Flexible Wiring Board Extending Portions for Imaging Module Pad Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ultra-small imaging devices, such as medical endoscopes, it is challenging to directly connect image sensors and wirings due to their small size, leading to difficulties in aligning and soldering connections, which can result in bridging issues between adjacent pads.
Innovation Solution
An imaging module comprising an electric cable, an imager, and a flexible wiring board with extending portions that allow for secure connection of wirings to the image sensor, preventing bridging by providing a wide area for each pad and avoiding adjacent pad connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the image sensor and wirings are directly connected in an ultra-small imaging device, then the device size can be minimized, but it becomes extremely difficult to align and connect the wirings to the image sensor due to the small diameter (about 1 mm) of the scope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay member (FPC - Flexible Printed Circuit) as an intermediary component between the image sensor and the wirings in the electric cable. This FPC includes multiple pads that can be easily aligned with the image sensor pads, and other pads that connect to the wirings. The relay member acts as a mediator that resolves the alignment difficulty caused by the ultra-small device size, enabling reliable electrical connections without requiring direct connection between the image sensor and the cable wirings.
2Ease of manufacture
If a relay member (FPC) is used to connect the image sensor and wirings, then alignment becomes easier, but the pad areas become very small which causes bridging during soldering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection function into multiple separate pads distributed across different extending portions of the FPC. Instead of having all pads in one compact area, the FPC extends in multiple directions from the connection portion, with pads located at the ends of these extending portions. This segmentation increases the distance between adjacent pads, preventing solder bridges while maintaining easy alignment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional compact pad layout to a three-dimensional extended layout using the FPC's extending portions. The pads are arranged along the extending portions that protrude in different directions from the connection portion, effectively utilizing the third dimension (depth/extension direction) to space out the pads. This dimensional change allows sufficient pad area and spacing for reliable soldering while maintaining compact overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging module includes an electric cable including a plurality of wirings, an imager having an imaging surface intersecting an axial direction of a distal end of the electric cable, and a flexible wiring board configured to electrically connect the imager and the electric cable. The wiring board includes a plurality of extending portions that extend from at least three portions of a connection portion connected with the imager. At least one wiring pad to which at least one of the plurality of wirings of the electric cable is connected is provided in each of the plurality of extending portions.