A sealing structure of a flexible printed circuit and a flexible printed circuit

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of automotive battery technology, specifically a sealing structure for a flexible printed circuit and the flexible printed circuit itself. The sealing structure includes a sealing structure disposed on the male terminal of the FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). The sealing structure is made of a soft material. When the male terminal of the FPC is connected to the female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure is embedded in the female terminal and connected to its inner wall. By providing a sealing structure made of soft material on the male terminal of the FPC, when the male terminal is connected to the female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure is embedded in the female terminal and connected to its inner wall. During terminal insertion and removal, the sealing structure can tightly fit against the inner wall of the female terminal, forming a physical sealing barrier. This provides a good sealing effect between the male and female terminals, effectively preventing moisture and dust from entering the connection area, and improving the connection stability and reliability between the male and female terminals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive battery technology, specifically a sealing structure for a flexible printed circuit and a flexible printed circuit. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of battery technology and electric vehicles, flexible printed circuits (FPCs) are playing an increasingly important role in automotive batteries, especially in the design of electric vehicle battery packs. The application of FPCs not only helps optimize the space utilization efficiency of battery packs, but also improves the reliability and performance of the system. For example, FPCs can be used to connect individual battery cells or small battery modules to form larger battery packs; FPCs can carry signal lines to transmit the status information of each battery cell (such as voltage, temperature, etc.) to the battery management system (BMS), enabling the monitoring of the status of each battery cell and providing the safety and reliability of the entire battery pack.

[0003] The existing FPCs of two small battery modules use a plug-in connection. However, since automobiles need to operate in various climatic conditions, especially in rainy or flooded conditions, moisture and dust may enter the interior through the tiny gaps in the connector, causing short circuits or other electrical failures. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a sealed structure and flexible printed circuit to solve the problem that the connectors of existing FPCs used for automobile batteries are prone to water and dust ingress, leading to short circuits or other electrical failures. Utility Model Content

[0004] Regarding the aforementioned problem that existing FPC connectors used in automotive batteries are prone to water and dust ingress, leading to short circuits or other electrical faults, the technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve this problem is:

[0005] A sealing structure for a flexible printed circuit includes a sealing structure disposed on a male terminal of an FPC. The sealing structure is made of a soft material. When the male terminal of the FPC is connected to a female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure is embedded in the female terminal of the FPC and connected to the inner wall of the female terminal of the FPC.

[0006] Furthermore, the sealing structure is arranged around the outside of the FPC male terminal. The sealing structure includes a sealing part, which includes a fixing part connected to the FPC male terminal and a deformation part connected to the fixing part. When the FPC male terminal is connected to the FPC female terminal, the deformation part deforms and abuts against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal.

[0007] Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the deformed part is triangular or trapezoidal.

[0008] Furthermore, the sealing portion is composed of at least two sealing portions, and the deformable portion has a first guide surface on the side near the FPC female terminal.

[0009] Furthermore, a second guide surface is provided on the side of the deformable part away from the FPC female terminal, and the inclination direction of the first guide surface is opposite to that of the second guide surface.

[0010] Furthermore, a first cavity is provided between two adjacent deformable portions, the first cavity being used to isolate external moisture.

[0011] Furthermore, the included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformed part ranges from 30° to 60°.

[0012] Furthermore, the included angle b formed by the first guide surface and the extended plane of the sealing part ranges from 15 to 30°, and the included angle c formed by the second guide surface and the extended plane of the sealing part ranges from 15 to 30°.

[0013] A flexible printed circuit includes the aforementioned sealing structure, an FPC male terminal connected to the sealing structure, and an FPC line connected to the FPC male terminal.

[0014] Furthermore, the FPC male terminal includes an FPC male terminal mating portion connected to the FPC female terminal contact and an exposed FPC male terminal portion, and the sealing structure is located between the FPC male terminal mating portion and the exposed FPC male terminal portion.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] This invention features a sealing structure made of soft material on the male terminal of an FPC. When the male terminal is connected to the female terminal, the sealing structure is embedded in the female terminal and connected to its inner wall. During the insertion and removal of the terminals, the sealing structure can fit tightly against the inner wall of the female terminal, forming a physical sealing barrier. This provides a good sealing effect between the male and female terminals, effectively preventing moisture and dust from entering the connection area and improving the connection stability and reliability between the male and female terminals. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible printed circuit of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the flexible printed circuit of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the FPC male terminal and the FPC female terminal of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 4This is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible printed circuit of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0022] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0023] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this utility model is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0024] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The sealing structure of a flexible printed circuit shown includes a sealing structure 1 disposed on the male terminal of the FPC. The sealing structure 1 is made of a soft material. When the male terminal of the FPC is connected to the female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure 1 is embedded in the female terminal of the FPC and connected to the inner wall of the female terminal of the FPC.

[0025] In this invention, the sealing structure, as the core protective component of the FPC male terminal, is made of soft materials, such as silicone, rubber and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). These materials have excellent elasticity and weather resistance, and can still maintain good elastic deformation ability in the temperature range of -40℃ to 120℃. When the FPC male terminal is inserted into the FPC female terminal, the sealing structure, due to its own elasticity, is embedded inside the FPC female terminal in an interference fit, tightly fitting against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal to form a physical sealing barrier. This choice of soft material, compared to traditional hard seals, can better adapt to dimensional tolerances during terminal insertion and removal, ensuring the reliability and stability of the seal. In summary, by setting a sealing structure made of soft material on the FPC male terminal, when the FPC male terminal is connected to the FPC female terminal, the sealing structure is embedded in the FPC female terminal and connected to its inner wall. During terminal insertion and removal, the sealing structure can tightly fit against the inner wall of the female terminal, forming a physical sealing barrier, providing a good sealing effect between the male and female terminals, effectively preventing moisture and dust from entering the connection area, and improving the connection stability and reliability between the male and female terminals.

[0026] Specifically, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not a limitation thereof, the Shore hardness range of the sealing structure is 20-40°.

[0027] Furthermore, the sealing structure 1 is arranged around the outside of the FPC male terminal. The sealing structure 1 includes a sealing part 11. The sealing part 11 includes a fixing part 111 connected to the FPC male terminal and a deformation part 112 connected to the fixing part 111. When the FPC male terminal is connected to the FPC female terminal, the deformation part 112 deforms and abuts against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal.

[0028] In this invention, the sealing structure is arranged around the outside of the FPC male terminal, meaning it is not a partial setting but forms a sealing ring structure around the entire connection area. This design can achieve 260° all-round sealing, effectively improving waterproof and dustproof performance. Furthermore, the sealing structure consists of a sealing part and a deformation part. The fixing part is the part that directly connects the sealing part to the FPC male terminal, while the deformation part is the part that contacts and deforms with the FPC female terminal. During the insertion and removal of the FPC male terminal, the deformation part undergoes elastic deformation under the pressure of the inner wall of the FPC female terminal, tightly adhering to the inner wall surface and forming a sealing contact pressure. This deformation capability can compensate for manufacturing errors, assembly deviations, and wear problems during long-term use, ensuring that the sealing performance remains good after multiple insertions and removals, effectively improving the connection reliability and stability between the FPC male terminal and the FPC female terminal.

[0029] Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the deformable part 112 is triangular or trapezoidal.

[0030] In this invention, the cross-sectional shape of the deformable part is triangular or trapezoidal. Taking a triangular cross-section as an example, when under pressure, the triangular cross-section can concentrate stress at the top, making it easier for the material to deform and fill the tiny gaps, thereby providing a tighter contact and a better sealing effect. At the same time, it can also effectively disperse the reverse pressure and increase the overall stability of the connection. Similarly, the trapezoidal cross-section provides a larger contact area. When squeezed, the hypotenuse of the trapezoid can fully contact the inner wall of the FPC female terminal, increasing the sealing area and further enhancing the sealing effect, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the seal.

[0031] Furthermore, the sealing part 11 is composed of at least two sealing parts 11, and the deformable part 112 is provided with a first guide surface 1121 on the side near the FPC female terminal.

[0032] In this invention, the sealing part consists of at least two sealing parts. This means that protection is not provided by a single sealing structure, but by combining multiple sealing parts to enhance the overall sealing effect. The multi-seal design can significantly improve waterproof and dustproof capabilities, and even if one layer of seal fails, the other layers can still provide a certain degree of protection. Furthermore, a first guide surface is provided on the side of the deformable part near the FPC female terminal. The first guide surface can guide the insertion of the FPC male terminal to ensure that the FPC male terminal can be smoothly inserted into the FPC female terminal, reducing resistance and friction damage during insertion and removal, and also ensuring that the deformable part can be correctly... The deformation of the part tightly fits the inner wall of the FPC female terminal, thereby achieving a better sealing effect. In summary, by adopting a design with at least two sealing parts, even if one sealing part fails, the other sealing parts can still maintain the necessary sealing level, greatly improving the reliability and safety of the sealing structure. The presence of the first guide surface not only simplifies the docking process between the FPC male terminal and the FPC female terminal and reduces the possibility of misoperation, but also helps to evenly distribute the applied pressure, allowing the deformed part to more effectively fill any tiny gaps, further improving the sealing quality. At the same time, by reducing friction and potential damage risks during insertion and removal, the service life of the sealing structure is effectively extended.

[0033] Furthermore, the deformable portion 112 is provided with a second guide surface 1122 on the side away from the FPC female terminal, and the first guide surface 1121 and the second guide surface 1122 have opposite inclination directions.

[0034] In this invention, the deformable part is provided with a second guide surface on the side away from the FPC female terminal, and the inclination direction is opposite to that of the first guide surface. This means that the first guide surface and the second guide surface form a V-shaped or wedge-shaped structure, which provides reverse guidance during insertion and removal, and helps to reduce the risk of jamming and tearing.

[0035] Furthermore, a first cavity 113 is provided between two adjacent deformable portions 112, and the first cavity 113 is used to isolate external moisture.

[0036] In this invention, the first cavity is located between two adjacent deformable portions, forming a physical isolation area. The main function of the first cavity is to prevent moisture from directly penetrating into the interior by providing additional space when the deformable portion is subjected to external pressure or deformation. Even if moisture can pass through the first deformable portion, it will be trapped in the first cavity and will be difficult to continue to penetrate inward, effectively improving the sealing performance of the sealing structure. In addition to waterproofing, the first cavity also provides space for the deformable portion to deform. When the FPC male terminal is inserted into the FPC female terminal, the deformable portion is squeezed and deformed and enters the first cavity, ensuring that the deformable portion can effectively fit the inner wall of the FPC female terminal, effectively improving the reliability and stability of the sealing structure.

[0037] Furthermore, the included angle α formed by the two opposing sides of the deformable part 112 ranges from 30° to 60°.

[0038] This invention designs the included angle α formed by the two opposing sides of the deformable portion within the range of 30-60°. This allows the deformable portion to provide good compression and rebound capabilities, a sealed, box-like shape, and smooth insertion and removal. Within this angle range, the deformable portion can be evenly compressed during insertion, generating sufficient rebound force to maintain a sealed state. This allows the deformable portion to better conform to the interior of the FPC female terminal, forming a tight contact surface, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing structure. In addition, the relatively moderate angle reduces frictional resistance during insertion and provides better guidance, effectively reducing the FPC's... The assembly difficulty and wear risk of the male terminal and the FPC female terminal are significant. If the included angle α is less than 30°, the deformed part is too sharp, and the material is prone to tearing or stress concentration during compression, causing damage to the sealing structure. If the included angle α is greater than 60°, the deformed part will have insufficient adhesion after compression, making it difficult to form an effective seal, which will lead to moisture infiltration. Therefore, setting the included angle α in the range of 30-60° can achieve an optimized balance between sealing performance, ease of insertion and removal, and structural durability of the sealing structure, effectively improving the reliability and stability of the sealing structure.

[0039] Furthermore, the angle b formed by the first guide surface 1121 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is in the range of 15-30°, and the angle c formed by the second guide surface 1122 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is in the range of 15-30°.

[0040] In this invention, the included angle b is the angle between the first guide surface and the extension plane of the sealing part. It plays a guiding role during the insertion of the FPC male terminal, helping the FPC male terminal smoothly enter the FPC female terminal. The angle b determines the magnitude of the insertion resistance and the initial contact pressure distribution. By setting the included angle b within the range of 15-30°, minimum insertion force and maximum self-alignment capability can be achieved, reducing the difficulty of manual operation. Simultaneously, it helps the deformable part to deform in a preset direction and fit against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal, ensuring the reliability and stability of the seal. If the included angle b is less than 15°... If the included angle b is greater than 30°, it is easy to cause high insertion resistance and wear and tear of the deformed part. If the included angle b is greater than 30°, it is easy to cause deformation failure of the deformed part due to insufficient compression. Furthermore, the included angle c is the included angle between the second guide surface and the extension plane of the sealing part, which is mainly used for guiding the FPC male terminal when it is pulled out, so as to avoid jamming or tearing of the deformed part. In summary, by setting the included angle b and the included angle c in the range of 15-30°, the guiding performance, friction control, assembly convenience and sealing stability of the sealing structure during the insertion and extraction process can be balanced, so as to improve the overall performance of the sealing structure.

[0041] The flexible printed circuit includes the aforementioned sealing structure 1, an FPC male terminal 2 connected to the sealing structure 1, and an FPC line 3 connected to the FPC male terminal 2.

[0042] In this invention, the FPC male terminal is used to achieve physical and electrical connection with the FPC female terminal, while the FPC line is connected to the FPC male terminal and is responsible for transmitting signals or power. By setting the sealing structure in the flexible printed circuit, the flexible printed circuit obtains waterproof and dustproof protection. When the FPC male terminal and the FPC female terminal are plugged in, the sealing structure can effectively prevent moisture and dust from entering the interior of the FPC female terminal, effectively preventing short circuits or other electrical faults. Especially when the flexible printed circuit is applied to the battery management system (BMS) of electric vehicles, since the car needs to operate under various climatic conditions, especially in rainy or wading conditions, moisture and dust may enter the interior through the tiny gaps of the connector, leading to short circuits or other electrical faults. Therefore, the sealing structure can provide a seal for the connection between the FPC male terminal and the FPC female terminal, ensuring that the data communication and power management of the battery cell are not affected by the external environment.

[0043] Specifically, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not a limitation thereof, both ends of the flexible printed circuit are provided with the FPC male terminal. When the flexible printed circuit is connected to two small battery modules, the two FPC male terminals of the flexible printed circuit are respectively connected to the FPC female terminals of the two small battery modules to realize the electrical connection between the two.

[0044] Furthermore, the FPC male terminal 2 includes an FPC male terminal mating part 21 connected to the FPC female terminal contact and an FPC male terminal exposed part 22, and the sealing structure 1 is located between the FPC male terminal mating part 21 and the FPC male terminal exposed part 22.

[0045] In this invention, the FPC male terminal mating part is directly connected to the contact point of the FPC female terminal, which is the key area for realizing electrical connection. The exposed part of the FPC male terminal is the part exposed outside the FPC female terminal after the FPC male terminal and FPC female terminal are connected. The sealing structure is located between the FPC male terminal mating part and the exposed part of the FPC male terminal. This means that the sealing structure is precisely set between the electrical connection that needs protection and the external environment, forming an effective barrier to prevent external moisture and dust from entering the interior of the FPC female terminal, greatly reducing the risk caused by short circuits or other electrical faults.

[0046] Example 1

[0047] A sealing structure for a flexible printed circuit includes a sealing structure 1 disposed on a male terminal of an FPC. The sealing structure 1 is made of a soft material. When the male terminal of the FPC is connected to a female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure 1 is embedded in the female terminal of the FPC and connected to the inner wall of the female terminal of the FPC.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] Example 2, based on Example 1, also has the following implementation method:

[0050] The sealing structure 1 is arranged around the outside of the FPC male terminal. The sealing structure 1 includes a sealing part 11. The sealing part 11 includes a fixing part 111 connected to the FPC male terminal and a deformation part 112 connected to the fixing part 111. When the FPC male terminal is connected to the FPC female terminal, the deformation part 112 deforms and abuts against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal.

[0051] Example 3

[0052] Example 3, based on Example 2, also has the following implementation method:

[0053] The cross-sectional shape of the deformable part 112 is triangular.

[0054] Example 4

[0055] Example 4, based on Example 2, also has the following implementation method:

[0056] The sealing part 11 is composed of two sealing parts 11, and the deformable part 112 is provided with a first guide surface 1121 on the side near the FPC female terminal.

[0057] Example 5

[0058] Example 5, based on Example 4, further includes the following implementation method:

[0059] The deformable part 112 has a second guide surface 1122 on the side away from the FPC female terminal, and the first guide surface 1121 and the second guide surface 1122 have opposite inclination directions.

[0060] Example 6

[0061] Example 6, based on Example 2, also has the following implementation method:

[0062] A first cavity 113 is provided between two adjacent deformable portions 112, and the first cavity 113 is used to isolate external moisture.

[0063] Example 7

[0064] Example 7, based on Example 2, also has the following implementation method:

[0065] The included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformable part 112 is 30°.

[0066] Example 8

[0067] Example 8, based on Example 5, further includes the following implementation method:

[0068] The angle b formed by the first guide surface 1121 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 15°, and the angle c formed by the second guide surface 1122 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 15°.

[0069] Example 9

[0070] The flexible printed circuit includes the aforementioned sealing structure 1, an FPC male terminal 2 connected to the sealing structure 1, and an FPC line 3 connected to the FPC male terminal 2.

[0071] Example 10

[0072] Example 10, based on Example 9, also has the following implementation method:

[0073] The FPC male terminal 2 includes an FPC male terminal mating part 21 connected to the FPC female terminal contact and an FPC male terminal exposed part 22, and the sealing structure 1 is located between the FPC male terminal mating part 21 and the FPC male terminal exposed part 22.

[0074] Example 11

[0075] The difference between Embodiment 11 and Embodiment 3 is that the cross-sectional shape of the deformed part 112 is trapezoidal.

[0076] Example 12

[0077] The difference between Embodiment 12 and Embodiment 4 is that the sealing part 11 is composed of three sealing parts 11.

[0078] Example 13

[0079] The difference between Embodiment 13 and Embodiment 7 is that the included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformed part 112 is 60°.

[0080] Example 14

[0081] The difference between Embodiment 14 and Embodiment 7 is that the included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformed part 112 is 45°.

[0082] Example 15

[0083] The difference between Embodiment 15 and Embodiment 8 is that the angle b formed by the first guide surface 1121 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 30°, and the angle c formed by the second guide surface 1122 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 30°.

[0084] Example 16

[0085] The difference between Embodiment 16 and Embodiment 8 is that the included angle b formed by the first guide surface 1121 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 22.5°, and the included angle c formed by the second guide surface 1122 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 22.5°.

[0086] Example 17

[0087] The difference between Embodiment 17 and Embodiment 7 is that the included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformed part 112 is 40°.

[0088] Example 18

[0089] The difference between Embodiment 18 and Embodiment 8 is that the angle b formed by the first guide surface 1121 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 20°, and the angle c formed by the second guide surface 1122 and the extended plane of the sealing part 11 is 20°.

[0090] Example 19, based on Example 1, also has the following implementation method:

[0091] The sealing structure and the FPC female terminal are interference fit.

[0092] The above examples are merely illustrative of the technical content of this utility model to facilitate reader understanding, but do not imply that the implementation of this utility model is limited to these embodiments. Any technical extensions or re-creations made based on this utility model are protected by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit, characterized by, It includes a sealing structure (1) disposed on the male terminal of the FPC. The sealing structure (1) is made of soft material. When the male terminal of the FPC is connected to the female terminal of the FPC, the sealing structure (1) is embedded in the female terminal of the FPC and connected to the inner wall of the female terminal of the FPC.

2. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 1, wherein The sealing structure (1) is arranged around the outside of the FPC male terminal. The sealing structure (1) includes a sealing part (11). The sealing part (11) includes a fixing part (111) connected to the FPC male terminal and a deformation part (112) connected to the fixing part (111). When the FPC male terminal is connected to the FPC female terminal, the deformation part (112) deforms and abuts against the inner wall of the FPC female terminal.

3. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 2, wherein The cross-sectional shape of the deformable part (112) is triangular or trapezoidal.

4. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 2, wherein The sealing part (11) is composed of at least two sealing parts (11), and the deformable part (112) has a first guide surface (1121) on the side near the FPC female terminal.

5. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 4, wherein The deformable part (112) has a second guide surface (1122) on the side away from the FPC female terminal, and the first guide surface (1121) and the second guide surface (1122) have opposite inclination directions.

6. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 4, wherein A first cavity (113) is provided between two adjacent deformable parts (112), and the first cavity (113) is used to isolate external moisture.

7. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 2, wherein The included angle α formed by the two opposite sides of the deformed part (112) is in the range of 30-60°.

8. The sealed structure of a flexible printed circuit according to claim 5, wherein The included angle b formed by the first guide surface (1121) and the extended plane of the sealing part (11) is in the range of 15-30°, and the included angle c formed by the second guide surface (1122) and the extended plane of the sealing part (11) is in the range of 15-30°.

9. Flexible printed circuit, characterized in that It includes the sealing structure (1) as described in any one of claims 1-6, the FPC male terminal (2) connected to the sealing structure (1), and the FPC line (3) connected to the FPC male terminal (2).

10. The flexible printed circuit of claim 9, wherein, The FPC male terminal (2) includes an FPC male terminal mating part (21) connected to the FPC female terminal contact and an FPC male terminal exposed part (22). The sealing structure (1) is located between the FPC male terminal mating part (21) and the FPC male terminal exposed part (22).

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