Flexible Flat Cable Grounding via Connector Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible flat cables require a nearby metal component for grounding and involve additional steps like removing the insulation outer layer and attaching conductive tape, which are not feasible without a metal component nearby.
Innovation Solution
A flexible flat cable assembly with an insulation layer, conductive wires, and a cover shield, combined with an electrical connector featuring conductive terminals and ground units that allow direct grounding via the circuit board, eliminating the need for external metal components and additional grounding procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flexible flat cable uses a shielding member covered by an insulation outer layer, then the cable provides electromagnetic shielding, but the cable cannot be grounded without a nearby metal component and requires additional steps of removing insulation and attaching conductive tape
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding portion of the shielding member is exposed at the cable end before connection, allowing the grounding terminal to make direct contact with it. This preliminary exposure eliminates the need for removing insulation during installation and enables grounding even without nearby metal components, as the grounding terminal provides the necessary metal component for electrical connection
2Reliability
If the insulation outer layer is removed to expose the shielding member for grounding, then the shielding member can be connected to ground, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation outer layer is designed to automatically separate from the shielding member at the cable end during normal manufacturing, exposing the grounding portion without requiring additional removal steps. This preliminary separation simplifies the manufacturing process while ensuring the grounding surface is ready for connection
3Reliability
If conductive tape is attached to the shielding member for grounding, then the cable can be grounded to a metal component, but the grounding process requires additional materials and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding function is extracted from the shielding member itself by providing a dedicated grounding terminal in the connector that directly contacts the exposed grounding portion. This eliminates the need for separate conductive tape and external metal components, simplifying the grounding system to just the cable and connector assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding member's grounding portion serves its own grounding function by directly contacting the grounding terminal, eliminating the need for external grounding materials like conductive tape. The system grounds itself through the integrated connector design
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible flat cable includes conductive wires disposed on a first surface of an insulation layer, and a cover shield covering an opposite second surface and side surfaces of the insulation layer. An electrical connector includes an insulation case defining an insertion space for receiving an insertion portion of the flexible flat cable, conductive terminals disposed on the base and contacting respectively with the conductive wires, and a ground unit. The ground unit includes a contacting portion disposed in the insertion space and contacting with the cover shield of the flexible flat cable, and a conductive portion extending out of the insulation case for grounding the flexible flat cable.