Flexible Flat Cable Folding Layout for Compact Image Readers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges due to the stress applied to flexible flat cables (FFCs) when they are warped and close to the bottom surface of the frame, leading to potential electrical wire breaks and increased apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a flexible flat cable (FFC) with a slit at its center, allowing it to be folded into two regions that overlap, reducing the width and minimizing stress on the cable, thus preventing electrical issues and allowing for a more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the FFC is warped and slides on the bottom surface of the frame, then the LED lamp can be movably accommodated, but a large stress is applied to the bent portion of the FFC and electrical wire may break
Solution Approach 1:
The FFC is configured to extend in the width direction of the frame rather than along the length direction, changing the spatial dimension of cable routing. This dimensional change allows the cable to connect the LED lamp to the control board without warping or sliding on the bottom surface, thereby reducing stress on the electrical wires while maintaining movable accommodation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The FFC is divided into multiple conducting wires (first, second, third, and fourth conducting wires) arranged in parallel, with each wire independently routed through insulating layers. This segmentation allows the cable to flex and move without concentrating stress on a single electrical wire, improving reliability while maintaining adaptability
2Reliability
If a certain interval is provided between the LED lamp and the bottom surface of the frame to prevent FFC stress, then electrical wire breakage is prevented, but the size of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
By routing the FFC in the width direction of the frame instead of along the length direction, the patent eliminates the need for excessive spacing between the LED lamp and frame bottom surface. The cable utilizes the lateral space efficiently, maintaining compact apparatus dimensions while preventing wire stress through optimized routing geometry
3Object-affected harmful factors
If separate digital signal transmission cable and driving signal transmission cable are provided, then noise suppression is achieved, but the size of the apparatus and number of connectors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal transmission functions into a single FFC structure. The first and second conducting wires transmit digital signals while the third and fourth conducting wires transmit driving signals, all within one cable assembly. This merging reduces the number of connectors and cable management complexity while maintaining noise suppression through the inherent shielding and routing design of the unified FFC structure
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A flat cable (108) includes a first region (301) including a first conducting wire (C24), a second region (302) including a second conducting wire (C27) and divided from the first region (301) by a slit (SL) provided between the first conducting wire (C24) and the second conducting wire (C27), the first region (301) and the second region (302) being at least partially overlapped with each other when viewed in a thickness direction of the flat cable (108).