Terminal device, flexible circuit board

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a terminal device and a flexible circuit board, which are used to detect whether a battery in the terminal device is bulging without increasing the complexity of the structure of the terminal device. The flexible circuit board is integrated with a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode. When the distance between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode changes, the signal on the first detection electrode also changes. Therefore, by collecting the signal of the first detection electrode, it can be determined whether the distance between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode changes. The flexible circuit board is placed on one side of the battery, and the bulging of the battery can drive the above distance to change. By collecting the signal of the first detection electrode, the detection of whether the battery is bulging can be realized. Moreover, the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are realized by using the flexible circuit board in the terminal device, without the need to additionally introduce other structures, and will not affect the assembly gap between the battery and other components and the overall thickness of the terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of terminal technology, and in particular to a terminal device and a flexible circuit board. Background Technology

[0002] Compared to traditional batteries such as lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries have higher energy density and are lighter, making them widely used in mobile devices, new energy vehicles, and other fields. Among them, lithium-ion batteries have gradually become the mainstream lithium battery product due to their lower technological barriers, lower manufacturing costs, and ease of large-scale promotion.

[0003] Terminal devices are the most frequently used lithium-ion battery-containing devices in close-range applications. However, during use, lithium-ion batteries may bulge and expand, significantly increasing the probability of combustion and explosion, posing a significant threat to users' life and property safety. Therefore, real-time and effective detection of battery bulging status plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of battery combustion and explosion and ensuring battery safety. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a terminal device and a flexible circuit board for detecting whether the battery in the terminal device is bulging without increasing the structural complexity of the terminal device.

[0005] A first aspect of this application provides a terminal device, which includes a battery and a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is disposed on one side of the battery. The flexible circuit board includes a first pad, a first detection electrode, a first signal line, an insulating layer, and a second detection electrode; the first detection electrode and the first signal line are disposed on the same layer, and the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are disposed on opposite sides of the insulating layer; one end of the first detection electrode is coupled to the first pad, and the other end of the first detection electrode is suspended, i.e., not coupled to the pad. The projections of the first detection electrode on the insulating layer and the second detection electrode on the insulating layer have an overlapping portion; the overlapping portion is located within the projection of the battery on the insulating layer. Alternatively, the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode have portions that are directly opposite each other along the thickness direction of the flexible circuit board. Along the thickness direction, the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode may overlap or may not overlap, as long as they have an overlapping portion. The first detection electrode and the second detection electrode serve as two detection electrodes of a detection unit integrated in the flexible circuit board.

[0006] In the terminal device provided in this application embodiment, the flexible circuit board includes a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode. One end of the first detection electrode is coupled to a first pad, and the other end of the first detection electrode is suspended. The first detection electrode can serve as a variable acquisition electrode. The projections of the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode on the insulating layer overlap, and the oppositely arranged first and second detection electrodes can serve as a pair of detection electrodes. The overlapping portion falls within the projection of the battery on the insulating layer; that is, the first and second detection electrodes are correspondingly arranged with the battery, and battery bulging can be fed back to the first detection electrode. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode, it is possible to detect whether the battery is bulging, enabling the terminal device to have battery bulging detection capability. Based on this, the first and second detection electrodes are implemented using the flexible circuit board in the terminal device, which is simple and easy to implement. Moreover, no additional structures are required, and the assembly gap between the battery and other components is not affected, ensuring battery safety. It also does not affect the overall thickness of the terminal device, which is beneficial for achieving a thinner and lighter design. Furthermore, since the first detection electrode and the first signal line are arranged on the same layer, the first detection electrode is located in the wiring layer of the flexible circuit board. With the help of the first pad on the flexible circuit board, it can be easily coupled to the external circuit without the need to add an extra connection path, resulting in a simple structure.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the insulating layer includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion; the first insulating portion is located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, and the second insulating portion is located around the first insulating portion; the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion are made of different materials. By setting an independently selected first insulating portion, a dielectric material that is more deformable than the second insulating portion can be used as the capacitor dielectric (first insulating portion), which can increase the sensitivity of the first insulating portion to deformation and improve the detection sensitivity of the capacitor.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the insulating layer includes a gap located between the first and second detection electrodes. The gap between the first and second detection electrodes provides minimal deformation resistance to the second detection electrode (or the first detection electrode), making it easier for the distance between them to change and resulting in higher sensitivity for bulging detection. Furthermore, battery bulging can be monitored by detecting changes in capacitance or voltage.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board further includes a second pad, with one end of the second detection electrode coupled to the second pad and the other end of the second detection electrode suspended. Therefore, the second detection electrode can be located in the wiring layer of the flexible circuit board, integrated within the wiring layer. After the second detection electrode is coupled to the second pad, the second pad can be coupled to the detection circuit, resulting in a simple structure.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the length of the first detection electrode and / or the second detection electrode is less than the length of the first signal line. The dimensions of the first and second detection electrodes can be flexibly set according to requirements, making it widely applicable.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second detection electrode is the ground wire of the flexible circuit board. Therefore, the ground wire in the flexible circuit board can be directly reused as the second detection electrode, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode and further simplifying the structure of the terminal device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the second detection electrode is a shielding structure on the surface of the flexible circuit board. Therefore, the shielding structure in the flexible circuit board can be directly reused as the second detection electrode, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode and further simplifying the structure of the terminal device.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the terminal device further includes a detection circuit; the detection circuit is coupled to the first pad; the detection circuit is used to determine whether the battery has bulged based on the detected signal. By intelligently detecting changes in the signal of the first detection electrode within the flexible circuit board, real-time detection of battery bulging can be achieved, improving safety.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the second pad is coupled to the detection circuit. Then, both the first and second detection electrodes are coupled to the detection circuit and receive a fixed voltage provided by the detection circuit.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the second pad is coupled to a fixed voltage terminal. Then, the first detection electrode is coupled to the detection circuit, while the second detection electrode is not coupled to the detection circuit and receives a fixed voltage from another fixed voltage terminal.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the detection circuit includes a capacitance detection circuit for detecting the capacitance between the first and second detection electrodes. The battery is monitored by monitoring changes in the capacitance of the detection cell. As long as the battery bulges to a degree sufficient to cause a change in capacitance, the detection circuit will provide a detection result indication, demonstrating high detection sensitivity.

[0017] In one possible implementation, where the insulating layer includes gaps, the detection circuit includes a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage on a first detection electrode. The battery bulging condition is monitored by the voltage change on the first detection electrode. Many existing circuits for detecting voltage changes exist in terminal devices, and these existing voltage detection circuits can be reused, simplifying the structure of the terminal device.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board further includes a second signal line disposed between the first and second detection electrodes; the overlapping portion does not overlap with the projection of the second signal line onto the insulating layer. Alternatively, other conductive layers may be disposed between the first and second detection electrodes. The first and second detection electrodes can be located in any two conductive layers of the flexible circuit board, and are not limited to being disposed in adjacent conductive layers, allowing for flexible placement and a wide range of applications.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board includes multiple first detection electrodes and multiple second detection electrodes, which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. These multiple first and second detection electrodes form multiple detection units. By setting multiple detection units within the same flexible circuit board, these units can detect bulging at different locations on the battery. This multi-location, multi-form integrated layout can improve detection coverage, increase detection accuracy and precision, and reduce hardware implementation complexity.

[0020] In one possible implementation, multiple first detection electrodes are coupled to the same detection circuit. One detection circuit can detect multiple detection units, thus reducing the number of detection circuits required.

[0021] In one possible implementation, multiple first detection electrodes are coupled one-to-one with multiple detection circuits. Different first detection electrodes are coupled to different detection circuits. Thus, the battery position corresponding to the coupled first detection electrode can be determined by the detection circuit, thereby determining the location of the battery bulge.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the terminal device further includes a multiplexer. The first terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to a detection circuit, and multiple second terminals of the multiplexer are coupled one-to-one to multiple first detection electrodes. By setting multiple detection units on the same flexible circuit board, the location of the first detection electrode where the signal changes can be detected using only a multiplexer and a detection circuit, thus reducing the circuit structure.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the terminal device includes multiple flexible circuit boards. For example, multiple flexible circuit boards are coupled to the same detection circuit, or each flexible circuit board is coupled to a different detection circuit, or each first detection electrode in the multiple flexible circuit boards is coupled to a different detection circuit. Alternatively, multiple first detection electrodes in the multiple flexible circuit boards are coupled to the same detection circuit via a multiplexer. By incorporating multiple flexible circuit boards in the terminal device, the detection units in the multiple flexible circuit boards can detect bulging at different locations on the battery, improving detection accuracy and reducing hardware implementation complexity. When different first detection electrodes are coupled to different detection circuits, the specific location of the battery bulge can also be determined by the detection circuit. In one possible implementation, the terminal device also includes a back cover, with the flexible circuit boards disposed between the battery and the back cover. This is one possible application product.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the terminal device also includes a display module, with the flexible circuit board positioned between the battery and the display module. This is one possible application product.

[0025] A second aspect of this application provides a flexible circuit board, which includes a first pad, a first detection electrode, a first signal line, an insulating layer, and a second detection electrode. The first detection electrode and the first signal line are disposed on the same layer, and the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are disposed on opposite sides of the insulating layer. One end of the first detection electrode is coupled to the first pad, and the other end of the first detection electrode is suspended and not coupled to the pad. The projections of the first detection electrode on the insulating layer and the second detection electrode on the insulating layer overlap.

[0026] The flexible circuit board includes a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode. One end of the first detection electrode is coupled to a first pad, and the other end is suspended. The first detection electrode can serve as a variable acquisition electrode. The projections of the first and second detection electrodes on the first insulating layer overlap, and the oppositely positioned first and second detection electrodes can function as a pair of detection electrodes. When the distance between the first and second detection electrodes changes, the signal on the first detection electrode also changes. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode, it can be determined whether the distance between the first and second detection electrodes has changed. When the flexible circuit board is placed on the side of a battery, battery bulging can cause a change in the distance between the first and second detection electrodes. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode, it is possible to detect whether the battery is bulging. Furthermore, placing the first and second detection electrodes inside the flexible circuit board is simple and easy to implement.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the insulating layer includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion; the first insulating portion is located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, and the second insulating portion is located around the first insulating portion; the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion are made of different materials. By setting an independently selected first insulating portion, a dielectric material that is more deformable than the second insulating portion can be used as the capacitor dielectric (first insulating portion), which can increase the sensitivity of the first insulating portion to deformation and improve the detection sensitivity of the capacitor.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the insulating layer includes a gap located between the first and second detection electrodes. The gap between the first and second detection electrodes provides minimal deformation resistance to the second detection electrode (or the first detection electrode), making it easier for the distance between them to change and resulting in higher sensitivity for bulging detection. Furthermore, battery bulging can be monitored by detecting changes in capacitance or voltage.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board further includes a second pad, with one end of the second detection electrode coupled to the second pad and the other end of the second detection electrode suspended. Therefore, the second detection electrode can be located in the wiring layer of the flexible circuit board, integrated within the wiring layer. After the second detection electrode is coupled to the second pad, the second pad can be coupled to the detection circuit, resulting in a simple structure.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the length of the first detection electrode and / or the second detection electrode is less than the length of the first signal line. The dimensions of the first and second detection electrodes can be flexibly set according to requirements, making it widely applicable.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the second detection electrode is the ground wire of the flexible circuit board. Therefore, the ground wire in the flexible circuit board can be directly reused as the second detection electrode, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode and further simplifying the structure of the terminal device.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the second detection electrode is a shielding structure on the surface of the flexible circuit board. Therefore, the shielding structure in the flexible circuit board can be directly reused as the second detection electrode, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode and further simplifying the structure of the terminal device.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board further includes a second signal line disposed between the first and second detection electrodes; the overlapping portion does not overlap with the projection of the second signal line onto the insulating layer. Alternatively, other conductive layers may be disposed between the first and second detection electrodes. The first and second detection electrodes can be located in any two conductive layers of the flexible circuit board, and are not limited to being disposed in adjacent conductive layers, allowing for flexible placement and a wide range of applications.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the flexible circuit board includes multiple first detection electrodes and multiple second detection electrodes, which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. Each of the multiple first and second detection electrodes corresponds to a multiple detection unit. By setting multiple detection units within the same flexible circuit board, these units can detect bulging at different locations on the battery. This multi-location, multi-form integrated layout can improve detection coverage, increase detection accuracy and precision, and reduce hardware implementation complexity. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An architecture diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 2 This application provides an architecture diagram of another terminal device.

[0037] Figures 3A-3C This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 4 As a kind Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction;

[0039] Figure 5A and Figure 5B For another Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction;

[0040] Figure 6 For another kind Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction;

[0041] Figures 7A-7C A cross-sectional view of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of another flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 9A and Figure 9BA schematic diagram illustrating the relative positional relationship between a flexible circuit board and a battery, provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 10 This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figures 11A-11D This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 12 This application provides an embodiment of the architecture diagram of a terminal device after battery bulging.

[0047] Figure 13 A layout diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 14A This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figures 14B-14D This is a layout diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 15A and Figure 15B This is a layout diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0051] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another terminal device after battery bulging, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0052] Figure 17 This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0053] Figure label:

[0054] 1-Terminal device; 20-Display module; 30-Middle frame; 40-Back cover; 50-Battery;

[0055] 11-First detection electrode; 12-First signal line; 21-Second detection electrode; 22-Second signal line; 31-First insulating part; 32-Second insulating part; 42-Third signal line; 60-Detection circuit; 70-Multiplexer;

[0056] FPC - Flexible Circuit Board; P1 - First Pad; P2 - Second Pad; P3 - Third Pad; P4 - Fourth Pad; P5 - Fifth Pad; L1 - First Insulating Layer; L2 - Second Insulating Layer; C - Capacitor. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0058] Hereinafter, the terms "second," "first," etc., are used for descriptive convenience only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "second," "first," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0059] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" may be defined relative to the orientation in which the components are schematically placed in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms can be relative concepts, used for relative description and clarification, and can change accordingly based on the orientation of the components in the accompanying drawings.

[0060] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, the term "coupled connection" can be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection through an intermediate medium. The term "contact" can be direct contact or indirect contact through an intermediate medium.

[0061] In this embodiment of the application, "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0062] This application provides a terminal device, which may be a battery-powered terminal device such as a consumer electronics product or a home electronics product. Consumer electronics products include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop monitors, smart wearable products (e.g., smartwatches, smart bracelets, watch faces), virtual reality (VR) terminal devices, augmented reality (AR) terminal devices, drones, and automobiles. Home electronics products include smart door locks and rechargeable small household appliances (e.g., soymilk makers, robot vacuum cleaners).

[0063] This application does not impose any special restrictions on the specific form of the terminal device described above. For ease of explanation, the following embodiments all use mobile phones as an example for illustration.

[0064] Figure 1A and Figure 1B This is an architecture diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0065] like Figure 1A As shown, this application embodiment provides a terminal device 1, which is a terminal device including a battery. For example... Figure 1A As shown, the terminal device 1 mainly includes a display module 20, a middle frame 30, a back cover 40 (or battery cover, housing) and a battery 50.

[0066] The mid-frame 30 is located between the display module 20 and the rear shell 40, forming an installation space to accommodate electronic components such as the printed circuit board (PCB), battery, receiver, speaker, and camera. The PCB can integrate electronic components such as the terminal's main controller, storage unit, antenna module, and power management module, while the battery powers the display module 20, PCB, receiver, speaker, and camera.

[0067] The display module 20 has a light-emitting side from which the displayed image can be seen and a back side opposite to the light-emitting side. The rear cover 40 is located on the back side of the display module 20. The display module 20 includes an active display area (AA) and a non-display area located around the active display area. The active display area is used to display images and includes multiple subpixels (SP).

[0068] In one possible embodiment, the display module 20 is a liquid crystal display (LCD). Based on this, the terminal device 1 also includes a backlight unit (BLU) located behind the LCD. The backlight unit can provide a light source to the LCD, enabling each sub-pixel in the LCD to emit light for image display.

[0069] In another possible embodiment, the display module 20 is a self-emissive display module such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display module, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display module, a mini organic light-emitting diode (Mini-OLED) display module, a micro light-emitting diode (Micro-LED) display module, a micro organic light-emitting diode (Micro-OLED) display module, or a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display module. In this case, the display module 20 can be a rigid display module or a flexible display module.

[0070] In some embodiments, the display module 20 includes a display panel and a display driver integrated circuit (DDIC). The terminal device 1 also includes a drive controller and a motherboard. The drive controller is connected to the DDIC, which receives signals output by the drive controller and provides display signals to the display panel. The drive controller may include, for example, a system-on-chip (SOC). The drive controller may be mounted on the motherboard, for example.

[0071] In some embodiments, the display module 20 is a touch-enabled display module. The display panel included in the display module 20 is also a touch-enabled display panel. The terminal device 1 further includes a touch panel driver integrated circuit (TPIC), which is used to transmit touch signals.

[0072] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1AAs shown, the battery 50 can be positioned between the middle frame 30 and the back cover 40.

[0073] For example, terminal device 1 also includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) disposed between battery 50 and back cover 40. The flexible printed circuit FPC is coupled to the motherboard at one end and connected to devices such as speaker, microphone, and charging port of terminal device 1 at the other end.

[0074] In other embodiments, such as Figure 1B As shown, the battery 50 can be positioned between the middle frame 30 and the display module 20.

[0075] For example, the terminal device 1 also includes a flexible circuit board (FPC) disposed between the battery 50 and the mid-frame 30. The flexible circuit board (FPC) is coupled to the motherboard at one end and connected to devices such as the speaker, microphone, and charging port of the terminal device 1 at the other end.

[0076] Compared to traditional batteries such as lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries have higher energy density and are lighter, making them widely used in mobile devices, new energy vehicles, and other fields. Among them, lithium-ion batteries have gradually become the mainstream lithium battery product due to their lower technological barriers, lower manufacturing costs, and ease of large-scale promotion.

[0077] Terminal devices are the most frequently used lithium-ion battery-containing devices in close-range applications. However, during use, lithium-ion batteries may bulge and expand, significantly increasing the probability of combustion and explosion, posing a significant threat to users' life and property safety. Therefore, real-time and effective detection of battery bulging status plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of battery combustion and explosion and ensuring battery safety.

[0078] Figure 2 This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0079] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the terminal device 1 includes a battery 50, a back cover 40, a flexible circuit board FPC, and a first electrode.

[0080] The flexible circuit board (FPC) is disposed between the battery 50 and the back cover 40. For example, one end of the flexible circuit board (FPC) is coupled to the motherboard, and the other end is connected to devices such as the speaker, microphone, and charging port of the terminal device 1.

[0081] The first electrode can be located on the side of the rear cover 40 facing the flexible circuit board FPC, or it can be located on the side of the battery 50 facing the flexible circuit board FPC. For example, the first electrode can be formed by spraying a conductive layer or attaching copper foil on the rear cover 40 or the battery 50.

[0082] The flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a second electrode, which, together with the first electrode, forms a capacitor C. When the battery 50 expands, the distance between the first and second electrodes changes, causing a change in the capacitance C, thereby detecting a bulge in the battery 50.

[0083] Figure 2 While the terminal device 1 shown can monitor whether the battery 50 has swelled, it requires two capacitor electrodes. One capacitor electrode can be implemented using the conductive layer in the existing flexible printed circuit board (FPC) of the terminal device 1, while the other capacitor electrode requires an additional conductive layer, resulting in a complex structure and increased cost. Furthermore, a certain safety gap must typically be maintained between the battery 50 and the back cover 40. Under the current trend of ultra-thin design, adding a first electrode, without affecting the overall thickness, will inevitably lead to a reduction in the gap. Reducing the gap will inevitably increase the overall thickness of the device.

[0084] This application provides a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). By adjusting the structure of the FPC, it can be made to have the capability to detect battery bulging. After applying the FPC to the terminal device 1, almost no other changes to the structure of the terminal device 1 are required.

[0085] Figures 3A-3C This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0086] This application provides a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as follows: Figure 3A As shown, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a first pad P1, a first detection electrode 11, a first signal line 12, a first insulating layer L1, and a second detection electrode 21. The first detection electrode 11 and the first signal line 12 are disposed on the same layer, and the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are disposed on opposite sides of the first insulating layer L1.

[0087] The first detection electrode 11 and the first signal line 12 are disposed in the same layer. They can be formed simultaneously and made of the same material, or they can be formed asynchronously and made of different materials. As long as the first detection electrode 11 and the first signal line 12 are located on the same insulating layer surface, they are considered to be disposed in the same layer in this embodiment. For example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a first wiring layer, which includes the aforementioned first detection electrode 11 and first signal line 12. The flexible printed circuit board (FPC) also includes a second conductive layer, which can be the wiring layer or other conductive layers.

[0088] The flexible circuit board (FPC) integrates a detection unit. The first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 serve as two detection electrodes of the detection unit. The projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 have overlapping portions.

[0089] The projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 can coincide or not coincide, as long as the projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 overlap.

[0090] In some embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) further includes a first pad P1, which may be disposed on the same layer as the first detection electrode 11. Alternatively, the first pad P1 may be disposed on the same layer as the second detection electrode 21. Alternatively, the first pad P1 may be disposed on a different layer from both the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. Figure 3A The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0091] One end of the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the first pad P1. The first detection electrode 11 can be directly coupled to the first pad P1, or it can be indirectly coupled to the first pad P1; this embodiment of the application does not limit this. For example, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to a trace disposed on the same layer, and this trace is coupled to the first pad P1.

[0092] The other end of the first detection electrode 11 is in a suspended state. When one end of the conductive part is not connected to any electrical component, device or other line node, but is in an unconnected and free state, it is said that this end is in a suspended state.

[0093] Example, Figure 3A In this configuration, the other end of the first detection electrode 11 is not coupled to a pad in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC). For example, the other end of the first detection electrode 11 is recessed relative to the edge of the FPC. That is, the first detection electrode 11 does not extend from one end of the FPC to the other, and the length of the first detection electrode 11 is less than the length of the first signal line 12.

[0094] In some embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes one or more first signal lines 12. For example, the first signal line 12 and the first detection electrode 11 are insulated from each other. The first signal line 12 may be a ground line or a line transmitting other signals.

[0095] This application embodiment does not limit the length of the first detection electrode 11 along the extension direction of the first signal line 12, nor does it limit the width of the first detection electrode 11 along the width direction of the first signal line 12. The widths of the first detection electrode 11 and the first signal line 12 may be equal or unequal. Figure 3A This is just an illustration.

[0096] In some embodiments, the flexible circuit board (FPC) further includes a third pad P3 and a fourth pad P4, which are disposed on opposite sides of the FPC. One end of the first signal line 12 is coupled to the third pad P3, and the other end of the first signal line 12 is coupled to the fourth pad P4.

[0097] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3A As shown, the flexible circuit board (FPC) also includes a second pad P2, and one end of the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the second pad P2.

[0098] The first pad P1 and the second pad P2 can be located on the same side of the flexible circuit board (FPC), or they can be located on different sides of the FPC.

[0099] The second detection electrode 21 can be directly coupled to the second pad P2, or it can be indirectly coupled to the second pad P2. For example, the second detection electrode 21 can be coupled to a trace on the same layer as it, and that trace can be coupled to the second pad P2.

[0100] For example, such as Figure 3A As shown, the other end of the second detection electrode 21 is suspended. For example, the other end of the second detection electrode 21 is not coupled to the pads in the flexible circuit board (FPC). For example, the other end of the second detection electrode 21 is recessed relative to the edge of the flexible circuit board (FPC), and the length of the second detection electrode 21 is less than the length of the first signal line 12.

[0101] Or, for example, such as Figure 3B As shown, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) also includes a fifth pad P5. One end of the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the second pad P2, and the other end of the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the fifth pad P5. For example, the second detection electrode 21 is used to receive a reference ground voltage or other fixed voltage. For example, the second detection electrode 21 is a signal line in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC). For example, the second detection electrode 21 is a ground line in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC). Therefore, the ground line in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) can be directly reused as the second detection electrode 21, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode 21 and further simplifying the structure of the flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

[0102] In some embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) further includes one or more second signal lines disposed on the same layer as the second detection electrode 21. For example, the second signal lines and the second detection electrode 21 are insulated from each other. Alternatively, for example, the second signal lines and the second detection electrode 21 are used to receive the same voltage (e.g., a reference ground voltage), and the second signal lines may be coupled to the second detection electrode 21.

[0103] In other embodiments, such as Figure 3C As shown, the second detection electrode 21 is a shielding structure exposed on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board (FPC). For example, the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the ground wire within the FPC. Therefore, the shielding structure in the FPC can be directly reused as the second detection electrode 21, eliminating the need for an additional second detection electrode 21 and further simplifying the structure of the FPC.

[0104] The aforementioned ground wire can be disposed on the same layer as the first detection electrode 11, or on the same layer as the second detection electrode 21. The aforementioned ground wire can also be located on other conductive layers. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0105] The flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a first detection electrode 11 and a second detection electrode 21. One end of the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to a first pad, and the other end is suspended. The first detection electrode 11 can serve as a variable acquisition electrode. The projections of the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 onto the first insulating layer L1 overlap. The oppositely positioned first and second detection electrodes 11 and 21 can function as two detection electrodes within the same detection unit. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode 11, it can be determined whether the distance between the first and second detection electrodes 11 has changed. When the FPC is placed on one side of the battery 50, the bulging of the battery 50 can cause a change in the distance between the first and second detection electrodes 11 and 21. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode 11, it is possible to detect whether the battery 50 is bulging. Furthermore, the process of setting the first and second detection electrodes 11 and 21 within the detection unit of the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is simple and easy to implement.

[0106] Figure 4 As a kind Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction.

[0107] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the portion of the first insulating layer L1 located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 is made of the same material as the rest.

[0108] The detection unit in the flexible circuit board (FPC) includes a first detection electrode 11, a second detection electrode 21, and a portion of the first insulating layer L1 located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. The first detection electrode 11, the second detection electrode 21, and the first insulating layer L1 form a capacitor C. The detection unit is a capacitor C integrated in the flexible circuit board (FPC).

[0109] The materials of the first insulating layer L1, the first detection electrode 11, and the second detection electrode 21 are not limited in this application embodiment. Any dielectric material suitable for flexible circuit boards (FPCs) is applicable to this application embodiment.

[0110] The portion of the first insulating layer L1 located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 is made of the same material as the rest, eliminating the need for additional processes to separately form the capacitor dielectric of the capacitor C, thus simplifying the process and reducing costs.

[0111] Figure 5A and Figure 5B For another Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction.

[0112] In other embodiments, such as Figure 5A As shown, a first insulating part 31 is provided between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21.

[0113] In a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), the first insulating layer L1 includes a first insulating portion 31 and a second insulating portion 32. The first insulating portion 31 is located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21, and the second insulating portion 32 is located, for example, around the first insulating portion 31. For example, the first insulating portion 31 is located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21, and the remaining portion of the first insulating layer L1 is the second insulating portion 32.

[0114] The detection unit in the flexible circuit board (FPC) includes a first detection electrode 11, a second detection electrode 21, and a first insulating part 31. The first detection electrode 11, the second detection electrode 21, and the first insulating part 31 form a capacitor C. The detection unit is a capacitor C integrated in the flexible circuit board (FPC).

[0115] The first insulating portion 31 and the second insulating portion 32 are made of different materials. For example, the second insulating portion 32 is a flexible material, while the first insulating portion 31 is a compressible dielectric material. For instance, the material of the second insulating portion 32 includes polyimide (PI), polyester (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), etc., while the material of the first insulating portion 31 includes foam.

[0116] The specific dimensions of the first insulating portion 31 are not limited in the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 5A As shown, the overlapping portion of the projections of the first detection electrode 11 onto the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 onto the first insulating layer L1 can coincide with the first insulating portion 31. Alternatively, as... Figure 5B As shown, the overlapping portion of the projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 can fall within the contour of the first insulating portion 31. Alternatively, the overlapping portion of the projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 can cover the first insulating portion 31.

[0117] By setting an independently selected first insulating part 31, a dielectric material that is more easily deformable than the second insulating part 32 can be used as the capacitor dielectric (first insulating part 31) of capacitor C, which can increase the sensitivity of the first insulating part 31 to deformation and improve the detection sensitivity of capacitor C.

[0118] Figure 6 For another kind Figure 3A A sectional view along the A1-A2 direction.

[0119] In some other embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the first insulating layer L1 includes a gap located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21.

[0120] The detection unit in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a first detection electrode 11, a second detection electrode 21, and a gap. The first detection electrode 11, the second detection electrode 21, and the gap form a capacitor C, and the detection unit is a capacitor C integrated in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC). Alternatively, the first detection electrode 11, the second detection electrode 21, and the gap form a short-circuit switch, and the detection unit is a short-circuit switch integrated in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

[0121] Based on the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21, a detection unit is formed by creating a gap in the first insulating layer L1. The gap exerts less deformation resistance on the second detection electrode 21 (or the first detection electrode 11), making it easier for the distance between the first and second detection electrodes 11 to change, resulting in higher sensitivity for bulging detection. Furthermore, the formed detection unit can be a capacitor C, monitoring battery 50 bulging by detecting changes in capacitance. Alternatively, the formed detection unit can be a short-circuit switch, monitoring battery 50 bulging by detecting changes in voltage.

[0122] Figures 7A-7C This is a cross-sectional view of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0123] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7A As shown, the flexible circuit board FPC also includes a third signal line 42. Figure 7A The example shown is a flexible circuit board (FPC) including a third signal line 42. When the flexible circuit board (FPC) includes more third signal lines 42, the structure of the third signal line 42 can be referred to the relevant description in the embodiments of this application.

[0124] The overlapping portion of the projections of the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 onto the first insulating layer L1 does not overlap with the projection of the third signal line 42 onto the first insulating layer L1. Alternatively, it can be understood that no other conductive portion is provided between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21.

[0125] The third signal line 42 is located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. For example, a first insulating layer L1 is provided between the first detection electrode 11 and the third signal line 42, and a second insulating layer L2 is provided between the third signal line 42 and the second detection electrode 21. Then, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 can be located on any two conductive layers in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

[0126] For example, such as Figure 7A As shown, the material of the portion of the first insulating layer L1 located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 is the same as the material of the portion of the first insulating layer L1 located between the first signal line 12 and the second signal line 22.

[0127] Or, for example, such as Figure 7B As shown, the first insulating portion 31 located between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 in the first insulating layer L1 is made of a different material than the second insulating portion 32 located between the first signal line 12 and the second signal line 22 in the first insulating layer L1.

[0128] Or, for example, such as Figure 7C As shown, the first insulating layer L1 includes a gap between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. The second insulating layer L2 also includes a gap between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. The gaps on the different insulating layers may overlap or coincide.

[0129] The first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 can be located in any two conductive layers of the flexible circuit board (FPC), and are not limited to being located in two adjacent conductive layers. The arrangement is flexible and has a wide range of applications.

[0130] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of another flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0131] In some embodiments, in the above Figures 4-6 Based on any of the illustrated flexible circuit boards (FPCs), the flexible circuit board FPC also includes a third signal line 42.

[0132] like Figure 8 As shown, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are located on two adjacent conductive layers in the flexible circuit board (FPC).

[0133] The third signal line 42 is disposed on the side of the second detection electrode 21 away from the first insulating layer L1, and the second insulating layer L2 is disposed between the third signal line 42 and the second detection electrode 21.

[0134] In other embodiments, the third signal line 42 is disposed on the side of the first detection electrode 11 away from the first insulating layer L1, and the second insulating layer L2 is disposed between the third signal line 42 and the first detection electrode 11.

[0135] The flexible circuit board (FPC) provided in this application embodiment may include one of the above-mentioned detection units, or the flexible circuit board (FPC) may include multiple of the above-mentioned detection units. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0136] In the case where the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes multiple detection units, the first detection electrode 11 in the multiple detection units can be coupled to the same first pad P1, or the first detection electrode 11 in the multiple detection units can be coupled to different first pads P1. Similarly, the second detection electrode 21 in the multiple detection units can be coupled to the same second pad P2, or the second detection electrode 21 in the multiple detection units can be coupled to different second pads P2.

[0137] This application embodiment also provides a terminal device 1, which may include any of the above-mentioned flexible circuit boards (FPCs).

[0138] Figure 9A and Figure 9B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positional relationship between a flexible circuit board and a battery, provided as an embodiment of this application.

[0139] like Figure 9A As shown, the terminal device 1 includes a battery 50 and any of the above-mentioned flexible circuit boards (FPCs), with the flexible circuit board (FPC) disposed on one side of the battery 50.

[0140] In the flexible printed circuit board (FPC), the projections of the first detection electrode 11 on the first insulating layer L1 and the projections of the second detection electrode 21 on the first insulating layer L1 overlap, and the overlapping portion is located within the projection of the battery 50 on the first insulating layer L1.

[0141] Alternatively, it can be understood that the overlapping portion of the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 is located directly above or below the battery 50. When the battery 50 bulges and deforms, it can push the first detection electrode 11 or the second detection electrode 21 to deform.

[0142] When the flexible circuit board (FPC) is applied in the terminal device 1, the first detection electrode 11 can be set close to the battery 50, or the second detection electrode 21 can be set close to the battery 50. In this embodiment, the first detection electrode 11 being close to the battery 50 is used as an example for illustration.

[0143] In the terminal device 1 provided in this application embodiment, the flexible circuit board (FPC) includes a first detection electrode 11 and a second detection electrode 21. One end of the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to a first pad P1, and the other end of the first detection electrode 11 is suspended. The first detection electrode 11 can serve as a variable acquisition electrode. The projections of the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 onto the first insulating layer L1 overlap. The oppositely arranged first detection electrode 11 and second detection electrode 21 can serve as two detection electrodes in the same detection unit. The overlapping portion falls within the projection of the battery 50 onto the first insulating layer L1. That is, the detection unit is correspondingly arranged with the battery 50, and the bulging of the battery 50 can be fed back to the detection unit. Therefore, by acquiring the signal from the first detection electrode 11, the detection of whether the battery 50 is bulging can be achieved, enabling the terminal device 1 to have the capability to detect battery 50 bulging. Based on this, the detection unit is implemented using the flexible circuit board (FPC) in the terminal device 1. The first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 of the detection unit are arranged inside the flexible circuit board (FPC), which is simple in process and easy to implement. Furthermore, no additional structures are needed, and the assembly gap between the battery 50 and other components will not be affected, ensuring the safety of the battery 50. It will also not affect the overall thickness of the terminal device 1, contributing to a thinner and lighter design. Moreover, since the first detection electrode 11 and the first signal line 12 are arranged on the same layer, the first detection electrode 11 is located in the wiring layer of the flexible circuit board (FPC). It can be easily coupled to an external detection circuit using the first pad P1 on the FPC, without the need for additional connection paths, resulting in a simple structure.

[0144] In some embodiments, such as Figure 9B As shown, the terminal device 1 also includes a detection circuit 60, which is coupled to the detection unit. For example, the detection circuit 60 is coupled to the first pad. The detection circuit 60 is used to determine whether the battery 50 has bulged based on the received signal.

[0145] The following section will elaborate on the structure of the detection circuit 60 in conjunction with the structure of the detection unit.

[0146] By using the intelligent detection circuit 60 to detect changes in the signal of the detection unit within the flexible circuit board (FPC), real-time detection of battery bulging can be achieved, thus improving safety.

[0147] Figure 10 This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0148] In the first implementation, such as Figure 10 As shown, the terminal device 1 also includes a middle frame 30 and a rear cover 40. A battery 50 is disposed on the middle frame 30 and is located between the middle frame 30 and the rear cover 40, and a flexible circuit board (FPC) is disposed between the battery 50 and the rear cover 40.

[0149] For example, there is a gap between the battery 50 and the flexible circuit board (FPC). Alternatively, for example, the flexible circuit board (FPC) is disposed on the surface of the battery 50. Alternatively, for example, there is a gap between the flexible circuit board (FPC) and the rear cover 40. The aforementioned gaps can be understood as safety gaps for the battery 50, and the specific size of the gaps is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0150] The terminal device 1 may also include a display module 20, which is disposed on the side of the middle frame 30 away from the battery 50.

[0151] Figures 11A-11D This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a terminal device after the battery bulges, provided as an embodiment of this application.

[0152] In some embodiments, such as Figures 11A-11C As shown, the detection unit in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes a capacitor C.

[0153] For example, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 can be located in two adjacent conductive layers, and the capacitor dielectric between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 in the capacitor C can be... Figure 11A The first insulating layer L1 shown can also be Figure 11B The first insulating part 31 shown can also be Figure 11C The air in the gap shown.

[0154] Or, for example, such as Figure 11D As shown, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 can also be located between any two conductive layers. Similarly, the capacitor dielectric between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 in capacitor C can be the first insulating layer L1, the first insulating portion 31, or air in the gap. Figure 11D This is just an illustration.

[0155] like Figure 12As shown, when the battery 50 expands, the distance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 decreases due to the compression caused by the battery 50. When the second detection electrode 21 is positioned close to the battery 50, it deforms, causing the first insulating layer L1 to deform, further reducing the distance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. Conversely, when the first detection electrode 11 is positioned close to the battery 50, it deforms, causing the first insulating layer L1 to deform, further reducing the distance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21.

[0156] As the distance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 decreases, the capacitance value of capacitor C increases. By detecting the change in capacitance value of capacitor C, it is possible to predict whether battery 50 will bulge.

[0157] For example, if the capacitance of capacitor C increases, it can be determined that battery 50 is bulging. Alternatively, for example, if the capacitance of capacitor C increases and the change is greater than a preset value, it can be determined that battery 50 is bulging.

[0158] Figure 13 This is a layout diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0159] In some embodiments, such as Figure 13 As shown, the terminal device 1 also includes a detection circuit 60, which is coupled to the detection unit and is used to determine whether the battery 50 is bulging based on the detected signal.

[0160] For example, terminal device 1 also includes a motherboard, and at least a portion of the circuitry in detection circuit 60 may be disposed on the motherboard. The detection unit is coupled to an input / output (I / O) port on the motherboard via a first pad P1 to achieve coupling between the detection unit and detection circuit 60.

[0161] In a first alternative embodiment, the detection circuit 60 includes a capacitance detection circuit for detecting the capacitance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. Alternatively, the capacitance detection circuit can be understood as detecting the capacitance value of the capacitor C in the detection unit.

[0162] The capacitance detection circuit may include, for example, a capacitance sensor or other capacitance reading circuit. The specific structure of the capacitance detection circuit is not limited in the embodiments of this application. Circuits that can realize capacitance detection in related technologies are applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0163] For example, the detection circuit 60 also includes a control circuit. The control circuit determines whether the battery 50 is bulging based on the capacitance value detected by the capacitance detection circuit and provides a corresponding control instruction. For instance, if the control circuit determines that the battery 50 is bulging, it provides an instruction to remind the user to replace the battery. If the control circuit determines that the battery 50 is not bulging, it does not provide an instruction. The control circuit and the capacitance detection circuit can be integrated or separate. Some or all of the structure in the detection circuit 60 can be integrated into the SOC in the terminal device 1, for example, the SOC can be located on the motherboard.

[0164] In some embodiments, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the detection circuit 60 via a first pad P1, and the second detection electrode 21 is used to receive a fixed voltage. The fixed voltage may be, for example, a reference ground voltage or other voltage values.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the detection circuit 60 via a first pad P, and the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the detection circuit 60. The first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are coupled to different ports of the detection circuit 60. For example, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the detection circuit 60 via a first pad P1, and the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to the detection circuit 60 via a second pad P2.

[0166] For example, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are coupled to different ports of the capacitance detection circuit in the detection circuit 60. For instance, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are coupled to different input / output ports on the motherboard, which are coupled to different detection terminals of the capacitance detection circuit.

[0167] In some other embodiments, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the detection circuit 60, and the second detection electrode 21 is not coupled to the detection circuit 60.

[0168] For example, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the detection circuit 60, and the second detection electrode 21 is coupled to other device structures that provide a fixed voltage. For instance, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to an input / output port on the motherboard, which is coupled to a capacitance detection circuit. The second detection electrode 21 is coupled to a reference ground voltage terminal on the motherboard.

[0169] Figure 14A This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figures 14B-14D This is a layout diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0170] In some embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) in the terminal device 1 may include multiple detection units.

[0171] For example, such as Figure 14A As shown, the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) includes multiple first detection electrodes 11 and multiple second detection electrodes 22, which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. A pair of corresponding first detection electrodes 11 and second detection electrodes 21 constitutes two electrodes of a detection unit. The projections of the corresponding first detection electrodes 11 and second detection electrodes 21 onto the first insulating layer L1 overlap. The multiple first detection electrodes 11 and multiple second detection electrodes 22 correspond to multiple detection units.

[0172] Multiple detection units can have the same structure, or they can have different or not completely identical structures. The multiple detection units included in the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) can be any combination of any of the above-mentioned detection units.

[0173] For example, such as Figure 14B As shown, multiple detection units can be coupled to the same detection circuit 60. One detection circuit 60 can detect multiple detection units, which can save the number of detection circuits 60.

[0174] By setting multiple detection units in the same flexible printed circuit board (FPC), multiple detection units can detect bulging at different locations of the battery 50. The comprehensive layout with multiple locations and forms can improve the detection coverage, increase detection accuracy and precision, and reduce the difficulty of hardware implementation.

[0175] Or, for example, such as Figure 14C As shown, multiple detection units can be coupled to different detection circuits 60. For example, multiple detection circuits 60 are coupled one-to-one with the first detection electrodes 11 of multiple detection units. Since different detection units are coupled to different detection circuits 60, different detection circuits 60 can detect the position of the battery 50 corresponding to the coupled detection unit, thereby determining the bulging position of the battery 50.

[0176] By monitoring multiple detection units through multiple detection circuits 60, the location of the detection unit where the signal changes can be determined, thereby determining the specific location where the battery bulges.

[0177] In some embodiments, such as Figure 14D As shown, the terminal device 1 also includes a multiplexer 70. The first end of the multiplexer 70 is coupled to the detection circuit 60, and the multiple second ends of the multiplexer 70 are coupled to the first detection electrodes of the multiple detection units one by one.

[0178] After setting multiple detection units in the same flexible printed circuit board (FPC), the location of the detection unit where the signal changes can be detected can also be realized through a multiplexer 70 and a detection circuit 60, thus reducing the circuit structure.

[0179] Figure 15A and Figure 15B This is a layout diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0180] In some embodiments, such as Figure 15A As shown, terminal device 1 includes multiple flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) as described above. The structure and number of detection units included in the multiple flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) may be the same or different.

[0181] like Figure 15A As shown, multiple flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) can be coupled to the same detection circuit 60. Alternatively, each flexible printed circuit board (FPC) can be coupled to one detection circuit 60. Or, as... Figure 15B As shown, each detection unit in the multiple flexible circuit boards (FPCs) is coupled to a different detection circuit 60.

[0182] Multiple flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) are arranged side by side without overlapping. The detection units in the FPCs correspond to different positions of the battery 50. Multiple FPCs can be coupled to the same detection circuit 60, or they can be coupled to different detection circuits 60.

[0183] By setting multiple flexible circuit boards (FPCs) in the terminal device 1, the detection units in the multiple flexible circuit board FPCs can detect the bulging at different locations of the battery 50, which can improve the detection accuracy and reduce the difficulty of hardware implementation.

[0184] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another terminal device after battery bulging, provided as an embodiment of this application.

[0185] In the second alternative, such as Figure 16 As shown, the detection unit is a short-circuit switch including a first detection electrode 11 and a second detection electrode 21, with a gap on the first insulating layer L1 between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21. The detection circuit 60 includes a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage on the first detection electrode 11.

[0186] When the battery 50 is not bulging, the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 are not in contact, and the detection circuit 60 detects the first signal. When the battery 50 bulges, the flexible circuit board (FPC) is deformed by compression, and the distance between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21 decreases until they contact. At this point, the detection circuit 60 detects the second signal to determine that the detection unit is in a short-circuit state and confirms that the battery 50 has bulged.

[0187] For example, the first detection electrode 11 is coupled to the voltage detection circuit in the detection circuit 60. Alternatively, the first detection electrode 11 may be coupled to an input / output port on the motherboard, and the voltage detection circuit may be coupled to the motherboard, thus achieving coupling between the first detection electrode 11 and the voltage detection circuit. In this case, the second detection electrode 21 may, for example, be coupled to a ground voltage terminal.

[0188] For example, when the voltage detection circuit detects that the voltage on the first detection electrode 11 is a first voltage, it determines that the detection unit is in an open-circuit state, and the battery 50 is not bulging or the bulging is within a set range. When the voltage detection circuit detects that the voltage on the first detection electrode 11 is a second voltage, it determines that the detection unit is in a short-circuit state, and the battery 50 is bulging beyond the set range. By monitoring the open and short-circuit states of this detection unit, the bulging state of the battery 50 can be detected.

[0189] The first voltage can be greater than the second voltage, or it can be less than the second voltage, as long as the first voltage and the second voltage are not equal. For example, the second voltage can be equal to the voltage received by the second detection electrode 21.

[0190] Terminal device 1 has more abundant resources for voltage detection circuits with open and short circuit detection functions. By setting the detection unit as a short circuit switch structure, the signal can be detected by using the existing voltage detection circuit in terminal device 1 without the need to add an additional detection circuit. This is easy to implement and has a wide range of applications.

[0191] When the terminal device 1 includes multiple detection units, these detection units may include a capacitor C and / or a short-circuit switch. When the terminal device 1 includes different types of detection units, the detection circuit 60 also includes different types of detection circuits. The capacitor C needs to be coupled to the capacitance detection circuit, and the short-circuit switch needs to be coupled to the voltage detection circuit.

[0192] Figure 17 This is an architectural diagram of another terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0193] In the second implementation, such as Figure 17 As shown, the terminal device 1 also includes a display module 20, with a flexible circuit board (FPC) disposed between the battery 50 and the display module 20.

[0194] Compared with the first implementation, the only difference in the second implementation is the setting position of the terminal device 1 in the flexible circuit board (FPC). The other structures can be the same as in the first implementation, and will not be described in detail here.

[0195] This application also provides a battery bulging detection method, which can be applied to any of the above-mentioned terminal devices 1.

[0196] The battery bulging detection method includes: detection circuit 60 detecting the received signal and determining whether the battery is bulging based on the received signal.

[0197] For example, the detection circuit 60 detects the actual capacitance value between the first detection electrode 11 and the second detection electrode 21, compares the actual capacitance value with a set capacitance value, and determines whether the battery 50 is bulging based on the comparison result. For instance, if the actual capacitance value is greater than the set capacitance value, the battery 50 is determined to be bulging. If the actual capacitance value is less than the set capacitance value, the battery 50 is determined not to be bulging.

[0198] The battery 50 is bulging by detecting its capacitance value. As long as the capacitance value changes, the bulging of the battery 50 can be detected, which is highly sensitive.

[0199] Alternatively, for example, the detection circuit 60 detects the actual voltage value on the first detection electrode 11, compares the actual voltage value with a set voltage value, and determines whether the battery is bulging based on the comparison result. For instance, if the actual voltage value equals the set voltage value, it is determined that the battery 50 is not bulging. If the actual voltage value does not equal the set voltage value, it is determined that the battery 50 is bulging.

[0200] The bulging of battery 50 can be determined by detecting the voltage value. As long as the voltage value changes, the bulging of battery 50 can be detected. The principle is simple.

[0201] For example, when the terminal device 1 is in silent mode, a detection conclusion can be drawn based on the multiple detection results of the detection circuit 60.

[0202] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A terminal device, characterized in that, The terminal device includes: Battery; A flexible circuit board is disposed on one side of the battery; the flexible circuit board includes a first pad, a first detection electrode, a first signal line, an insulating layer, and a second detection electrode; the first detection electrode and the first signal line are disposed on the same layer, and the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are disposed on both sides of the insulating layer; one end of the first detection electrode is coupled to the first pad, and the other end of the first detection electrode is suspended; The projections of the first detection electrode on the insulating layer and the projections of the second detection electrode on the insulating layer have an overlapping portion; the overlapping portion is located within the projection of the battery on the insulating layer.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating layer includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion; The first insulating portion is located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, and the second insulating portion is located around the first insulating portion; the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion are made of different materials.

3. The terminal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating layer includes a gap located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode.

4. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board also includes a second pad, one end of the second detection electrode is coupled to the second pad, and the other end of the second detection electrode is in a suspended state.

5. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The second detection electrode is the ground wire of the flexible circuit board.

6. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The second detection electrode is a shielding structure on the surface of the flexible circuit board.

7. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The length of the first detection electrode and / or the second detection electrode is less than the length of the first signal line.

8. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The terminal device also includes a detection circuit; The detection circuit is coupled to the first pad; the detection circuit is used to determine whether the battery is bulging based on the detected signal.

9. The terminal device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second pad is coupled to the detection circuit, or the second pad is coupled to a fixed voltage terminal.

10. The terminal device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The detection circuit includes a capacitance detection circuit, which is used to detect the capacitance between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode.

11. The terminal device according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the insulating layer includes gaps, the detection circuit includes a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage on the first detection electrode.

12. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board further includes a second signal line disposed between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode; the overlapping portion does not overlap with the projection of the second signal line on the insulating layer.

13. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board includes a plurality of first detection electrodes and a plurality of second detection electrodes, with each plurality of first detection electrodes and the plurality of second detection electrodes being arranged in a one-to-one correspondence.

14. The terminal device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The terminal device includes multiple detection circuits, and each of the multiple detection circuits is coupled to a corresponding first detection electrode.

15. The terminal device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The terminal device further includes a multiplexer, the first terminal of which is coupled to the detection circuit, and the multiple second terminals of which are coupled one-to-one with the multiple first detection electrodes.

16. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-15, characterized in that, The terminal device includes multiple flexible circuit boards.

17. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that, The terminal device also includes a rear cover, and the flexible circuit board is disposed between the battery and the rear cover.

18. The terminal device according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that, The terminal device also includes a display module, and the flexible circuit board is disposed between the battery and the display module.

19. A flexible circuit board, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board includes: First pad; A first detection electrode, a first signal line, an insulating layer, and a second detection electrode; the first detection electrode and the first signal line are disposed on the same layer, and the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are disposed on opposite sides of the insulating layer; one end of the first detection electrode is coupled to the first pad, and the other end of the first detection electrode is suspended; the projections of the first detection electrode on the insulating layer and the projections of the second detection electrode on the insulating layer have overlapping portions.

20. The flexible circuit board according to claim 19, characterized in that, The insulating layer includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion; The first insulating portion is located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, and the second insulating portion is located around the first insulating portion; the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion are made of different materials.

21. The flexible circuit board according to claim 19, characterized in that, The insulating layer includes a gap located between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode.

22. The flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board also includes a second pad, one end of the second detection electrode is coupled to the second pad, and the other end of the second detection electrode is in a suspended state.

23. The flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The second detection electrode is the ground wire of the flexible circuit board.

24. The flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The second detection electrode is a shielding structure on the surface of the flexible circuit board.

25. The flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 19-22, characterized in that, The length of the first detection electrode and / or the second detection electrode is less than the length of the first signal line.

26. The flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 19-25, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board further includes a second signal line disposed between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode; the overlapping portion does not overlap with the projection of the second signal line on the insulating layer.

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