Flexible circuit board

Abstract

To provide a flexible circuit board.SOLUTION: A flexible circuit board 100 of the present invention, is constructed so as to contain a flexible substrate 110; a first circuit 120; and a second circuit 130. The flexible substrate 100 includes an upper surface 111 formed by an upper edge end 111a, a lower edge end 111b, a first circuit setting area a1, and a second circuit setting area a2, and the first circuit 120 is installed to a first circuit setting area a1. The first circuit 120 includes a first input terminal i1 and a first output terminal o1. The first input terminal i1 is adjacent to a lower edge end 111b, and the first output terminal o1 is adjacent to the upper edge end 111a. The second circuit 130 is installed to the second circuit setting area a2, and the second circuit 130 includes a second input terminal i2 and a second output terminal o2. The second input terminal i2 is adjacent to the upper edge end 111a, and the second output terminal o2 is adjacent to the lower edge end 111b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible circuit board, and more particularly to a circuit arrangement on a flexible substrate of a flexible circuit board. [Background technology]

[0002] Flexible circuit boards are flexible, allowing the circuit board to be installed on the back surface of an electronic device, and by connecting the curved portion to a connection end point on the front surface of the electronic device, there is no need to reserve a position for the flexible circuit board on the front surface of the electronic device, making it more applicable to bezel-less panels. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the number of output lines of the flexible circuit board increases as the number of pixels of the panel increases, and the difference in the number between the input lines and the output lines can reach 20 times. As a result, the width of the output terminal of the flexible circuit board is widened, but the change in the width of the input terminal is small. Since the flexible circuit board is processed by a reel-to-reel process, if the width of the output terminal of one flexible circuit board increases, the reel width must also be increased, which causes a problem that two flexible circuit boards in parallel cannot be mounted on one reel. In addition, if the change in the width of the input terminal is not large, the increase in the width of the output terminal of the flexible circuit board causes most of the space on the flexible board to become surplus idle space and is wasted, and the manufacturing cost is also significantly increased.

[0004] Therefore, the present inventors believed that the above-mentioned drawbacks could be improved, and as a result of extensive research, they came to propose the present invention, which effectively improves the above-mentioned problems through rational design.

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems through intensive research by the inventors, and its purpose is to provide a flexible circuit board, that is, by reversing the installation directions of the output / input terminals of two parallel circuits on a flexible board, effectively utilizing all the space of the flexible board, and avoiding the problem of the circuit output terminals being too wide, which increases the manufacturing cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the flexible circuit board of the present invention employs the following measures. A flexible circuit board according to one aspect of the present invention includes a flexible substrate, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The flexible substrate has an upper surface including an upper edge, a lower edge, a first circuit setting area, and a second circuit setting area, and the first circuit is disposed in the first circuit setting area. The first circuit has a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first input terminal being adjacent to the lower edge and the first output terminal being adjacent to the upper edge, and the second circuit is disposed in the second circuit setting area. The second circuit has a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second input terminal being adjacent to the upper edge and the second output terminal being adjacent to the lower edge.

[0007] The main object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the space on the flexible board and prevent an increase in the manufacturing cost of the flexible circuit board by reversing the installation directions of the first circuit and the second circuit which are arranged in parallel on the flexible board, so that the narrow first input terminal of the first circuit and the wide second output terminal of the second circuit are arranged on the same edge, and also by arranging the wide first output terminal of the first circuit and the narrow second input terminal of the second circuit on the same edge.

[0008] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view showing a flexible circuit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] It is a top view showing a flexible circuit board according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] It is a top view showing a flexible circuit board according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a top view showing a flexible circuit board according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Next, embodiments of the flexible circuit board of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and members, materials, etc. described below can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0011] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a top view showing a flexible circuit board 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flexible circuit board 100 includes a flexible substrate 110, a first circuit 120, and a second circuit 130. The flexible substrate 110 has an upper surface 111 including an upper edge 111a, a lower edge 111b, a left edge 111c, a right edge 111d, a first circuit setting area a1, and a second circuit setting area a2. The upper edge 111a, the lower edge 111b, the left edge 111c, and the right edge 111d are the upper, lower, left, and right edges of the upper surface 111 in the drawing, respectively. Before the flexible circuit board 100 is punched out, in order to execute various processes by the open reel (reel-to-reel, the same hereinafter) method, in the entire reel, the upper edge 111a of the upper surface 111 is connected to the lower edge 111b of the upper surface 111 of another flexible circuit board 100, and the lower edge 111b of the upper surface 111 is connected to the upper edge 111a of the upper surface 111 of another flexible circuit board 100. When the size of one flexible circuit board 100 is small, the right edge 111d of the upper surface 111 is further connected to the left edge 111c of the upper surface 111 of another flexible circuit board 100, thereby forming a reel in which four circuits are in parallel.

[0012] The first circuit setting area a1 of the upper surface 111 is the range surrounded by the dashed line on the left side of the drawing, and the second circuit setting area a2 of the upper surface 111 is the range surrounded by the dashed line on the right side of the drawing. The first circuit setting area a1 and the second circuit setting area a2 are parallel to each other, the first circuit setting area a1 is located between the left edge 111c and the second circuit setting area a2, and the second circuit setting area a2 is located between the right edge 111d and the first circuit setting area a1. The first circuit setting area a1 and the second circuit setting area a2 are the areas of the actual circuit that will be formed after being punched out along the dashed lines in a subsequent process.

[0013] Preferably, the upper surface 111 further comprises a plurality of first sprocket holes 111e and a plurality of second sprocket holes 111f, where each of the first sprocket holes 111e is adjacent to and arranged along the left edge 111c, and each of the second sprocket holes 111f is adjacent to and arranged along the right edge 111d. Each of the first sprocket holes 111e is located between the left edge 111c and the first circuit setting area a1, and each of the second sprocket holes 111f is located between the right edge 111d and the second circuit setting area a2. Each of the first sprocket holes 111e and each of the second sprocket holes 111f are used for reel-to-reel equipment and move relative to each of the flexible circuit boards 100.

[0014] The first circuit 120 is disposed in the first circuit setting area a1, and includes a first input terminal i1, a first output terminal о1, a plurality of first input lines 121, a plurality of first output lines 122, a first chip 123, a plurality of first transmission lines 124, and a plurality of second transmission lines 125. The first input terminal i1 of the first circuit 120 is adjacent to the lower edge 111b, and the first output terminal о1 of the first circuit 120 is adjacent to the upper edge 111a, and the first input terminal i1 and the first output terminal о1 are respectively a signal receiving terminal and a signal transmitting terminal of the first circuit 120. Each of the first input lines 121, each of the first output lines 122, each of the first transmission lines 124, and each of the second transmission lines 125 are formed on the top surface 111 by electrolytic copper plating and patterned etching, and the first chip 123 is mounted on the top surface 111 by a flip-chip process and is electrically connected to each of the first transmission lines 124 and each of the second transmission lines 125.

[0015] Each of the first input lines 121 is located at the first input terminal i1 and is arranged along the first input terminal i1, and each of the first output lines 122 is located at the first output terminal о1 and is arranged along the first output terminal о1. The first chip 123 has a first input side 123a and a first output side 123b, the first input side 123a is directed to the first input terminal i1, and the first output side 123b is directed to the first output terminal о1. One end of each of the first transmission lines 124 is connected to the first input side 123a of the first chip 123, and the other end of each of the first transmission lines 124 is connected to each of the first input lines 121, and each of the first input lines 121 and each of the first transmission lines 124 that are interconnected are located on the same line at substantially different positions. Each of the first input lines 121 is used to connect to other electronic devices (e.g., an external drive circuit board), and each of the first transmission lines 124 is used to electrically connect between each of the first input lines 121 and each of the first input sides 123a of the first chip 123. One end of each of the second transmission lines 125 is connected to the first output side 123b of the first chip 123, and the other end of each of the second transmission lines 125 is connected to each of the first output lines 122, and each of the first output lines 122 and each of the second transmission lines 125, which are interconnected, are located on the same line at substantially different positions. Each of the first output lines 122 is used to connect to other electronic devices (e.g., a panel), and each of the second transmission lines 125 is used to electrically connect between each of the first output lines 122, each of the first chips 123, and the first output side 123b.

[0016] The second circuit 130 is installed in the second circuit setting area a2, and has a second input terminal i2, a second output terminal o2, a plurality of second input lines 131, a plurality of second output lines 132, a second chip 133, a plurality of third transmission lines 134, and a plurality of fourth transmission lines 135. The second input terminal i2 of the second circuit 130 is adjacent to the upper edge 111a, and the second output terminal o2 of the second circuit 130 is adjacent to the lower edge 111b, and the second input terminal i2 and the second output terminal o2 are respectively a signal receiving terminal and a signal transmitting terminal of the second circuit 130. Each of the second input lines 131, each of the second output lines 132, each of the third transmission lines 134, and each of the fourth transmission lines 135 are formed on the top surface 111 by electrolytic copper plating and patterned etching, and the second chip 133 is mounted on the top surface 111 by a flip-chip process and is electrically connected to each of the third transmission lines 134 and each of the fourth transmission lines 135.

[0017] Each second input line 131 is located at the second input terminal i2 and is arranged along the second input terminal i2, and each second output line 132 is located at the second output terminal o2 and is arranged along the second output terminal o2. The second chip 133 has a second input side 133a and a second output side 133b, with the second input side 133a facing the second input terminal i2 and the second output side 133b facing the second output terminal o2. One end of each of the third transmission lines 134 is connected to the second input side 133a of the second chip 133, and the other end of each of the third transmission lines 134 is connected to each of the second input lines 131, and each of the interconnected second input lines 131 and each of the third transmission lines 134 are actually located on the same line at different positions. Each second input line 131 is used to connect to another electronic device (e.g., an external drive circuit board), and each third transmission line 134 is used to electrically connect between each second input line 131 and each second input side 133a of the second chip 133. One end of each fourth transmission line 135 is connected to the second output side 133b of the second chip 133, and the other end of each fourth transmission line 135 is connected to each second output line 132, and each second output line 132 and each fourth transmission line 135, which are interconnected, are actually located on the same line at different positions. Each second output line 132 is used to connect to another electronic device (e.g., a panel), and each fourth transmission line 135 is used to electrically connect between each second output line 132, each second chip 133, and the second output side 133b.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the number of first output lines 122 of the first circuit 120 is greater than the number of first input lines 121 of the first circuit 120, and in addition, the first output terminal о1 of the first circuit 120 faces the upper edge 111a of the top surface 111, and the first input terminal i1 of the first circuit 120 faces the lower edge 111b of the top surface 111, so that the first circuit 120 has a contour that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The number of second output lines 132 of the second circuit 130 is greater than the number of second input lines 131 of the second circuit 130, and in addition, the second output terminal o2 of the second circuit 130 faces the lower edge 111b of the upper surface 111, and the second input terminal i2 of the second circuit 130 faces the upper edge 111a of the upper surface 111, so that the second circuit 130 has a narrower profile at the top and wider profile at the bottom. Thus, the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are arranged in opposite directions to each other, which makes effective use of the space on the upper surface 111 and reduces the problem of increased manufacturing costs due to excessive excess space on the flexible substrate 110.

[0019] In this embodiment, the number of first output lines 122 is in the range of 1.4 to 20 times the number of first input lines 121, and the number of second output lines 132 is in the range of 1.4 to 20 times the number of second input lines 131. When the difference between the number of first output lines 122 and the number of first input lines 121 becomes large, in this embodiment, the first circuits 120 and the second circuits 130 are installed in the opposite directions to each other, thereby making it possible to more effectively use the space on the upper surface 111.

[0020] Or, in another embodiment, the number of first output lines 122 of the first circuit 120 is less than the number of first input lines 121 of the first circuit 120, so that the first circuit 120 has a contour that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. The number of second output lines 132 of the second circuit 130 is less than the number of second input lines 131 of the second circuit 130, so that the second circuit 130 has a contour that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Similarly, the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are arranged in opposite directions to each other, so that the space on the upper surface 111 is effectively utilized.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are the same circuit, and only the installation direction on the flexible substrate 110 is different. Therefore, the number of first input lines 121 is equal to the number of second input lines 131, the number of first output lines 122 is equal to the number of second output lines 132, and the outer contours of the first circuit setting area a1 and the second circuit setting area a2 are the same (see FIG. 1).

[0022] 1, the first circuit setting area a1 has a right bend edge rb, and the second circuit setting area a2 has a left bend edge lb, and the right bend edge rb of the first circuit setting area a1 and the left bend edge lb of the second circuit setting area a2 are parallel to each other and adjacent to the central axis CL of the upper surface 111, so that the area of ​​the center of the upper surface 111 can be effectively used. Preferably, the right bend edge rb of the first circuit setting area a1 is parallel to the left bend edge lb of the second circuit setting area a2, so that the upper surface 111 of the flexible board 110 can be used to the maximum extent. In addition, the first circuit setting area a1 further has a left straight edge ls, and the left straight edge ls of the first circuit setting area a1 is adjacent to the left edge 111c of the upper surface 111, and each first sprocket hole 111e is located between the left straight edge ls and the left edge 111c. The second circuit setting area a2 further has a right straight edge rs, which is adjacent to the right edge 111d of the top surface 111, and each of the second sprocket holes 111f is located between the right straight edge rs and the right edge 111d. In this way, the left straight edge ls of the first circuit setting area a1 is aligned with each of the first sprocket holes 111e, and the right straight edge rs of the second circuit setting area a2 is aligned with each of the second sprocket holes 111f, making it possible to effectively use the areas adjacent to the left edge 111c and right edge 111d of the top surface 111.

[0023] (Second Example) 2 is a top view showing a flexible circuit board 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first circuit 120 further includes a plurality of fifth transmission lines 126, one end of each of the fifth transmission lines 126 being electrically connected to the respective first input lines 121 and the other end of each of the fifth transmission lines 126 being electrically connected to the respective first output lines 122, and the second circuit 130 further includes a plurality of sixth transmission lines 136, one end of each of the sixth transmission lines 136 being electrically connected to the respective second input lines 131 and the other end of each of the sixth transmission lines 136 being electrically connected to the respective second output lines 132. Each of the fifth transmission lines 126 is used to transmit signals directly to the respective first input lines 121 and first output lines 122 connected thereto without passing through the first chip 123, and each of the sixth transmission lines 136 is used to transmit signals directly to the respective second input lines 131 and second output lines 132 connected thereto without passing through the second chip 133.

[0024] (Third Example) 3 is a top view showing a flexible circuit board 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the left side of the first circuit setting area a1 is curved rather than straight, and the right side of the second circuit setting area a2 is curved rather than straight, but this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the input / output terminals of the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are arranged in opposite directions to each other, thereby making it possible to effectively use the upper surface 111 of the flexible board 110.

[0025] (Fourth Example) FIG. 4 is a top view showing a flexible circuit board 100 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are not the same circuit. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of the first input lines 121 is different from the number of the second input lines 131, and the number of the first output lines 122 is different from the number of the second output lines 132. Although the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are different circuits, in this embodiment, the installation directions of the input / output terminals of the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 are reversed, so that the upper surface 111 of the flexible substrate 110 is effectively utilized, and different circuits are installed on the same flexible substrate 110, thereby having further elasticity in the use of the reel tape. For example, by combining a large-area circuit and a small-area circuit, the flexible substrate 110 is further effectively utilized.

[0026] The present invention mainly aims to effectively utilize the space of the flexible substrate 110 while suppressing an increase in the manufacturing cost of the flexible circuit board 100 by arranging the narrow first input terminal i1 of the first circuit 120 and the wide second output terminal о2 of the second circuit 130 at the same edge, and arranging the wide first output terminal о1 of the first circuit 120 and the narrow second input terminal i2 of the second circuit 130 at the same edge by reversing the installation directions of the first circuit 120 and the second circuit 130 arranged in parallel on the flexible substrate 110.

[0027] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that forms with such changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0028] 100 Flexible circuit board 110 Flexible substrate 111 Upper surface CL Central axis 111a Upper edge 111b Lower edge 111c left edge 111d Right edge 111e 1st sprocket hole 111f 2nd sprocket hole a1 First circuit setting area rb right bend edge ls left straight edge a2 Second circuit setting area lb Left bend edge rs right straight edge 120 1st circuit i1 First input terminal o1 First output terminal 121 First input line 122 First output line 123 First Chip 123a 1st input side 123b First output side 124 First Transmission Line 125 Second Transmission Line 130 2nd circuit i2 Second input terminal o2 Second output terminal 131 Second input line 132 Second output line 133 Second Chip 133a Second input side 133b 2nd output side 134 Third Transmission Line 135 4th Transmission Line 126 5th Transmission Line 136 6th Transmission Line

Claims

1. a flexible substrate having a top surface including a top edge, a bottom edge, a first circuit setting area, and a second circuit setting area; a first circuit disposed in the first circuit setting area, the first circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first input terminal being adjacent to the lower edge and the first output terminal being adjacent to the upper edge; a second circuit disposed in the second circuit setting area, the second circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second input terminal being adjacent to the upper edge and the second output terminal being adjacent to the lower edge.

2. the first circuit has a plurality of first input lines and a plurality of first output lines, each of the first input lines being located at and arranged along the first input terminal, and each of the first output lines being located at and arranged along the first output terminal; 2. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the second circuit has a plurality of second input lines and a plurality of second output lines, each of the second input lines being located at the second input terminal and arranged along the second input terminal, and each of the second output lines being located at the second output terminal and arranged along the second output terminal.

3. 3. The flexible circuit board according to claim 2, wherein the number of the first input lines is equal to the number of the second input lines, and the number of the first output lines is equal to the number of the second output lines.

4. 4. The flexible circuit board of claim 3, wherein the number of the first output lines is greater than the number of the first input lines, the number of the second output lines is greater than the number of the second input lines, and the number of the first output lines is in a range of 1.4 to 20 times the number of the first input lines, and the number of the second output lines is in a range of 1.4 to 20 times the number of the second input lines.

5. the first circuit comprises a first chip, a plurality of first transmission lines, and a plurality of second transmission lines, the first chip having a first input side and a first output side, the first input side being directed to the first input terminal, the first output side being directed to the first output terminal, one end of each of the first transmission lines being connected to the first input side of the first chip, the other end of each of the first transmission lines being connected to each of the first input lines, one end of each of the second transmission lines being connected to the first output side of the first chip, and the other end of each of the second transmission lines being connected to each of the first output lines, 3. The flexible circuit board according to claim 2, wherein the second circuit comprises a second chip, a plurality of third transmission lines, and a plurality of fourth transmission lines, the second chip having a second input side and a second output side, the second input side facing the second input terminal, the second output side facing the second output terminal, one end of each of the third transmission lines connected to the second input side of the second chip, the other end of each of the third transmission lines connected to each of the second input lines, one end of each of the fourth transmission lines connected to the second output side of the second chip, and the other end of each of the fourth transmission lines connected to each of the second output lines.

6. the first circuit includes a plurality of fifth transmission lines, one end of each of the fifth transmission lines being electrically connected to a respective one of the first input lines, and the other end of each of the fifth transmission lines being electrically connected to a respective one of the first output lines; 6. The flexible circuit board according to claim 5, wherein the second circuit has a plurality of sixth transmission lines, one end of each of the sixth transmission lines being electrically connected to a respective one of the second input lines, and the other end of each of the sixth transmission lines being electrically connected to a respective one of the second output lines.

7. 3. The flexible circuit board of claim 2, wherein a number of the first input lines is different from a number of the second input lines, and a number of the first output lines is different from a number of the second output lines.

8. the top surface has a left edge, a right edge, a plurality of first sprocket holes and a plurality of second sprocket holes, each of the first sprocket holes adjacent to and aligned along the left edge and each of the second sprocket holes adjacent to and aligned along the right edge; 2. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit setting area is located between the left edge and the second circuit setting area, the second circuit setting area is located between the right edge and the first circuit setting area, each of the first sprocket holes is located between the left edge and the first circuit setting area, and each of the second sprocket holes is located between the right edge and the second circuit setting area.

9. 9. The flexible circuit board according to claim 8, wherein the first circuit setting area has a right bend edge, the second circuit setting area has a left bend edge, the right bend edge of the first circuit setting area is parallel to the left bend edge of the second circuit setting area and adjacent to a central axis of the top surface.

10. 10. The flexible circuit board of claim 9, wherein the first circuit setting area has a left straight edge, the second circuit setting area has a right straight edge, the left straight edge of the first circuit setting area is adjacent to the left edge of the top surface, and each of the first sprocket holes is located between the left straight edge and the left edge, the right straight edge of the second circuit setting area is adjacent to the right edge of the top surface, and each of the second sprocket holes is located between the right straight edge and the right edge.

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