JP4912087B2 - Flexible printed circuit board - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible printed board having a connection end inserted into a connector provided on a member of an electronic device.

  This type of flexible printed circuit board is disclosed in, for example, the following patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-74121), which uses a flexible characteristic to separate the inside of the magnetic disk device and the magnetic field. Used for connection to the outside of the disk device. The flexible printed circuit board has connection ends at both ends, and is inserted into connectors provided respectively inside the magnetic disk device and outside the magnetic disk device to connect the two.

  For example, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-354223), a flexible printed circuit board is connected to a terminal provided at an end of a flat flexible printed circuit board in a connector housing. It is press-fitted into a spring-like terminal provided in. By this press-fitting, the flexible printed circuit board is fixed to the connector housing, and the connected state is maintained.

  In addition, the flexible printed circuit board needs to be securely connected. For this reason, conventionally, for example, a flexible printed circuit board disclosed in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-19978) has been proposed. In this method, a connection end (terminal) of a flexible printed board is inserted into the internal space of the base member and connected to a terminal in the internal space. Then, a convex ear is provided in the vicinity of the connection end, and this convex ear is pushed to insert into the inner space of the connection end. It is intended to hit the base member.

  That is, according to the flexible printed board disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the protruding ear portion is formed in a state where the ear portion is in contact with the base member, the connecting terminal of the flexible printed board is connected to the connector. Connected correctly by inserting into the connection terminal part in the internal space such as a connector until the operator makes contact with the base member until the ear part contacts the base member. Can be discriminated, and lack of insertion amount can be eliminated.

In addition, a reinforcing plate is attached to the connection end of this flexible printed circuit board with an adhesive for reinforcement, so that the operator has a proper hardness when inserting it into the connector. It is easy to do. This reinforcing plate is called a support tape, and a thin sheet-like plastic film or the like is used to attach it with an adhesive. This support tape is also a protective tape that does not damage the metallic (conductive) terminals and wiring formed on the plexable printed circuit board when an insertion jig is used for insertion into the connector. It also has an effect.
JP-A-5-74121 (paragraph [0015]) JP 11-354223 A (paragraph [0012]) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-19978 (paragraph [0010])

However, the flexible printed circuit board disclosed in Patent Document 3 requires a connection (insertion) operation to a connector, and the circuit board itself is small and used particularly in a small electronic device such as a mobile phone. Since the connector is also small, the flexible printed circuit board itself has a small size, and there is a problem that the connection work is troublesome. In addition, it is difficult to improve the work efficiency in the work using the jig, and it is preferable that the work can be performed directly by the fingertip of the operator wearing gloves.
For example, when an insertion jig such as tweezers is used, the jig may hit the connection end and damage it. Further, if the holder is held so as not to be scratched, the jig may hit the parts adjacent to the left and right of the connector during insertion and destroy the parts. In order to avoid such problems, it is sufficient to design the parts so as not to be placed adjacent to the connector in the product design stage. However, the parts on the board are arranged with high density in a device such as a mobile phone. Therefore, it may be difficult to place the connector and the components apart from each other.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible printed board that can be reliably and quickly connected.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a flexible printed circuit board having connection end portions inserted into connectors composed of an upper connector and a lower connector at both ends, and at least of the flexible printed circuit board. On one connection end, a terminal is exposed on the front surface and a reinforcing plate is attached and fixed to the back surface, and the reinforcing plate is attached and fixed to the connection end, A non-sticking portion extending in a direction away from the connection end along the flexible printed circuit board, and the reinforcing plate has a predetermined length in the width direction of the flexible printed circuit board. part two ears is formed so as to protrude from both side ends, the ears, when the connection end portion with provided closer to the center than the connection end portion is properly inserted into the connector Is formed so as to contact the housing of the connector, by inserting one end of the connection end to the upper connector, in a state of inserting the other end of the connection end portion to said lower connector, non of the reinforcing plate end of the bond portion, when the connection end portion is inserted into the upper connector, characterized in that in a position to match the printed circuit board end the lower connector is installed.

The present invention has the following excellent effects by the above-described solving means.
That is, according to the flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1 of the present application, when the connection end portion is inserted into the connector and the connection is performed, the non-adhered portion of the stiffening plate having high rigidity is along the flexible printed circuit board. Since it is greatly extended, the reinforcing plate can be grasped and inserted. In particular, since the connecting end portion can reliably take a position parallel to the insertion direction into the connector, the insertion can be performed quickly. In addition, the flexible printed board can be surely inserted without damaging the connection end.

  Moreover, according to the flexible printed circuit board concerning Claim 2, the edge part of the non-sticking part of the said reinforcement board corresponds with the other member which installed the said connector in the state in which the said connection edge part was inserted in the said connector. Since the connection end is a mark indicating that the connector has been securely inserted into the connector, the insertion state can be easily confirmed visually, resulting in poor connection with insufficient insertion. Work errors can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the examples shown below exemplify a flexible printed circuit board for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention for this flexible printed circuit board. The present invention can be equally applied to the flexible printed circuit boards of other embodiments included in the claims.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the flexible printed board of the present invention is applied to a small electronic device such as a mobile phone will be described. 1 is a front view of a flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing two sheets using the flexible printed circuit board according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which two printed wiring boards are connected using the flexible printed board in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view in FIG. It is a side view.

  1 and 2, a flexible printed circuit board 10 includes a substrate 101, a first connection end portion 102 provided on one end side of the substrate 101, and a second connection end portion 103 provided on the other end side of the substrate 101. A first terminal 104 provided exposed on the surface of the first connection end 102, a second terminal 105 provided exposed on the surface of the second connection end 103, A first reinforcing plate 106 adhered and fixed to the back surface of the connecting end portion 102, and a second reinforcing plate 107 extending along the substrate 101 adhered and fixed to the back surface of the second connecting end portion 103, Formed from.

  The first reinforcing plate 106 is formed of a film-like material having higher rigidity than the substrate 101. The first reinforcing plate 106 is adhered and fixed to the first connection end 102 to a position where the first connection end 102 is slightly exposed from the connector when the first connection end 102 is inserted into a connector described later. The exposed portion of the first reinforcing plate 106 is provided with an ear portion 108 that comes into contact with the connector when it is completely inserted into the connector.

  Similarly, the second reinforcing plate 107 is formed of a film-like material having higher rigidity than the substrate 101. The second reinforcing plate 107 is adhered and fixed to the second connection end 103 so that the second connection end 103 is slightly exposed from the connector when the second connection end 103 is inserted into a connector described later. Furthermore, the second reinforcing plate 107 has a sticking portion 109 attached and fixed to the substrate 10 and a non-sticking portion 111 provided extending in a direction away from the second connection end 103, The non-sticking part 111 extends along the flexible printed circuit board 10.

  The exposed portion of the second reinforcing plate 107 is provided with an ear 112 that abuts against the connector housing upon complete insertion into the connector. That is, the ear portion 112 is formed so as to protrude from the side end of the substrate 101 by a predetermined length in the width direction of the flexible printed circuit board 10, and is provided closer to the center than the connection end portions 102 and 103. When 104 and 105 are correctly inserted into the connector, they are formed so as to contact the housing of the connector.

  3, 4, and 5, 20 is a lower printed wiring board that is a member of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, and 30 is an upper printed wiring board that is also a member of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, They are arranged close to each other in parallel. Reference numeral 40 denotes a lower connector to which the first connection end 102 of the flexible printed circuit board 10 is connected, which is attached to the lower printed wiring board 20, and 50 denotes an upper connector to which the second connection end 103 is connected. And attached to the upper printed wiring board 30. The lower connector 40 has a plurality of terminals arranged inside, and an opening 401 is formed on the end surface of the connector housing. Similarly, a plurality of terminals are arranged inside the upper connector 50, and an opening 501 is formed on the end surface of the connector housing. The opening 401 and the opening 501 are directed in the same direction. The lower connector 40 has a terminal pressing plate 402, and the upper connector 50 has a terminal pressing plate 502.

  An end portion 110 of the non-sticking portion 111 of the reinforcing plate 107 at a position away from the second connection end portion 103 bends the flexible printed circuit board 10 into a U-shape, and lowers the first connection end portion 102 on the lower side. In a state where the connector 40 and the second connection end 103 are completely inserted into the upper connector 50, the position is aligned with the edge of the lower printed wiring board 20 on which the lower connector 40 is installed. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible printed board 10 has a recognition mark 113 indicating the type of the flexible printed board 10 printed on the board 101. Similarly, a straight line 114 is printed on the substrate 101 so as to cross the substrate 101, and the position thereof is the upper printed wiring board when the first connection end 102 and the lower connector 40 are connected. It is a position that coincides with 30 edges 301.

  Here, the terminal of the connector is generally disposed below the internal space of the housing (the space in which the flexible printed circuit board is inserted), but the lower connector 40 is disposed above the internal space. . In the lower connector 40, when the terminal is arranged on the lower side of the internal space, the first terminal 104 is provided on the back side of the first connection end portion 102. In addition, this terminal is not restricted to such a structure, The electroconductive terminal may be formed in both surfaces of the flexible printed circuit board.

  Next, connection of the flexible printed circuit board 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be described.

  First, the user confirms by using the recognition mark 113 that the flexible printed circuit board 10 is used for connection between the lower connector 40 and the upper connector 50.

  Next, the user connects the first connection end 102 of the flexible printed circuit board 10 and the lower connector 40. This connection is performed by inserting the first connection end portion 102 into the opening 401 until the ear portion 108 contacts the lower connector 40. When the insertion is completed, the edge 301 of the upper printed circuit board 30 and the straight line 114 coincide with each other when viewed from the upper side of the upper printed circuit board 30, so that it can be confirmed that the insertion is surely performed. .

  Thereafter, the terminal pressing plate 402 is slid to bring the first terminal 104 and the terminal of the lower connector 40 into close contact. Thereby, the first connection end portion 102 is fixed to the first connector 40 and the connection state is maintained.

  Next, the second connection end 103 of the flexible printed board 10 and the upper connector 50 are connected.

  This insertion operation is performed by holding the non-sticking portion 111 of the second reinforcing plate 107 so as to be pinched with fingers or tweezers. Since the non-sticking part 111 is greatly extended away from the other connection end part 103, it is easy to pinch. With the second reinforcing plate 107 formed of a material having high rigidity, the second connection end 103 can be parallel to the insertion direction into the opening 501.

  In this way, the second connection end 103 is inserted into the opening 501 of the upper connector 50 until the ear 112 abuts against the upper connector 50 while maintaining a state parallel to the insertion direction. When this insertion is completed, the end 110 of the non-sticking part 111 and the edge 201 of the lower printed wiring board 20 are aligned on the same line when viewed from above the upper printed wiring board 30, so that reliable insertion Can be confirmed visually.

  Thereafter, the terminal holding plate 502 is slid to bring the second terminal 105 and the terminal of the upper connector 50 into close contact. Therefore, the second connection end 103 is fixed to the other connector 50 and the connection state is maintained.

  According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when connecting the lower connector 40 and the upper connector 50 in the overlapping position with the flexible printed circuit board 10, the first connection end 102 and the lower side to be connected first are connected. The connection operation with the connector 40 is relatively easy because the entire flexible printed circuit board 10 is held.

  The connection operation between the second connection end 103 and the upper connector 50 to be connected later is easy because the second reinforcing plate 107 that protrudes greatly is used. In particular, since the second reinforcing plate 107 has a large rigidity and the non-sticking portion 111 extends greatly away from the second connection end portion 103, the flexible printed circuit board 10 is small, Even when the members are approaching, it is easy to pinch with hands or tweezers.

  Further, the insertion state of the first connection end portion 102 into the lower connector 40 can be confirmed by the ear portion 108 coming into contact with the lower connector 40. At the same time, it can also be confirmed by the coincidence between the straight line 114 visually and the edge 301 of the upper printed wiring board 30.

  Furthermore, the insertion state of the second connection end portion 103 into the upper connector 50 can be confirmed by the ear portion 112 coming into contact with the upper connector 50. At the same time, it can be confirmed by the coincidence between the end portion 110 of the non-sticking portion 111 and the edge 201 of the lower printed wiring board 20 by visual observation. In this case, since the edge 201 of the existing lower printed wiring board 20 is used as it is, the configuration is simple.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the lower printed wiring board 20 and the upper printed wiring board 30 are parallel to each other, and the flexible printed board 10 is bent so as to be bent. For example, the present invention is applicable to a case where the lower printed wiring board 20 and the upper printed wiring board 30 are orthogonal, and the flexible printed board 10 may be bent so as to be bent at a right angle. Applicable to those in state.

  In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the insertion state is confirmed by checking the coincidence of the position between the end portion 110 of the non-sticking portion 111 of the second reinforcing plate 107 and the edge 201 of the lower printed wiring board 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the mark may be changed to a member other than the edge 201 so as to match the position with the end 110 of the non-sticking portion 111. Good.

It is a front view of the flexible printed circuit board in the Example of this invention. It is a rear view of the flexible printed circuit board in the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which connected between two printed wiring boards using the flexible printed circuit board in the Example of this invention. It is a front view which shows the state which connected between two printed wiring boards using the flexible printed circuit board in the Example of this invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flexible printed circuit board 20 Lower side printed wiring board 30 Upper side printed wiring board 40 Lower side connector 50 Upper side connector 101 Board | substrate 102 1st connection edge part 103 2nd connection edge part 104 1st terminal 105 2nd terminal 106 1st One reinforcing plate 107 Second reinforcing plate 109 Adhering part 111 Non-adhering part

Claims (1)

It is a flexible printed circuit board having a connecting end portion inserted into a connector composed of an upper connector and a lower connector at both ends,
At least one connection end of the flexible printed circuit board is formed with a terminal exposed on the front surface, and a reinforcing plate is adhered and fixed to the back surface,
The reinforcing plate has a sticking part that is stuck and fixed to the connection end part, and a non-sticking part that extends in a direction away from the connection end part along the flexible printed circuit board,
Further, the reinforcing plate is formed with two ears so as to protrude from both side ends of the substrate by a predetermined length in the width direction of the flexible printed circuit board,
The ear portion is formed such that the connection end with is provided closer to the center than the connection end portion abuts against the housing of the connector when it is correctly inserted into the connector,
In a state where one end of the connection end is inserted into the upper connector and the other end of the connection end is inserted into the lower connector.
End of the non-adhesive portion of the reinforcing plate, and characterized in that in a position where the connection end portion when inserted into the upper connector, consistent with the printed circuit board end the lower connector is installed Flexible printed circuit board.

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