JP3389941B2 - Piezoelectric vibrator unit for ink jet recording head, method of manufacturing the same, and flexible cable for connection - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nozzle opening by sealing one side of a pressure generating chamber with a vibrating plate and expanding and contracting the pressure generating chamber by a piezoelectric vibrator of a longitudinal vibration mode. The present invention relates to a piezoelectric vibrator unit suitable for an ink jet recording head that generates ink droplets from ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a piezoelectric vibrator of a longitudinal vibration mode as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-104715 is used for driving an ink jet recording head, the contact area between the piezoelectric vibrator and the diaphragm is reduced. Since it can be made extremely small, a resolution up to about 90 DPI can be realized.

A longitudinal vibration mode piezoelectric vibrator is a piezoelectric material,
While alternately laminating the segment electrode which is one pole and the common electrode which is the other pole, the segment electrode is exposed from the rear end in the extending direction, and the common electrode is exposed from the rear end,
At least these exposed parts are formed by forming external electrodes that connect the same poles in parallel, and these multiple piezoelectric vibrators are mounted on a fixed substrate at a fixed pitch and assembled into a vibrator unit, which is then incorporated in a recording head. Has been.

In the vibrator unit thus constructed, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-104715, the external electrode of the common electrode is extended to the vicinity of the external electrode of the segment electrode located on the rear end side. , The external electrode of the common electrode of these external electrodes is formed on the common electrode connecting conductive pattern extending in the width direction at the tip side of the flexible cable, and the external electrode of the segment electrode on the rear end side is formed inside the common electrode connecting conductive pattern. Each of the piezoelectric vibrators is independently connected to the formed segment electrode conductive pattern, and is configured to individually supply a drive signal to each piezoelectric vibrator from an external drive circuit connected to the other end of the flexible cable.

A soldering method using cream solder is usually used for connecting the external electrodes of the piezoelectric vibrator and the respective conductive patterns for connection of the flexible cable, and the segments of the piezoelectric vibrator are arranged at a particularly small pitch. There is a problem that solder flows between the electrode connecting conductive patterns to cause a short circuit. Therefore, after the soldering work,
The probe is connected to the side of the conductive pattern for connecting segment electrodes that is opposite to the side where the piezoelectric vibrator is fixed, and the presence or absence of a short circuit between the conductive patterns of the segment electrodes of the piezoelectric vibrator is checked. There is.

[0006]

However, 128 or more piezoelectric vibrators 70 to 150 are provided on one fixed substrate.
In the piezoelectric vibrator unit of the recording head used for high-density printing fixed at a pitch of about μm (180 to 360 dpi), if a large number of conductive patterns are formed within the limited flexible cable width, The width of the formed conductive pattern is 20 to 5
There is a problem in that the electrical resistance is extremely increased due to the extremely small thickness of about 0 μm.

In order to solve such a problem, a semiconductor integrated circuit for converting a print signal into an individual drive signal for driving each piezoelectric vibrator is mounted on a flexible cable near the piezoelectric vibrator, and the drive signal is It has been considered to cope with the increase in electric resistance by shortening the transmission distance of P.

With such a structure, the attenuation of the drive signal in the flexible cable can be suppressed as low as possible, but the other end side of the piezoelectric vibrator of the flexible cable, that is, the external drive circuit connection side is a semiconductor integrated circuit. Since it is directly connected to the circuit, it becomes impossible to check the conductivity between the segment electrodes between the piezoelectric vibrators from the other end side of the flexible cable. There is a problem that an inspection becomes difficult because it is necessary to connect the probe to the conductive pattern in a narrow area for transmitting the drive signal to the piezoelectric vibrator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily inspect whether or not the connection between the piezoelectric vibrators having a high density array and the flexible cable is good. It is to provide a piezoelectric vibrator unit capable of performing.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a method for manufacturing the above piezoelectric vibrator unit.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cable suitable for constructing the piezoelectric vibrator unit.

[0012]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a segment electrode which is one pole and a common electrode which is the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material interposed therebetween. At the same time, the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and extended to one surface on the rear end side by the external electrode to connect the common electrode, and the segment electrode is exposed from the rear end side. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators extending to one surface on the rear end side by external electrodes and formed with connection portions of segment electrodes are fixed to a fixing plate at a constant pitch, and independently of each of the segment electrodes. crossing a linear segment electrode connecting region connecting, the piezoelectric vibrator in which a plurality of adjacent, and formed by being separated from each other, and a common electrode connection region connected to the connecting portion of the common electrode, said co A common electrode connecting conductive pattern connected via an electrode connecting region, and the segment electrode connecting region and the common electrode connecting region are connected to an external drive circuit by a flexible cable separated by a window. .

[0013]

[Operation] At the stage of connecting the segment electrode connection regions,
Since the shaded area side is a free end and the common electrode connection area maintains a conductive relationship with the segment electrode connection area individually, a probe connection area is formed on the tip side of the common electrode connection area for soldering. The presence or absence of the resulting short circuit between the segment electrodes is inspected. The window formed between the segment electrode connection area and the common electrode connection area after inspection
The common electrode connection region is connected to the common electrode connection conductive pattern independently of the segment electrode connection region.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. Figure 1 (a), (b)
1 shows an embodiment of the vibrator unit of the present invention in a state before connecting the flexible cable and a state after connecting the flexible cable, respectively.
Is a piezoelectric vibrator unit main body before the flexible cable 10 is connected, and includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 2, 2, 2.
Also, the dummy vibrators 3 are fixed to the fixed substrate 4 at a constant pitch on the side edges.

As shown in FIG. 1B, these piezoelectric vibrators 2 are laminated by interposing a piezoelectric material 7 between a segment electrode 5 and a common electrode 6, and a rear end 5a of the segment electrode 5 is formed.
Exposing the (fixed substrate 4 side) from the rear end side of the piezoelectric material 7,
Further, the tip 6a of the common electrode 6 is exposed from the tip side of the piezoelectric material 7, the external electrodes 8 are provided on the rear end surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface where the segment electrodes 5 are exposed, and the tip surface where the common electrode 6 is exposed. 1. Provide external electrodes 9 on the upper surface and the lower surface 1
A plurality of segment electrodes 5 and a plurality of common electrodes 6 of one piezoelectric vibrator 2 are connected in parallel by external electrodes 8 and 9, respectively.

Further, the external electrodes 8 of the segment electrodes 5 and the external electrodes 9 of the common electrode 6 of each piezoelectric vibrator 2 are respectively provided along at least the surface opposite to the surface on which the fixed substrate 4 is attached. Connection portions 11 and 12 are formed so as to extend to the vicinity of the fixed substrate 4 and be soldered to a flexible cable 10 described later.

2A and 2B show the connection state of the piezoelectric vibrator 1 and the flexible cable 10 with the fixed substrate 4 removed, and the connection portion 11 of the segment electrode 5 is flexible. The conductive patterns for driving signal supply 21, 21 ... Extending from the semiconductor integrated circuit 20 for generating the driving signal mounted on the cable 10 and the connecting portion 12 of the common electrode 6 are connected to the conductive pattern 2 for driving signal supply.
Common electrodes, which will be described later, formed at the tips of 1, 21 ,.
The shaded areas 21c forming the connection area are fixed by soldering so as to maintain the conductive relationship, and are connected to the common electrode conductive patterns 22 formed on the side portions of the flexible cable 10.

On the other hand, from the semiconductor integrated circuit 20 of the flexible cable 10 to the other end side (left side in the drawing), a conductive pattern 24 for connecting to an external drive circuit (not shown) and supplying a print signal to the semiconductor integrated circuit 20. , 24 ... Are provided. In this way, when the method of supplying the print signal from the external drive circuit to the semiconductor integrated circuit 20 via the flexible cable and generating the drive signal for driving the individual piezoelectric vibrators 2 in the semiconductor integrated circuit, the piezoelectric vibration is generated. Since the number of print signal transmission conductive patterns can be reduced irrespective of the number of children, it is possible to form a wide print signal transmission conductive pattern without causing widening of the flexible cable.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the flexible cable 10 in an enlarged manner between the semiconductor integrated circuit 20 and the connection region of the piezoelectric vibrator, and the conductive patterns 21 for driving signal supply 21, 21 ... Piezoelectric vibrators 2 and 2 at the tip of
Linear connection regions 21a, 21a, which are individually connected to the connection parts of the segment electrodes 5, and finally, diagonally shaded regions 21c which are connected to the common electrode 5 and which are adjacent to each other and which have a constant interval. And temporarily these areas 21a,
A connection region 21b for connecting 21c and probe connection regions 21d, 21d continuous to the tip side of the shaded region are formed.

The shaded area 21c has a height H corresponding to a width of at least two piezoelectric vibrators 2, that is, a width of four piezoelectric vibrators 2 in this embodiment, and is formed in a "V" shape. The segment electrode connection region 21 is provided on the oscillator side (downward in the figure).
.. are provided so as to be on the same line as a, 21a, .. .., and linear probe connection regions 21d, 21d .. are provided with a certain gap so that adjacent ones do not overlap. The lengths of the probe connection regions 21d, 21d ... Are selected so that the probe for inspection can be pulled out to a place where the probe can be easily attached.

On the other hand, the conductive pattern 22 for connecting the common electrode
Are formed along the outer shape of the shaded area 21c of the drive signal supplying conductive pattern 21 at the outermost end.

Next, the connection between the flexible cable 10 thus constructed and the piezoelectric vibrator unit 1 will be described. First, the probe of the continuity inspection device is connected to the probe connection regions 21d, 21d, ... And the quality of the conductive pattern 21 of the flexible cable 10 alone is inspected.

Next, the conductive patterns 21, 21 ... For supplying each drive signal of the flexible cable 10 that has been inspected.
Segment electrode connection regions 21a, 21a at the tip of ...
And the piezoelectric vibrators 2, 2, ...
Only the connecting portion 11 of the segment electrode 5 is first soldered by aligning so as to match with 1.

A probe of the continuity inspection device is connected to the probe connection regions 21d, 21d, ..., Which are placed in a free state even after soldering, and there is a short circuit due to the flow of solder between the adjacent conductive patterns 21. Inspect whether or not.

At the stage when the inspection of the connection between the segment electrode 5 and the flexible cable 10 is completed, the probe is removed from the connection regions 21d, 21d ... And punched out as shown in FIG. 4 in order to remove all the intermediate region 21b. The window 23 is formed by, for example, and the probe connection region 21d is cut. Next, the shaded area 21c is soldered to each piezoelectric vibrator 2 of the piezoelectric vibrator unit 1 and the connecting portions 12 and 13 of the common electrode 6 of the dummy vibrator 3.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 2, 2 straddle one shaded area 21c, and these connecting portions 12 are fixed by soldering, so that each shaded area 2
The whole is connected in parallel via a connecting portion 12 of a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 1c is straddled, and is connected to a common electrode connecting conductive pattern 22 via a connecting portion 13 of a dummy vibrator 3 at an end portion. , As a result, each piezoelectric vibrator 2, 2 ...
The common electrode 6 has a conductive relationship with the common electrode connecting conductive pattern 22.

Since the adjacent shaded regions 21c are originally for parallel connection, even if solder flows into the shaded regions 21c to cause a short circuit, the function is functionally improved.
There is no need to check for short circuits, since no problems will occur.

As a result, the segment electrodes 5 of the respective piezoelectric vibrators 2, 2 ... Are independently connected to the drive signal supplying conductive patterns 21, 21 ... And the common electrode 6 is common via the shaded area 21c. Conductive pattern 22 for electrode connection
Connected to.

In this embodiment, since the shaded area 21c connected to the common electrode 6 is substantially V-shaped, the connecting portion 1 is formed in comparison with the one formed as a mere shaded line which will be described later.
A large effective contact area with 2 can be secured, and a large current can be safely passed without causing local heat generation.

In the above embodiment, the shaded area 2
1c is formed in a "V" shape so that the position of the probe connecting portion 21d is clearly associated with each piezoelectric vibrator 2, but as shown in FIG. It is configured as a linear pattern 21e that is drawn out, and a probe connection region 2 that extends in the axial direction of the piezoelectric vibrator is formed at the tip of the linear pattern 21e.
Even if 1f is formed, it is possible to inspect for a short circuit between the segment electrodes.

In the above-described embodiment, the flexible cable 10 is provided with the semiconductor integrated circuit 20 for generating a drive signal and the piezoelectric vibrator is driven by the drive signal from now on. However, the drive signal from the external drive circuit is described. It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained by applying the above-mentioned to the one that is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrator through the flexible cable.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the soldering is performed in two times in order to inspect for the presence or absence of a short circuit due to the inflow of the solder between the adjacent conductive patterns 21, but the amount of solder or the like is different. If it can be managed sufficiently and there is no risk of solder flowing into adjacent patterns,
When the inspection of the conductive pattern of the flexible cable alone is completed, the window 2 is punched as shown in FIG.
3 is formed, and the probe connection region 21d is cut off.

The conductive pattern 2 for supplying each drive signal
Segment electrode connection regions 21a at the tips of 1, 21, ...
21a ... and the segment electrodes 5 of the piezoelectric vibrators 2, 2 ...
After the alignment with the connecting portion 11 of the flexible cable 10 and the alignment of the shaded area 21c of the flexible cable 10 with each piezoelectric vibrator 2 of the piezoelectric vibrator unit 1 and the common electrode 6 of the dummy vibrator 3, these segments Electrode connection area 2
You may make it solder two areas, 1a and the shaded area 21c simultaneously.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
At the stage of connecting the segment electrode connection area, the common electrode
And the common electrode connection region a connection region side free end is able to maintain the individual conductive relationship with the segment electrode connection regions, the common
If a probe connection area that is a free end is formed on the tip side of the electrode connection area, the probe is connected to this area and the presence or absence of a short circuit between the segment electrodes due to soldering is inspected to make the piezoelectric vibrator high density. The arrayed vibrator units can be manufactured with high reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are enlarged views of an embodiment of a piezoelectric vibrator unit according to the present invention, showing a structure of a piezoelectric vibrator in a state before a flexible cable is connected and in a state in which a flexible cable is connected. FIG.

2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a top view, respectively, showing a piezoelectric vibrator unit according to an embodiment of the present invention with a fixed substrate removed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a flexible cable before the piezoelectric vibrator is connected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flexible cable in a state where segment electrodes of a piezoelectric vibrator are connected and unnecessary portions are cut.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a hatched region and a piezoelectric vibrator in a state where a flexible cable is connected to the piezoelectric vibrator.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the connection flexible cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 transducer unit 2 Piezoelectric vibrator 3 Dummy oscillator 4 fixed board 5 segment electrode 6 common electrode 7 Piezoelectric material 8, 9 External electrode 10 flexible cable 11, 12 connection 20 Semiconductor integrated circuits 21 Conductive pattern for driving signal supply 21a Segment electrode connection area 21c Shaded area for common electrode connection 21d probe connection area 22 Conductive pattern for common electrode connection 23 windows

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/045 B41J 2/055 B41J 29/00 H01L 41/09

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. A segment electrode serving as one pole and a common electrode serving as the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material sandwiched therebetween, and the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and externally exposed. The common electrode connecting portion is formed by extending the one surface on the rear end side by the electrode, and the segment electrode is exposed from the rear end side and is formed on the one surface on the rear end side by the external electrode. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators each having a segment electrode connecting portion fixed to a fixing plate at a constant pitch, and a linear segment electrode connecting region that is independently connected to each of the segment electrodes, and a plurality of adjacent segment electrode connecting regions. the straddle the pressure <br/> electrostatic vibrator, and are formed separately from each other, and a common electrode connection region connected to the connecting portion of the common electrode, the common electrode connected via the common electrode connecting region For connection A piezoelectric vibrator unit for an inkjet recording head, which has a conductive pattern and is connected to an external drive circuit by a flexible cable in which the segment electrode connection region and the common electrode connection region are separated by a window. 2. The piezoelectric vibrator unit for an ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the common electrode connection region is formed in a substantially “V” shape. 3. A piezoelectric vibration for an ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein a semiconductor integrated circuit receiving a print signal from an external drive circuit is connected to a conductive pattern extending from the segment electrode connection region and mounted on the flexible cable. Child unit. 4. A segment electrode serving as one pole and a common electrode serving as the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material sandwiched therebetween, and the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and externally exposed. Connecting to the common electrode connecting part by extending to one surface on the rear end side by an electrode, and connecting the segment electrode by extending the segment electrode from the rear end side and extending to one surface on the rear end side by an external electrode A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators each having a section formed thereon are fixed to a fixing plate at a constant pitch, and a linear segment electrode connection region that independently faces each of the segment electrodes, and with continuous segment electrode connection regions, spanning the piezoelectric vibrator in which a plurality of adjacent, and formed by being separated from each other, and a common electrode connection region facing the connecting portion of the common electrode, the common electrode contact The segment electrode connection region of a flexible cable having a probe connection region continuous at the tip of the region and a common electrode connection conductive pattern which is separated from the common electrode connection region and is connectable via the piezoelectric vibrator, A first step of soldering to the segment electrode connection portion of the piezoelectric vibrator; a second step of determining whether the soldering is good or bad via the probe connection area; the segment electrode connection area and common electrode connection area And a third step of electrically separating the two from each other by forming a window therebetween, and a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator unit for an inkjet recording head, comprising: 5. A segment electrode serving as one pole and a common electrode serving as the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material sandwiched therebetween, and the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and externally exposed. Connecting to the common electrode connecting part by extending to one surface on the rear end side by an electrode, and connecting the segment electrode by extending the segment electrode from the rear end side and extending to one surface on the rear end side by an external electrode A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators each having a section formed thereon are fixed to a fixed plate at a constant pitch, and a linear segment electrode connection region that individually opposes each of the segment electrodes, A common electrode connection region that is continuous with the segment electrode connection region, straddles a plurality of adjacent piezoelectric vibrators, and is separated from each other, and faces the connection portion of the common electrode, and the common electrode connection region. The segment electrode connection region of a flexible cable having a probe connection region continuous at the tip of, and a common electrode connection conductive pattern that is separated from the common electrode connection region and that can be connected by connection with the piezoelectric vibrator. A first step of soldering to the segment electrode connection portion of the piezoelectric vibrator; a second step of determining whether the soldering is good or bad via the probe connection area; the segment electrode connection area and common electrode connection area And a third step of cutting the probe connection region while forming a window between the piezoelectric vibrator unit for an inkjet recording head and the third step. 6. The piezoelectric vibrator unit for an ink jet recording head according to claim 5, wherein a semiconductor integrated circuit that receives a print signal from an external drive circuit is mounted on a conductive pattern extending from the segment electrode connection region on the flexible cable. Production method. 7. A segment electrode serving as one pole and a common electrode serving as the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material sandwiched therebetween, and the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and externally exposed. Connecting to the common electrode connecting portion by extending to one surface on the rear end side by an electrode, and connecting the segment electrode by extending the segment electrode from the rear end side and extending to one surface on the rear end side by an external electrode A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators each having a section formed thereon are fixed to a fixing plate at a constant pitch, and a linear segment electrode connection region that independently faces each of the segment electrodes, and A common electrode connection region that is continuous with the segment electrode connection region, straddles a plurality of adjacent piezoelectric vibrators, and is separated from each other, and faces the connection portion of the common electrode, and the common electrode connection region. The segment electrode connection region of a flexible cable having a probe connection region continuous at the tip of, and a common electrode connection conductive pattern that is separated from the common electrode connection region and that can be connected by connection with the piezoelectric vibrator. A first step of soldering to the segment electrode connection portion of the piezoelectric vibrator; a second step of determining whether the soldering is good or bad via the probe connection area; the segment electrode connection area and common electrode connection area A third step of forming a window between the probe electrode and the probe connection area, and a fourth step of connecting the common electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator and the common electrode connection area of the flexible cable. A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator unit for an inkjet recording head, which is provided. 8. The piezoelectric vibrator unit for an ink jet recording head according to claim 7, wherein the flexible cable is mounted with a semiconductor integrated circuit which receives a print signal from an external drive circuit on a conductive pattern extending from the segment electrode connection region. Production method. 9. A linear segment electrode connection region independently facing each of the segment electrodes, and a segment electrode connection region that is continuous with the segment electrode connection region and straddles a plurality of adjacent piezoelectric vibrators and is separated from each other. Formed and said
A common electrode connection region facing the connection portion of the common electrode of the piezoelectric element, a probe connection region continuous at the tip of the common electrode connection region, and a connection from the common electrode connection region separated from the common electrode connection region and via the piezoelectric vibrator. A first step of inspecting a conductive pattern continuous to the segment electrode connection area via the probe connection area of a flexible cable having a possible common electrode connection conductive pattern; and the segment electrode connection area and the common electrode connection area. to form a window, and a second step of cutting the probe connection region, and the segment electrodes to be one pole, the other pole between
The common electrode and the common electrode are alternately laminated, and the common electrode is exposed from the side facing the pressure generating chamber and extended to one surface on the rear end side by an external electrode to connect the common electrode. Also, a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators in which the segment electrodes are exposed from the rear end side and extended to one surface on the rear end side by the external electrodes and the connection portions of the segment electrodes are formed on the fixed plate at a constant pitch. A third step of soldering the segment electrode connection region and the common electrode connection region to the segment electrode connection part and the common electrode connection part of the piezoelectric oscillator on the piezoelectric vibrator body fixed by A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator unit for an inkjet recording head. 10. The piezoelectric vibrator unit for an ink jet recording head according to claim 9, wherein the flexible cable is mounted with a semiconductor integrated circuit which receives a print signal from an external drive circuit on a conductive pattern extending from the segment electrode connection region. Production method. 11. A segment electrode serving as one pole and a common electrode serving as the other pole are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric material sandwiched therebetween, and the common electrode is exposed from a side facing the pressure generating chamber and externally exposed. The common electrode connecting portion is formed by extending the one surface on the rear end side by the electrode, and the segment electrode is exposed from the rear end side and is formed on the one surface on the rear end side by the external electrode. In a flexible cable for connecting a piezoelectric vibrator unit in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators having fixed segment electrode connecting portions are fixed to a fixed plate at a constant pitch, and to an external drive circuit, each of the segment electrodes is independently provided. The linear segment electrode connecting regions facing each other are formed continuously with the segment electrode connecting regions, straddling a plurality of adjacent piezoelectric vibrators, and separated from each other. A common electrode connection region facing the connection part of the common electrode, a probe connection region continuous at the tip of the common electrode connection region, and a region separated from the common electrode connection region and connectable via the piezoelectric vibrator A flexible cable having a conductive pattern for connecting a common electrode. 12. The flexible cable according to claim 11, wherein the common electrode connection region is formed in a substantially “V” shape. 13. The flexible cable according to claim 11, wherein a semiconductor integrated circuit which receives a print signal from an external drive circuit is mounted on a conductive pattern extending from the segment electrode connection region on the flexible cable.