JP4671854B2 - Shielded FPC adapter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shielded FPC adapter.

  Conventionally, an FPC connector is used to connect a flat flexible cable called a flexible circuit board (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or the like. . In the present specification, a flat flexible cable such as a flexible circuit board and a flexible flat cable is referred to as “FPC”.

  The FPC connector includes a housing having an insertion port for inserting an FPC, and a plurality of FPC connectors that are attached in parallel to the housing and that have contact pieces extending opposite to the surface of the FPC inserted from the insertion port. And a metal shell in which a ground contact is formed in contact with the ground pad of the FPC (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Then, by covering at least a part of the FPC connector with the metal shell and grounding the metal shell and the FPC, the metal shell and the FPC are shielded from the electromagnetic field, and the generation of noise is suppressed or the generated noise is released. It has become.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a metal shell of a conventional FPC connector.

In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a metal shell of an FPC connector, which is created by subjecting a metal plate to processing such as punching and bending. The metal shell 301 includes a pair of ground contacts 303 formed on the left and right sides so as to correspond to a ground pad of an FPC (not shown). The ground contact 303 is cut and raised as a section extending vertically downward from the top plate portion 302 of the metal shell 301 by pressing or the like, and the section is bent so as to be substantially L-shaped. Formed. A contact portion 304 having an arcuate upper surface is formed at the free end of the ground contact 303 so that the contact portion 304 elastically contacts the grounding pad of the FPC. It has become.
JP 2005-129490 A

  However, in the metal shell of the conventional FPC connector, since the upper surface of the contact portion 304 that contacts the FPC grounding pad has an arcuate shape, the contact portion between the FPC grounding pad and the contact portion 304 is not touched. The area is extremely limited, resulting in a practical point contact. For this reason, the impedance at the contact point between the FPC grounding pad and the contact portion 304 becomes high, and it becomes impossible to appropriately suppress the generation of noise or to release the generated noise sufficiently. However, if a large number of grounding contacts 303 are formed and the number of contact points between the FPC grounding pads and the contact portions 304 is increased, the total area of the contact points is increased, and the overall impedance can be reduced. it can. However, in this case, since it is necessary to form a large number of grounding contacts 303, the configuration of the FPC connector becomes complicated and the cost increases.

  The conventional FPC connector is designed to insert the FPC directly. However, since the FPC has low rigidity, the FPC is deformed by the insertion resistance when inserted into the insertion port of the FPC connector. The part may be wrinkled. However, the ZIF that pushes the FPC against the connector connection terminal by forming the dimension in the thickness direction of the insertion slot sufficiently larger than the thickness of the FPC to make the insertion resistance zero, and operating the actuator after the FPC is inserted. Although there is a (Zero-Insertion Force) type FPC connector, the ZIF type FPC connector has a complicated structure and is increased in size.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is attached to the FPC in the vicinity of the front end in the length direction of the FPC, and contact portions that are in surface contact with the ground layer of the FPC are integrally formed at both ends in the width direction of the FPC. By having a shell having a shielding function made of a conductive metal, the impedance at the contact point between the FPC ground layer and the shell is reduced, noise generation is appropriately suppressed, and generated noise is sufficiently reduced. Shielded FPC adapter that can be escaped, the structure can be simplified, and can be easily inserted and connected in an appropriate posture without causing the FPC to bend against the FPC connector The purpose is to provide.

For this purpose, the shielded FPC adapter of the present invention has a conductive shield extending in the width direction of the FPC, is attached in the vicinity of the front end of the FPC, and is fitted (fitted) with the FPC connector. A shielded FPC adapter that electrically connects to an FPC connector, the adapter main body having an insertion opening that extends in the width direction of the FPC and into which the vicinity of the tip of the FPC is inserted, The shield includes contact portions located at both ends in the insertion opening, and the contact portions include contact surfaces parallel to the ground layer exposed on one surface at both ends in the width direction of the FPC. There contact the ground layer and the surface, the shield further comprises at each end a pressing portion located at both ends in the insertion opening, pressing attaching portions is in contact with the other surface of the FPC, the ground The shield is formed by being bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the main body, and further includes engagement pieces located at both ends in the insertion opening. formed tip of the engaging piece is bent substantially at right angles inward, the pressing unit, a part of the engaging piece Ru formed bent substantially at a right angle inwardly awakened off.

  In still another shielded FPC adapter according to the present invention, the engaging piece further positions the FPC inserted in the insertion opening in the width direction.

  In still another shielded FPC adapter according to the present invention, the side end walls at both ends in the width direction of the FPC are covered with the adapter body.

  In still another shielded FPC adapter according to the present invention, the FPC further includes a first guide member that extends in the width direction of the FPC and defines a surface facing one surface of the FPC in the insertion opening; A second guide member extending in the width direction and defining a surface facing the other surface of the FPC in the insertion opening; and a side wall member connecting both longitudinal ends of the first guide member and the second guide member; A projection member formed integrally with the side wall member and projecting from a front end surface of the second guide member; a front end surface of the second guide member projecting from a front end surface of the first guide member; A predetermined range from one end of the one surface is exposed to the outside of the insertion opening on the second guide member, and a predetermined range from the side end of each side of the FPC in the width direction is within the side wall member and the protruding member. position That.

  According to the present invention, the shielded FPC adapter is attached to the FPC in the vicinity of the front end in the length direction of the FPC. Moreover, it has the shell provided with the shield function which consists of the electroconductive metal in which the contact part which surface-contacts to the ground layer of FPC was integrally formed in the width direction both ends of FPC. As a result, the impedance at the contact point between the FPC ground layer and the shell can be reduced, generation of noise can be appropriately suppressed, and the generated noise can be sufficiently released, and the structure can be simplified. The FPC connector can be easily inserted and connected in an appropriate posture without causing the FPC to bend.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a shielded FPC adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the shielded FPC adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a perspective view showing details of the FPC in the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a portion corresponding to FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a shielded FPC adapter according to the present embodiment, which is attached to the FPC 10 in the vicinity of both ends in the length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the FPC 10 and electrically connects the FPC 10 to an FPC connector (not shown). Used to connect to. In the present embodiment, the FPC is a flat plate including not only a flexible circuit board generally called FPC but also a flexible flat cable called FFC as described in the section of “Background Art”. Means a flexible cable. Further, in the present embodiment, the expressions indicating directions such as upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. used for explaining the configuration and operation of each part of the FPC 10 and the shielded FPC adapter 20 are absolute. The FPC 10 and the shielded FPC adapter 20 are suitable when the posture is shown in the figure, but the posture of the FPC 10 and the shielded FPC adapter 20 is changed when the posture is changed. It should be interpreted according to changes.

  Here, the FPC 10 is suitable for use in a narrow mounting space such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display, and has a foil-like conductive property extending in the length direction of the FPC 10 inside. A plurality of signal lines 12 made of metal, for example, about 40, are arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch, for example, about 0.5 [mm]. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal line 12 is covered by a film-like first insulating layer 14 and second insulating layer 15 that are electrically insulative from both upper and lower surfaces. . In addition, at least one ground wire made of a foil-like conductive metal is disposed below the second insulating layer 15 so as to extend in the length direction of the FPC 10 in order to prevent noise and the like. ing. Then, in a predetermined range from the front end edge in the length direction of the FPC 10 (in the present embodiment, the length direction of the FPC 10 and the length of the ear portion 11 described later, or a length slightly larger than that), The covering of the first insulating layer 14 and the like is removed, and the upper surface of the signal line 12 is exposed.

  Further, in the vicinity of the front end of the FPC 10 in the length direction, ears 11 projecting laterally from both sides in the width direction of the FPC 10 are formed. Here, the ear portion 11 extends from the front end edge in the length direction of the FPC 10 to a predetermined range. In the predetermined range, the covering of the first insulating layer 14 and the like is removed and the signal line 12 is exposed. It is the range which is sufficiently in contact with the contact part 43 and the pressing part 45 of the shell 40 described later. Further, the FPC 10 has a reinforcing film 13 as a plate-like reinforcing member fixed to the lower surface of the second insulating layer 15. Here, the reinforcing film 13 extends from the front edge of the FPC 10 in the length direction to a predetermined range. In the predetermined range, the signal line 12 is exposed by removing the coating of the first insulating layer 14 and the like. The range is larger than the range. The reinforcing film 13 is also fixed to the lower side of the ear portion 11.

  The upper surface of the ground layer 16 made of a foil-like conductive metal is exposed above the second insulating layer 15 in the ear portion 11. In addition, a ground coupling line (not shown) made of a foil-like conductive metal is disposed below the second insulating layer 15 in the ear portion 11, and the ground layer 16 has conductive via holes (Via−). hole) 17 and is electrically connected to the ground coupling line. The ground coupling line is connected to the ground line, extends in the width direction of the FPC 10, connects the lower sides of the left and right ears 11, and passes through the left and right ground layers 16 and the conductive via holes 17. Are electrically connected. Therefore, the ground layer 16, the ground line, and the ground coupling line on the left and right sides are electrically connected to each other and have the same potential.

  The shielded FPC adapter 20 is integrally formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The first guide member 21 is elongated in the lateral direction in FIG. 1 and is parallel to the first guide member 21. And a side wall member 23 connecting the longitudinal ends of the first guide member 21 and the second guide member 22. Between the first guide member 21 and the second guide member 22, a slit-like insertion opening 24 into which the front end in the length direction of the FPC 10 is inserted is formed. That is, the first guide member 21 defines a surface facing the one surface of the FPC 10 in the insertion opening 24, and the second guide member 22 defines a surface facing the other surface of the FPC 10 in the insertion opening 24. The adapter main body 20 a includes a first guide member 21, a second guide member 22 that form the insertion opening 24, a guide protrusion member 25 that is located near both ends of the insertion opening 24, the first guide member 21, and the second guide member 22. Are formed by side wall members 23 that are integrally connected at both ends. The insertion opening 24 is formed so as to penetrate the shielded FPC adapter 20 in the length direction of the FPC 10, and the FPC 10 has a rear surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20 (two shielded FPC adapters 20 in FIG. Surface) to the insertion opening 24. The edge on the first guide member 21 side of the insertion opening 24 has a plurality of grooves 24a extending in the vertical direction and has a comb-tooth shape. The number and size of the grooves 24a are large. The interval and the like can be appropriately changed as necessary, and the groove 24a can be omitted.

  Here, the dimension of the first guide member 21 in the length direction of the FPC 10 is shorter than the dimension of the second guide member 22 in the length direction of the FPC 10, and the rear end surface of the first guide member 21 and the second guide member The rear end surface of 22 is the same surface and forms the rear surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20. Therefore, the front end surface of the second guide member 22 protrudes from the front end surface of the first guide member 21 to the front end side in the length direction of the FPC 10 and forms a step on the front surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20. The FPC 10 is inserted into the insertion opening 24 such that the first insulating layer 14 faces the first guide member 21 and the second insulating layer 15 faces the second guide member 22. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, when the shielded FPC adapter 20 is attached to the FPC 10, a predetermined range from the tip of the FPC 10 is exposed on the step, that is, the second guide member 22, and the signal line 12 Is exposed upward.

  Note that the tip of the FPC 10 does not protrude beyond the tip of the second guide member 22 in a state where the shielded FPC adapter 20 is attached to the FPC 10. The top edge of the second guide member 22 protrudes slightly upward to protect the tip of the FPC 10. As a result, when the FPC 10 having the shielded FPC adapter 20 attached thereto is inserted into the FPC connector, the tip of the FPC 10 is prevented from coming into contact with the terminals of the FPC connector and being damaged or drowned. The

  Further, guide projection members 25 as projection members are formed integrally with the side wall member 23 at both ends of the shielded FPC adapter 20. The guide protrusion member 25 functions as a guide when the front end protrudes from the front end surface of the second guide member 22 and the FPC 10 with the shielded FPC adapter 20 attached to the FPC connector is inserted. The guide protrusion member 25 is formed with a slit-like groove 25a communicating with the insertion opening 24, and the both ends of the ear 11 of the FPC 10 are accommodated in the groove 25a. That is, the vicinity of both ends of the ear portion 11 of the FPC 10 is accommodated in the concave groove 25a, and the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the FPC 10 has a predetermined range from the side end (in this embodiment, from the side end to the vicinity of the via hole 17). ) Since it is located in the guide projection member 25, the side end walls at both ends in the width direction of the FPC 10 are not exposed outside the insertion opening 24. Therefore, when the FPC 10 with the shielded FPC adapter 20 attached to the FPC connector is inserted, both ends of the ear portion 11 of the FPC 10 are in contact with the terminals of the FPC connector and are damaged or drowned. Is prevented. The guide projection member 25 is formed with an attachment hole 29 for attaching a shell 40 described later.

  Further, spring hooks 26 for preventing the FPC 10 inserted into the insertion opening 24 from being pulled out are disposed near both ends in the insertion opening 24. The spring hook 26 is formed integrally with the first guide member 21, engages with the rear edge of the ear 11 of the FPC 10 inserted into the insertion opening 24, and the FPC 10 moves toward the rear surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20. To prevent. The rear side of the spring hook 26 has an inclined tapered surface so that the ear portion 11 of the FPC 10 can easily enter. Further, the movement of the FPC 10 toward the front surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20 is such that the front edge of the ear portion 11 abuts the front end of the concave groove 25a of the guide projection member 25 and the front end of the FPC 10 is the second guide member 22. This is prevented by contacting the upper edge of the tip. Therefore, the shielded FPC adapter 20 can be easily placed at a predetermined position near the tip of the FPC 10 by performing only one action of inserting the tip of the FPC 10 into the insertion opening 24 from the rear surface of the shielded FPC adapter 20. Can be installed.

  Further, a metal lock member 30 and a shell 40 are attached to the shielded FPC adapter 20. When the FPC 10 with the shielded FPC adapter 20 attached thereto is inserted and connected to the FPC connector, the lock member 30 engages with the locking means on the FPC connector side so that the FPC connector has a shielded FPC adapter. 20 is a member for locking. Therefore, the lock member 30 is formed of a metal plate having elasticity, and a hook piece 31 that engages with locking means on the FPC connector side is connected to a free end that is elastically displaced. The lock member 30 is attached so as to be embedded in the side wall member 23, and the hook piece 31 protrudes from the outer wall surface of the guide projection member 25 so as to be recessed. The side wall member 23 is integrally connected with an operation member 27 for forcibly displacing the free end of the lock member 30 to insert the hook piece 31 into the guide projection member 25. Accordingly, when the operator operates the operation member 27 with fingers, the lock with the FPC connector can be released.

  Next, the configuration of the portion where the shell 40 contacts the ground layer 16 will be described.

  4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shell in contact with the ground layer in the embodiment of the present invention is a diagram showing a portion corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is in contact with the ground layer of the shell in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a portion to be removed, a view showing a state where FPC is removed in a portion corresponding to FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a hexahedral view showing a portion in contact with the ground layer of the shell in the embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows a state in which a member made of an insulating material is removed for explanation. In FIG. 6, (a) is a top surface, (b) is a front surface, (c) is a rear surface, and (d) is a left side surface. , (E) shows the right side surface, and (f) shows the lower surface.

  In the present embodiment, the shell 40 is a band-shaped plate member that is formed of a conductive metal and extends in the width direction of the FPC 10, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the second guide member 22, and the second guide member 22. It is arranged in a state of being attached to the lower surface of and functions as a shield. The bottom surface of the shell 40 is exposed so that it can be in electrical contact with the grounding member of the FPC connector. The shell 40 has a length dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the FPC 10 including the ear portion 11, and has an attachment piece 41 and an engagement piece 42 formed by being bent at substantially right angles at both ends. The attachment piece 41 includes a protrusion for preventing the attachment on the side surface, and is fitted into the attachment hole 29 of the guide protrusion member 25 and fixed.

  Further, the engagement piece 42 is formed by bending the tip of the engagement piece 42 inward at a substantially right angle, and a part of the contact piece 43 being cut up and bent inward at a substantially right angle. The pressing portion 45 is provided. By forming the pressing portion 45, an opening 46 is formed in the engagement piece 42. The contact surface 43 a of the contact portion 43 and the upper surface of the pressing portion 45 are parallel to the main body portion of the shell 40.

  The engaging pieces 42 are positioned at both ends in the insertion opening 24 so that the side edge portion of the ear portion 11 of the FPC 10 inserted into the insertion opening 24 enters between the contact portion 43 and the pressing portion 45. It has become. An auxiliary piece 44 that is inclined obliquely upward and protrudes rearward is connected to the edge on the rear surface side of the contact portion 43 in order to facilitate the entry of the ear portion 11. In this case, the inward side surface extending in the vertical direction of the engagement piece 42 faces the outward side wall of the ear portion 11 and restricts the movement of the FPC 10 in the width direction. That is, the engagement piece 42 functions as a member for positioning the FPC 10 in the width direction, and guides the FPC 10 inserted into the insertion opening 24. In addition, since the inward side surface of the contact portion 43 faces the outward side end wall of the ear portion 11 and restricts the movement in the width direction of the FPC 10, similarly to the engagement piece 42, It functions as a member for positioning and guides the FPC 10 inserted into the insertion opening 24.

  Further, the lower surface of the contact portion 43, that is, the contact surface 43 a contacts the upper surface of the ground layer 16 in the ear portion 11, and the upper surface of the pressing portion 45 contacts the lower surface of the reinforcing film 13 in the ear portion 11. Here, a protrusion 45 a is formed on the upper surface of the pressing part 45, and the dimension between the upper end of the protrusion 45 a and the contact surface 43 a of the contact part 43 is smaller than the thickness dimension of the ear part 11. Yes. The pressing portion 45 has elasticity and functions as a spring member. Therefore, the ear portion 11 that has entered between the contact portion 43 and the pressing portion 45 is biased upward by the biasing force of the pressing portion 45 that functions as a spring member, and the upper surface of the ground layer 16 is the contact surface of the contact portion 43. 43a. Thereby, the upper surface of the ground layer 16 is reliably in contact with the contact surface 43a of the contact portion 43 and is electrically connected.

  In this case, since the contact surface 43a of the contact portion 43 is a rectangular plane extending in the front-rear direction, the contact surface 43a is in planar contact with the upper surface of the ground layer 16. Furthermore, since the upper surface of the ground layer 16 is pressed against the contact surface 43a of the contact portion 43 by the urging force of the pressing portion 45, the contact portion 43 is securely connected to the ground layer 16 over the entire contact surface 43a. To touch. Thus, since the contact part 43 and the ground layer 16 are in surface contact and the area of the contact part is wide, the impedance at the contact part between the contact part 43 and the ground layer 16 can be kept low.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the shell 40 having the shielding function includes the contact portions 43 located at both ends in the insertion opening 24 at both ends, and the contact portions 43 are provided on one surface at both ends in the width direction of the FPC 10. It is in surface contact with the ground layer 16 exposed to the surface. Therefore, the impedance at the contact point between the ground layer 16 and the shell 40 can be reduced, generation of noise can be appropriately suppressed, and generated noise can be sufficiently released. Furthermore, the structure of the shielded FPC adapter 20 can be simplified.

  The shell 40 includes pressing portions 45 positioned at both ends in the insertion opening 24, and the pressing portions 45 abut against the other surface of the FPC 10 and press the ground layer 16 against the contact portion 43. Therefore, the contact portion 43 reliably contacts the ground layer 16 over the entire contact surface 43a.

  Further, the shell 40 is formed by being bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the main body portion, and includes engagement pieces 42 located at both ends in the insertion opening 24 at both ends. Positioning in the width direction of the FPC 10 to be inserted is performed. Therefore, the shielded FPC adapter 20 can be accurately attached to the FPC 10.

  Further, the side end walls at both ends in the width direction of the FPC 10 are not exposed outside the insertion opening 24. Therefore, when inserting the FPC 10 with the shielded FPC adapter 20 attached to the FPC connector, both ends in the width direction of the FPC 10 are prevented from being damaged or drowned by the terminals of the FPC connector. Is done.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the FPC adapter with a shield in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the FPC adapter with a shield in embodiment of this invention, and is the A section enlarged view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of FPC in embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows the part corresponding to FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the shell in embodiment of this invention contacts a ground layer, and is a figure which shows the part corresponding to FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the part which contacts the ground layer of the shell in embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows the state which removed FPC in the part corresponding to FIG. FIG. 6 is a six-sided view showing a portion of the shell that contacts the ground layer in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the metal shell of the conventional FPC connector.

Explanation of symbols

10 FPC
11 Ear 12 Signal line 13 Reinforcing film 14 First insulating layer 15 Second insulating layer 16 Ground layer 17 Conductive via hole 20 Shielded FPC adapter 20a Adapter main body 21 First guide member 22 Second guide member 23 Side wall member 24 Insertion opening 24a groove 25 guide projection member 25a concave groove 26 spring hook 27 operation member 29 mounting hole 30 lock member 31 hook piece 40 shell 41 mounting piece 42 engaging piece 43, 304 contact part 43a contact surface 44 auxiliary piece 45 pressing part 45a protrusion part 46 Opening 301 Metal shell 302 Top plate part 303 Grounding contact

Claims (4)

(A) having a conductive shield which extends in the width direction of the FP C, mounted near the tip of the FP C, electrically connecting the FP C to an FPC connector fitted with FPC connector a FPC adapter with a shield that,
(B) said extending in the width direction of the FP C, has the FP C adapter present body near the distal end insertion apertures to be inserted is formed of,
(C) the shielding comprises at both end contact portions located at both ends of the insertion opening mouth,
(D) The contact portion includes a contact surface parallel to the ground layer exposed on one surface at both ends in the width direction of the FPC, and the contact surface is in surface contact with the ground layer ;
(E) The shield further includes pressing portions located at both ends in the insertion opening,
(F) The pressing portion is in contact with the other surface of the FPC, and the ground layer is pressed against the contact portion.
(G) The shield is formed by being bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the main body, and further includes engagement pieces positioned at both ends in the insertion opening at both ends,
(H) The contact portion is formed by bending the front end of the engagement piece inward at a substantially right angle;
(I) the pressing portion, the engaging piece portion is formed by being bent substantially at a right angle inwardly awakened switching shielded FPC adapter, wherein Rukoto. The engagement piece is shielded FPC adapter of claim 1 for positioning the width direction of the FP C to be inserted into the insertion apertures. Side end wall in the width direction at both ends of the FP C is shielded FPC adapter of claim 1 which is covered with the adapter the body. (A) extends in the width direction of the FP C, a first guide member defining a surface facing the one surface of the FP C for definitive in the insertion apertures,
(B) extending in the width direction of the FP C, and a second guide member defining a surface facing the other surface of the FP C for definitive in the insertion apertures,
(C) a side wall member for connecting the longitudinal ends of the first guide portion Zai及 beauty second guide member,
(D) is the side wall member and integrally formed, and a protrusion member protruding from the front end face of the second guide member,
(E) the front end surface of the second guide member protrudes from the front end face of the first guide member,
(F) one side of the FP C is a predetermined range from the front end is exposed to the insertion opening extraoral on said second guide member,
(G) the width direction near both ends of the FP C is shielded FPC adapter of claim 3 in which a predetermined range from the side end is positioned at the side wall portion Zai及 beauty protruding portion material.

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