Composite Cable for Flat Panel Equipment Side Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to connect power and signal lines to slim, flat-panel electrical equipment without increasing its thickness, as existing solutions complicate the structure and are expensive, and current cables struggle with high current carrying capacity and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A composite cable with integrated flexible printed circuit boards that include power and signal lines, allowing these to be connected from the narrow side surface of the equipment, with power traces wider than signal traces to manage high current and flexible printed circuit boards for easy bending, eliminating the need for constant-voltage power supply circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a power cable with sufficient current carrying capacity is used to feed 10A-20A to the display device, then the power supply capability is improved, but the cable diameter becomes 3mm or more making connection to the slim side surface difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connection system into two segments: a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) for connection to the display device side surface, and a round cable for power supply. The FPC handles the connection interface while the round cable provides bulk power transmission, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional round cable connection to FPC connection by changing the dimensional approach - using a flat, flexible board that can be connected to the narrow side surface of the slim display device, whereas traditional round cables could not accommodate the reduced thickness profile.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connection cables (power cable, high-speed signal cable, low-speed signal cable) are connected to the slim display device, then all necessary connections are established, but the connection operation becomes severely complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate connection cables (power cable, high-speed signal cable, low-speed signal cable) into a single integrated FPC connector. This consolidation allows all connections to be established through one unified interface, dramatically simplifying the connection operation while maintaining complete functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible printed circuit board is used as the connection cable, then connection to the narrow side surface is enabled, but the FPC is rigid in width direction and expensive per unit length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into an FPC portion for the critical connection interface to the display device, and a round cable portion for flexible wiring elsewhere. This allows the FPC to be used only where its flat profile is essential for connection, while the round cable provides flexibility in other sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different parts of the connection system: the FPC has a flat, rigid structure optimized for connection to the narrow side surface, while the round cable has a flexible, cylindrical structure optimized for routing and bending. Each portion has the quality needed for its specific function.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite cable is provided which can connect a power line for feeding drive power to flat panel-shaped electric equipment and a signal line for outputting an electric signal to the electrical equipment at the narrow side surface of the electrical equipment. A flexible printed circuit board constitutes an end connection unit of the flexible composite cable to be connected to the electrical equipment, so that the composite cable can be connected to a side surface of the electrical equipment. Since the lateral width of the flexible printed circuit board is sufficiently long, a power trace is made thin and wide, so that the resistance value per unit length can be reduced and a current carrying capacity that allows the use of high power current can be adopted.