JPH07106004A - Connection structure and method for flat cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a structure and a method for surely and easily reconnecting mechanical parts and an electric wire together that are connected together through a flat cable such as an FPC. CONSTITUTION:An FPC 20 is cut along the conductor exposed part 42 of the FPC 20, the both ends of which are connected to the mechanical parts of a transducer 4, etc., and a plurality of coaxial wires 6, and for which conductor exposed parts 42, 44 are formed between the both ends. An unused FPC, for example, an FPC 20' connected to the transducer 4 is cut along the conductor exposed part 44. The cut end part or the FPC 20 connected to, for example, the coaxial wire 6 that is not in failure, and the cut end part of the FPC 20' are superimposed on one another and are connected together by soldering, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure and method for reconnecting a flat cable such as an FPC (flexible printed circuit board).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In medical equipment such as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment,
In order to obtain a high-resolution image, the device body and the probe were connected by a large number of thin coaxial cables. Specifically, contacts were crimped to both ends of an AWG (American Electric Wire Standard) No. 36 to No. 38 coaxial cable, and these contacts were interconnected with the contacts in the device body or the probe.

However, in recent years, in order to further improve the resolution, a larger number of thinner coaxial cables, for example, AWG.
Coaxial cables of lines 40 to 46 are being used,
The connection by crimping is now difficult or impossible. For this reason, soldering connections have been used instead of crimp connections. However, the soldering connection between the transducer in the probe and the large number of fine coaxial cables is not workable because the transducer has a predetermined height (thickness). Therefore, a connection method in which the electrodes of the transducer are soldered to one end of the FPC having a large number of conductive patterns and the ends of a large number of fine coaxial cables are soldered to the other end of the FPC is being put to practical use.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved] By the way, in the connection structure,
Since the FPC is protected by the housing of the probe, there is almost no possibility of causing problems such as disconnection, but the fine coaxial cable is frequently bent, so there is a high possibility of disconnection. Further, since the transducer is a precision component, there is a high possibility that a failure will occur due to impact or the like. Since both the fine coaxial cable and the transducer are expensive, it is not preferable to replace the FPC, the fine coaxial cable and the transducer if any one of them fails, which is wasteful of resources and uneconomical. Therefore, it is preferable to replace only one of the defective parts, but it is not possible to re-melt a large number of solder connection portions between the fine coaxial cable (or transducer) and the FPC to reconnect them with a good product.
Problems such as peeling of the conductive pattern of C are likely to occur, which is practically impossible or extremely difficult.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure and method for surely and easily reconnecting functional components such as a transducer and a cable such as a coaxial line connected via a flat cable such as an FPC. .

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A flat cable connection structure of the present invention is a flat cable in which a plurality of conductors extend in parallel with each other between both ends of the flat cable, the both ends of which are respectively connected to a functional component or a plurality of electric wires. Cable connection structure,
In the flat cable, at least one exposed portion of the plurality of conductors extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the plurality of conductors is formed between the both ends on each of the first main surface and the second main surface, It is characterized in that it is possible to cut along the exposed portion and to connect the exposed portion and the exposed portion of another flat cable by overlapping each other.

In the flat cable connecting method of the present invention, both ends are respectively connected to a functional component or a plurality of electric wires, a plurality of parallel conductors extend between the both ends, and the extending direction is substantially orthogonal to the extending direction. And a first flat cable having exposed portions of the plurality of conductors extending in the same direction on the first main surface and the second main surface, respectively, and the same structure as the first flat cable. A second flat cable, one of which is connected to a functional component or a plurality of electric wires, is prepared, the first and second flat cables are cut along the exposed portion, and then the first and second flat cables are cut. The exposed portions of are connected to each other by overlapping each other.

In the present specification, "flat cable" includes FFC (flexible flat cable) and other cables in addition to FPC. Also, the connection between exposed parts is
In addition to the connection by solder, a connection including an inclusion such as an anisotropic conductive adhesive or a so-called heat seal connection is also included.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example to which the structure and method of the present invention are applied. The FPC 20 is housed in the probe 2 of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown), and interconnects one end 8 of the multiple thin wire coaxial lines 6 and the transducer 4. However, the invention should not be limited to this example,
It is also applicable to interconnections between electric wires such as coaxial lines or interconnections between functional parts such as transducers, arithmetic elements, and storage elements. The other ends 10 of the many thin coaxial lines 6 are connected to a substrate 14 housed in a connector 12 on the main body side of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. This connector 12 is a ZIF (zero insertion force) type connector, and ZIF connection can be made by rotating a handle 18 projecting to the side opposite to the fitting surface 16.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the thin coaxial cable 6 and the transducer 4 which are interconnected via the FPC 20. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the FPC 20 shown in FIG. Figure 4
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. FIG. 6 shows FIG. 4 after reconnection.
It is a sectional view similar to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 after reconnection.

2 to 5, the FPC 20 comprises a ground conductor 22 extending in the center of the cross section, and a plurality of signal conductors 26, 28 sandwiching the ground conductor 22 via insulators 24, 24. Signal conductor
Since 26 and 28 extend in parallel to the ground conductor 22 over substantially the entire area of the FPC 20, a microstrip structure is formed. Therefore, it is suitable for a signal system that handles high-speed signals. The signal conductor 26 on the side of the first main surface 30 and the signal conductor 28 on the side of the second main surface 32 have portions 38, 40 interconnected in the vicinity of both longitudinal end portions 34, 36 of the FPC 20. The signal conductor 26 is
The FPC 20 is exposed at the ends 34 and 36 for connection with the signal line 6a of the transducer 4 and the coaxial line 6, respectively.
It is exposed at a conductor exposed portion 42 extending in the transverse direction at an arbitrary position between both ends in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the conductor exposed portion of the second main surface 32
The conductor exposed portion 44 formed at the position corresponding to 42 is a signal conductor.
28 is exposed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ground conductor 22 is exposed at the end portion 34 and the conductor exposed portions 42 and 44, and at the end portion 36, is connected to the ground wire 6b of the plurality of fine coaxial cables 6 in common ground. Is exposed along the transverse direction of the FPC 20 (reference numeral 22a). In addition, in the first and second main surfaces 30 and 32, portions other than the portions where the signal conductors 26 and 28 and the ground conductor 22 are exposed are covered with an insulator 46 in order to prevent a short circuit.

Next, F due to replacement of the transducer 4
A procedure for reconnecting the PC 20 will be described. When the transducer 4 is replaced due to a failure of the transducer 4 itself, if the transducer 4 is removed from the end 34 of the FPC 20, a defect such as peeling of the conductor 22 (26) of the FPC 20 will occur, and thus reconnection is difficult. Therefore, the conductor A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, etc.
Cut along. Also, prepare another FPC 20 'connected to the normal transducer 4', and along the broken line BB in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the conductor exposed portion 44 'crosses the conductors 22', 26 ', 28'. And disconnect. Next, these cut FP
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, C20 and 20 'are overlapped at the cut portion (since the signal conductors are formed on both sides, either FPC may be on the upper side) and a heating element (not shown). ), The overlapping portion (joint portion) 48 is pressed and heated or is irradiated with far infrared rays or the like to be soldered. The conductors 22 and 22 ',
Pre-forming a solder layer on 26, 26 ', 28, 28' facilitates the soldering work. Further, the cross-sectional structure of the FPC may be configured such that the signal conductor is arranged in the center and the signal conductor is sandwiched between the ground conductor from above and below.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of the FPC 120. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 after reconnection.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the FPC 120 has a structure in which a plurality of conductors 122 extending in parallel are sandwiched by insulators 124, 124. All the conductors 122 may be signal conductors, or signal conductors and ground conductors may be alternately arranged. Further, at least one of them may be a ground conductor and the rest may be a signal conductor, and a common ground may be provided on the coaxial line 6 side. This simple structure facilitates the manufacturing of the FPC 120 and reduces the manufacturing cost. The FPC 120 has conductor exposed portions 142 and 144 formed at different positions on the first main surface 130 and the second main surface 132, respectively. This is the exposed conductor 14 at the same position.
This is because, when 2, 144 are formed, the conductor 122 is not supported by the insulator 124, and the strength of the FPC 120 is significantly reduced.

The procedure for reconnecting the FPCs 120 and 120 'is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the FPC 120 is cut along the line C-C and the FPC 120 '(not shown) is cut along the broken line D-D in FIG. Next, the cut ends of the FPCs 120 and 120 'are superposed on each other and connected. In the case of this connection structure, the total length of the FPC after reconnection is the same as the original FPC120 (12
It is longer than the total length of 0 '), but can be reconnected again by further cutting along the line EE (or the broken line FF). The exposed conductor part that is not cut is the conductor 12.
It is desirable to attach the insulating tape beforehand, as 2 is still exposed and there is a risk of short circuit. In FIG. 9, the FPC 120 is connected along the line C'-C 'and the FP
It is also possible to disconnect C120 'along the dashed line D'-D' and then reconnect it. In this case, F after reconnection
The total length of the PC is shorter than that of the original FPC120 (120 ').

Although the reconnection structure and method of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and various modifications and changes can be made.
For example, a flat cable such as FFC may be used in place of the FPC of the above embodiment. Further, the target to be connected by the flat cable such as the FPC is not limited to the functional component such as the transducer and the electric wire such as the coaxial wire, but may be the functional component and the functional part, or the electric wire and the electric wire. further,
The target of replacement is not limited to a functional component such as a transducer, but may be an electric wire that has failed due to a break or the like. That is,
It is also possible to connect (reconnect) an unused electric wire with a functional component that has not failed as a result of use. Further, as a means for reconnecting a flat cable such as an FPC, instead of soldering, a cut FPC may be joined via an anisotropic conductive adhesive or the like. Further, insulation protection means such as an insulating tape or potting may be added to the joint to insulate and protect the joint. If a plurality of exposed portions of the conductor are formed on both main surfaces, reconnection can be easily performed a plurality of times.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the two flat cables cut at the exposed portion are overlapped and reconnected, so that the reconnection work can be performed reliably and easily. In addition, since the entire defective device can be reused without discarding it and the recovery process can be performed on site, the practical effect is remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an application example of a flat cable connection structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the FPC of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing a connection structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a connection structure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of FPC.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing a connection structure of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Transducer (Functional part) 6 Coaxial wire (electric wire) 20, 20 ', 120, 120' FPC (flat cable) 22, 22 ', 26, 26', 28, 28 ', 122, 122' Conductor 30, 130 No. 1 main surface 32, 132 2nd main surface 42, 42 ', 44, 44', 142, 142 ', 144 Exposed part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flat cable connection structure in which a plurality of conductors extend in parallel to each other between both ends of the flat cable, wherein the both ends are connected to a functional component or a plurality of electric wires, respectively. At least one exposed portion of the plurality of conductors extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the plurality of conductors is formed between both ends of each of the first main surface and the second main surface, and along the exposed portion. A connection structure for a flat cable, characterized in that the exposed part and the exposed part of another flat cable can be superposed on each other and connected by cutting. 2. Both ends are respectively connected to a functional component or a plurality of electric wires, a plurality of conductors extend in parallel between the both ends, and the plurality of conductors are exposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction. A first flat cable having at least one portion formed on each of the first main surface and the second main surface, and a structure having the same structure as the first flat cable, and one of the both ends is a functional component or a plurality of electric wires A second flat cable connected is prepared, the first and second flat cables are cut along the exposed portion, and the exposed portions of the first and second flat cables are overlapped with each other and connected. A method of connecting a flat cable, characterized by: