Flexible Circuit Electrical Connection for Liquid Lens Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection schemes for liquid lenses in mobile telephone cameras, such as copper tracks, soldering, and resilient copper spring contacts, are costly, complex, and prone to high failure rates due to brittleness and manufacturing difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A lens unit with a flexible circuit element that connects to an electrical power supply using electrically conducting adhesives, simplifying manufacturing and reducing failure rates by providing a more reliable and cost-effective connection method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If copper tracks inside injection molded channels are used for electrical connections, then manufacturing is possible, but the manufacturing cost increases and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electrical connection function from the injection molded mount structure and relocates it to a separate flexible circuit board. This separation eliminates the need for complex copper track routing within molded channels, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining electrical connectivity functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the electrical connection system into distinct components: the flexible circuit board with copper tracks is separated from the lens mount structure. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If copper tracks inside injection molded channels are used for electrical connections, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the yield failure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure rateVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the electrical connection function from the injection molded mount, the patent eliminates the high failure rate associated with embedded copper tracks. The flexible circuit board provides a more reliable connection method that is easier to manufacture with lower costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If soldering of wires is used for electrical connections, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the connection reliability decreases due to brittleness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical soldering process with a flexible circuit board that provides mechanical and electrical connection through its inherent flexibility. This substitution eliminates the brittleness issue of soldered connections while reducing assembly costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible circuit board provides dynamic, flexible electrical connections that can accommodate movement and stress without the brittleness of soldered wires. The flexible nature of the circuit board allows it to bend and flex, maintaining reliable electrical connectivity under various conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If resilient copper spring contacts are used for electrical connections, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electrical connection function from complex resilient copper spring contacts and implements it through a simpler flexible circuit board. This extraction eliminates the need for difficult and expensive spring contact manufacturing processes while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The flexible circuit element reduces manufacturing complexity and failure rates, allowing for more efficient and reliable power supply connections to the liquid lens, enhancing the focal length variability and substrate area utilization for signal processing.

Implementation Method 1

an electrical connector to connect the lens to an electrical power supply. The electrical connector may comprise a flexible circuit element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The electrical connector may be connected to either, or both, of the first and/or second terminals by an electrically conducting adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction through adhesive: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

a lens having a focal length variable responsive to an applied electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field effect on liquid lens: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS7672060B2Lens unit

Publication Date: 2010.03.02 STMICROELECTRONICS (RES & DEV) LTD

AI summary

A lens unit includes a lens having a focal length variable responsive to an applied electrical field, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector is a flexible circuit element that connects the lens to an electrical power supply.