the length C backward.

  The FPC connection clip 50 is formed using, for example, an elastically deformable metal material, and includes a front part 59, a clip pressing part 60, and a rear part 70 as shown in FIG. It has become. As shown in FIG. 3, the front portion 59 has side bottom surfaces 52 formed at the left and right ends of the bottom surface thereof, two inner bottom surfaces 51 extending from the side bottom surface 52 toward the left and right centers, and two A central bottom surface 53 is formed between the inner bottom surfaces 51. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, side guide surfaces 52 are formed on the left and right inner side surfaces of each side bottom surface 52, and a front guide surface 51 a is formed on the rear end side surface of each inner bottom surface 51. In addition, the front portion 59 is connected to the front end portions of the side bottom surface 52 and the inner bottom surface 51 and extends upward, and two bent portions 54 that are bent rearward are formed on the left and right sides. An upper surface 55 connected to the rear end of 54 and extending rearward is formed.

  The clip pressing portion 60 is formed in a portion that is connected to the rear end portion of the upper surface 55 and extends rearward. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the clip pressing portion 60 is recessed to form a recess 60a, and the lower surface thereof. Projecting downward to form a convex portion 60b. Here, the concave portion 60 a and the convex portion 60 b extend to the left and right end portions of the clip pressing portion 60. The rear portion 70 is connected to the rear end portion of the clip pressing portion 60 and extends rearward. The rear portion 70 is connected to the holding surface 71 formed in a plate shape parallel to the upper surface 55 and the rear end portion of the holding surface 71. And a knob portion 72 extending rearward and obliquely upward.

  On the upper surface of the substrate 10, fixing pads 12, 13 and nine circuit pads 14 formed using, for example, solder are formed. Here, the circuit pads 14 are substrate circuits (not shown) formed on the substrate 10. Are electrically connected. In addition, the circuit pads 14 are disposed so as to be parallel to the left-right direction, with the left-right distance substantially the same as the left-right distance of the FPC conductor 40.

  The member configuration of the electrical connection component 1 has been described so far, but the assembly configuration of the electrical connection component 1 will be described below.

  First, a method for fixing the FPC connection clip 50 to the substrate 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the side bottom surface 52 and the center bottom surface 53 of the FPC connection clip 50 are positioned below and placed on the top surface of the substrate 10, and the side bottom surface 52 and the fixing pad 12 are in contact with each other in the vertical direction. 53 and the fixed pad 13 are in contact with each other. In this state, the FPC connection clip 50 is fixed to the substrate 10 by, for example, melting the solder of the fixing pads 12 and 13 through a reflow bath.

  Next, the assembly configuration of the FPC cable 20 will be described. For the commercially available flat cable, the upper film 30 and the lower film 45 are processed as described above, and then the reinforcing plate 21 is placed on the upper surface of the upper film 30. The entire lower surface is fixed to the upper surface of the upper film 30. At this time, the front end surface 27 of the reinforcing plate 21 and the front end surface 32 of the upper film 30 are made to coincide with each other, and the left and right end portions thereof are also made to coincide. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 7, one follower 33 and one FPC conductor 40 are respectively positioned below one elastic finger 23. Therefore, as the elastic finger 23 swings downward, the driven portion 33 and the FPC conductor 40, which are positioned below the elastic finger 23, are deformed and moved downward. The elastic finger 23, the driven portion 33, and the FPC conductor 40 arranged so as to be can be deformed and moved downward integrally and without interfering with other sets adjacent to the left and right. ing.

  Hereinafter, a method of inserting the FPC cable 20 into the FPC connection clip 50 and bringing the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 into contact with each other for electrical connection will be described.

  First, with the knob portion 72 of the FPC connection clip 50 lifted and supported, the front end portion of the FPC cable 20 is inserted from the rear to the front between the board 10 and the FPC connection clip 50. At this time, the left and right side surfaces of the FPC cable 20 are inserted forward while being guided in the left-right direction, close to the two side guide surfaces 52a formed on the FPC connection clip 50. When the support of the knob portion 72 is released after the front end surface 32 of the upper film 30 and the front guide surface 51a are inserted, the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 are vertically moved as shown in FIG. It is comprised so that it may contact | abut and may be electrically connected. At this time, since the lower film 45 is removed from the front end portion in the range of the length C, the reinforcing plate 21, the upper film 30, and the FPC conductor 40 positioned above the lower film 45 are pressed downward by the connection clip 50. Thus, the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 come into contact with each other by moving downward as a unit. At the time of the insertion, the side guide surface 52a guides the FPC cable 20 in the left-right direction, while the front guide surface 51a guides the FPC cable 20 in the front-rear direction, so that the FPC conductor 40 is It becomes possible to be located above the corresponding circuit pad 14.

  The contact between the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 will be described in detail. While the FPC cable 20 is inserted forward to the predetermined position, the finger pressing portion 24 is located below the clip pressing portion 60, and As shown in FIG. 3 in plan view, the area near the finger pressing portion 24 indicated by the front-rear width F is pressed downward by the clip pressing portion 60. Therefore, the concave portion 24a of the finger pressing portion 24 is pressed downward by the convex portion 60b of the clip pressing portion 60, and at the same time, the upper film 30 and the FPC conductor 40 where the convex portion 24b of the finger pressing portion 24 is positioned below the concave portion 24a. Press down. Then, the FPC conductor 40 positioned below the convex portion 60b of the clip pressing portion 60 can be reliably brought into contact with the circuit pad 14 by being intensively pressed downward by the convex portion 60b and the convex portion 24b. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the elastic fingers 23, the driven portions 33, and the FPC conductors 40 arranged in the vertical direction for each pole are pressed downward together, the upper film 30 is cut. Since the notch 31 is provided, the driven portions 33 adjacent to the left and right can be smoothly deformed and moved downward without interference. Therefore, the downward pressing force acting on the elastic finger 23 can be surely applied to the FPC conductor 40.

  In the FPC cable 20 insertion state, the holding portion 71 of the FPC connection clip 50 causes the elastic fingers 23, the upper film 30, the FPC conductor 40, and the lower film 45 positioned below the lower portion to be lower than the upper surface of the substrate 10. Press and hold. By doing so, the FPC cable 20 is fixed and held with respect to the FPC connection clip 50 and the substrate 10, and the reinforcing plate 21 is protected by the holding portion 71 covering the upper surface of the reinforcing plate 21.

  Conversely, when the electrical connection between the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 is released, the FPC cable 20 is pulled out rearward with the knob portion 72 lifted upward and supported.

  To briefly summarize the effects of the electrical connection component 1 according to the present invention, first, without using a contact (conductive member) and a housing (member holding the conductive member) which are constituent members of the connector, the FPC cable 20 Electrical connection between the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 of the substrate 10 becomes possible. In other words, the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 can be electrically connected in a state where the FPC cable 20 and the thickness of the FPC connection clip 50 are projected upward in the upward direction of the substrate 10. Can be reduced. Furthermore, it becomes possible to use it for a thin electric device in which it is difficult to secure a space in the vertical direction from the substrate 10. In addition, since the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 can be electrically connected without using a contact and a housing, it is not necessary to manufacture these members, and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. .

  Secondly, the reinforcing plate 21 has the elastic fingers 23 corresponding to the individual FPC conductors 40, and the upper film 30 is provided with a notch 31 so that the elastic fingers 23 are located near the front of the elastic fingers 23 from above to below. When the pressing force is applied, each driven portion 33 and each FPC conductor 40 can be reliably deformed and moved independently in the direction in which the pressing force is applied. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the finger pressing portion 24 formed on the elastic finger 23 presses the FPC conductor 40 with a point (point), so that the portion of the FPC conductor 40 pressed with the point can be reliably Electrical connection is possible by contacting the circuit pad 14.

  Thirdly, since the contact and housing are not used, a work requiring high assembly accuracy, such as inserting a contact into the housing, can be omitted, thus simplifying the assembly work. It becomes possible to improve work efficiency.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lengths A to D shown in FIG. 5 indicate that, for example, when the elastic finger 23, the follower 33, and the FPC conductor 40 are integrally pressed downward, the lower surface of the FPC conductor 40 is the substrate. The size relationship between the lengths A to D is not particularly limited as long as the electrical connection can be established by reliably contacting the 10 circuit pads 14.

  In the embodiment described above, nine elastic fingers 23 and nine FPC conductors 40 are arranged on the left and right sides, but depending on the number of circuit board poles (number of circuit pads 14) formed on the substrate 10, the elastic fingers 23, the number of the notches 31 and the FPC conductors 40 can be arbitrarily configured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the method of fixing the FPC connection clip 50 to the substrate 10 is not limited to the above method, and a method of fastening the connection clip 50 to the substrate 10 using, for example, a bolt may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the material of the connection clip 50 is not limited to metal, and any material other than metal may be used as long as the material satisfies the function of the connection clip 50 described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the holding surface 71 and the knob portion 72 formed at the rear portion 70 of the FPC connection clip 50 are not limited to the above-described shape configuration, and the front end portion of the FPC cable 20 is provided on the FPC connection clip 50. Other shapes may be used as long as the FPC cable 20 is held and the reinforcing plate 21 is protected in the inserted state.

  In the above embodiment, the reinforcing plate 21 is placed on the upper surface of the upper film 30 and the entire lower surface of the reinforcing plate 21 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper film 30 using an adhesive. A configuration in which the lower surface is not adhesively fixed to the upper surface of the upper film 30 is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cable used for the electrical connection is not limited to the FPC cable, and a flat cable formed in a strip shape other than the FPC cable may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, for example, a positioning protrusion extending downward is formed on the bottom surface of each bottom 51, 52, 53 formed at the front portion 59 of the FPC connection clip 50, and the position facing the positioning protrusion on the substrate 10 Is provided with a positioning hole. Then, by mounting the FPC connection clip 50 on the substrate 10 while inserting the positioning protrusions into the positioning holes, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the mounting position of the FPC connection clip 50 with respect to the substrate 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, a locking projection that protrudes upward is provided on the upper surface (for example, the left and right ends) of the reinforcing plate 21, and is locked by the clip pressing portion 60 when the FPC cable 20 is inserted into the FPC connection clip 50. It may be configured as described above. Thus, even when an external force is applied to the FPC connection clip 50 or the FPC cable 20 in the inserted state of the FPC cable 20, the electrical connection state between the FPC conductor 40 and the circuit pad 14 can be stably maintained. It becomes possible.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the electrical connection component which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which inserted the FPC cable in the FPC connection clip. It is sectional drawing which shows the III-III part in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the IV-IV part in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a FPC cable. It is sectional drawing which shows the VI-VI part in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the VII-VII part in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an FPC connection clip.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electrical connection component 10 Substrate 14 Circuit pad (terminal pattern)
20 FPC cable (flat cable)
21 Reinforcement plate (reinforcement member)
23 Elastic finger (oscillating part)
24b Convex part (protrusion part)
30 Upper film (Upper insulating layer)
31 Notch 40 FPC conductor (conductor)
45 Lower film (lower insulating layer)
50 FPC connection clip (holding member)
51a Front guide surface (guide part)
52a side guide surface (guide part)
60 clip pressing part (pressing part)

Claims (5)

A plurality of line-shaped conductors are arranged in parallel and sandwiched from above and below by an electrically insulating upper insulating layer and a lower insulating layer, and are formed in a strip shape. With exposed flat cable,
A holding portion that is fixed to the substrate and a holding portion that is connected to the fixing portion, and the holding portion extends along the surface of the substrate while the fixing portion is fixed at a predetermined position of the substrate. A holding member formed to be positioned with an insertion gap above the terminal pattern provided on the surface of the substrate,
The holding portion is formed with a pressing portion protruding downward above the terminal pattern in a state where the fixing portion is fixed at a predetermined position of the substrate.
The front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap formed between the holding portion and the substrate, and the pressing portion presses the flat cable downward to expose the terminal pattern and the front portion. An electrical connection component for contacting the conductor. The flat cable has a plate-like reinforcing member fixed to the upper surface of the upper insulating layer in the front portion,
The front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap, and the pressing portion presses the flat cable downward via the reinforcing member to bring the terminal pattern and the conductor into contact with each other. The electrical connection component according to claim 1. The reinforcing member has a plurality of arm-shaped swinging portions formed to extend so as to correspond to the plurality of line-shaped conductors,
The swinging part is formed with a protrusion protruding downward,
The electrical connection component according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion presses the upper portion of the projecting portion downward while the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap.   The upper insulating layer of the flat cable is provided with a plurality of notches of a predetermined length from the vicinity of the front end to the rear so as to correspond to each of the plurality of line-shaped conductors. The electrical connection component according to claim 1. When the front portion of the flat cable is inserted into the insertion gap,
5. The electrical connection component according to claim 1, wherein the holding member includes a guide portion adjacent to a front end surface and both side end surfaces of a front portion of the flat cable.

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