Flexible Printed Circuit Jumper Mounting Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in securely mounting electrical components, which can lead to mechanical failure and unreliable signal distribution due to inadequate mounting arrangements.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible printed circuit jumpers with metal contact pads and a metal bracket to securely mount electrical components, such as vibrators, to the device housing, ensuring reliable electrical connections through soldered contacts and reduced bulkiness in signal paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If electrical components are mounted using traditional rigid mounting structures, then mechanical strength is improved, but signal path bulkiness increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as the mounting structure instead of traditional rigid PCBs. The FPC contains flexible signal traces that can bend and conform to the component layout, providing both mechanical support and electrical connectivity in a thin, flexible form factor that reduces signal path bulkiness while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by routing signal traces through multiple layers of the flexible circuit board and using vertical vias to connect different layers. This layered approach allows signal paths to be distributed in three-dimensional space rather than confined to a single plane, reducing bulkiness and improving signal distribution efficiency
2Reliability
If metal contact pads are raised above the solder mask layer, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the metal contact pads at raised positions during the initial fabrication of the flexible circuit board, before final assembly. The raised pads are formed as part of the standard FPC manufacturing process through selective removal of solder mask material, ensuring proper contact geometry is established beforehand to guarantee reliable electrical connections without requiring additional post-assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the raised contact pad feature selectively only at specific locations where electrical connections are required, rather than raising the entire circuit board surface. The solder mask is removed locally only at contact points to expose the raised metal pads, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while ensuring reliable electrical connections where needed
3Reliability
If components are securely mounted to prevent mechanical failure, then reliability is improved, but ease of assembly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mounting function and electrical connection function into a single integrated flexible circuit board structure. The FPC serves both as the mechanical substrate that secures components through adhesive bonding and as the electrical interconnect that provides signal paths, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or connectors and simplifying the overall assembly process
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
This solution enhances the secure mounting of electrical components, preventing mechanical failure and ensuring reliable signal distribution by raising metal contact pads above the solder mask layer for improved electrical connections and using a metal bracket to press contacts against both the component and additional printed circuit, thereby stabilizing the component and facilitating efficient signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
Solder in the openings may be used to connect the metal contact pads to the contact structures
Implementation Method 2
The metal bracket may press the metal contact pads on one end of the jumper against the contact terminals on the electrical component
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device contains electrical components. An electrical component is mounted to an electronic device housing using mounting structures. The mounting structures include a flexible printed circuit jumper having opposing ends with metal contact pads. Metal traces in the flexible printed circuit jumper form contact traces within openings in a solder mask layer. Solder in the openings may be used to connect the metal contact pads to the contact traces. A metal bracket may be screwed into the electronic device housing to mount the electrical component to the electronic device housing. The metal bracket may press the metal contact pads on one end of the jumper against mating contact terminals on the electrical component and may press the metal contacts on the other end of the jumper against mating contact pads on an additional printed circuit.