Flat Cable Connection Structure for Mounting Alignment Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Poor connections between connectors and flat cables can occur due to slight mounting errors, especially in compact electronic devices like laptops, where connectors and cables have narrower pitches, leading to potential performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure is implemented with marked Type 1 and Type 2 connector and cable lines on the electronic substrate, ensuring proper alignment and visibility of these lines to confirm correct mounting and connection, using different types of lines to indicate correct positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If connectors and flat cables are made smaller with narrower pitch to achieve compact electronic devices, then device compactness is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to increased sensitivity to mounting errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking alignment reference lines (Type 1 and Type 2) on both the electronic substrate and flat cable before the connection process. These lines serve as visual guides that enable workers to detect and correct mounting position deviations before final connection, thereby preventing poor connections that would otherwise occur with smaller, more sensitive connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) by employing two distinct types of alignment reference lines with different patterns or appearances. Type 1 lines are marked to be covered by the connector, while Type 2 lines are marked to be exposed. This visual distinction enables workers to easily verify correct alignment and detect mounting errors, compensating for the reduced margin for error in smaller connectors
2Ease of manufacture
If mounting precision is reduced due to machine performance limitations, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but connection quality deteriorates due to mounting displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing visual indicators (alignment reference lines) that immediately reveal whether the connector has been mounted at the correct position. The Type 1 lines (covered) and Type 2 lines (exposed) provide real-time visual feedback to workers, allowing them to detect and correct mounting displacement, thereby compensating for reduced mounting precision
Data Source
AI summary
A connection structure and an electronic substrate can prevent poor connection between a connector and a flat cable. On the electronic substrate of the connection structure, at a location where a connector is to be mounted, a Type 1 connector line is marked in an X1 direction, and a Type 2 connector line is marked in an X2 direction. A Type 1 cable line is marked so as to be partly exposed with respect to the flat cable, and a Type 2 cable line is adjacently marked on the outer side thereof. At the edge in the X2 direction, the Type 2 cable line is covered, and the Type 1 cable line is adjacently marked on the outer side thereof. The Type 1 lines are solid lines and the Type 2 lines are dashed lines.