Flexible Printed Circuit Interface Segmentation for Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible printed circuits used in liquid crystal display panels are prone to damage from repeated insertion and extraction, leading to reduced lifespan and increased production costs due to material waste.

Innovation Solution

A flexible printed circuit design featuring a body with an interface structure divided by mark lines, including first and second metal contact points and lines, allowing for the removal and replacement of damaged interfaces along these lines, and a detecting device with a connecting apparatus and light emitting diode to determine circuit integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the flexible printed circuit interface is used for repeated insertion and extraction, then signal transmission function is maintained, but the interface becomes damaged and lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface durabilityVSAvoidflexible printed circuit lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The interface structure is divided into multiple identical interfaces along the flexible printed circuit board, with mark lines indicating separation points. When one interface becomes damaged, the circuit can be segmented at the mark line and the damaged interface removed, allowing the remaining interfaces to continue functioning. This segmentation principle transforms a single-point-failure system into a multi-point-redundant system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the damaged flexible printed circuit is discarded and replaced, then reliable signal transmission is restored, but material waste increases and production cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of discarding the entire flexible printed circuit when one interface is damaged, the invention allows for selective removal of only the damaged interface portion at the mark line. The remaining undamaged interfaces are recovered and continue to provide signal transmission functionality, thereby minimizing material waste while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Duration of action of moving object

If multiple interfaces are provided on the flexible printed circuit, then lifespan is extended through interface replacement, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible printed circuit lifespanVSAvoidinterface structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple identical interfaces are provided on the flexible printed circuit board, each capable of performing the same signal transmission function. This multi-functionality ensures that if one interface fails, others can immediately take over, providing universal functionality across multiple interface locations and extending the overall system lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If interface damage is not detected, then production continues, but defective products are produced leading to misjudgment and quality issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidinterface damage detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detecting device is integrated into the production line to perform preliminary detection of interface damage before the flexible printed circuit proceeds to subsequent assembly steps. By detecting interface integrity in advance using the mark lines and detecting apparatus, defective products are identified early, preventing misjudgment and quality issues while maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Extends the life span of flexible printed circuits, reduces productivity loss, and improves work efficiency by enabling the use of alternate interfaces and precise detection of damage or poor contact, thereby reducing misjudgment and production costs.

Implementation Method 1

the detecting apparatus comprises a power source and a light emitting diode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS9949367B2Flexible printed circuit and detecting device, detecting method and display device thereof

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a flexible printed circuit and a detecting device, a detecting method and a display device thereof. The flexible printed circuit comprises a body and an interface structure that is connected with the body, wherein the interface structure is provided with a plurality of mark lines dividing the interface structure into a plurality of interfaces with the same structure. When a front end interface of the flexible printed circuit of the disclosure is damaged, the front end interface can be removed along the mark line, and then an exposed rear end interface can be used successively, thus preventing a situation where the flexible printed circuit cannot be used because the only interface is damaged, thereby extending the life span of the flexible printed circuit, reducing productivity loss due to frequent replacements of the flexible printed circuit and reducing production cost.