Flexible Printed Circuit Connector Housing for Vibration Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connector-fitting structures for flexible printed circuits are prone to electronic components being peeled from wiring patterns due to vehicle vibrations, posing a safety risk in battery modules.

Innovation Solution

A connector-fitting structure for flexible printed circuits where electronic components are housed within a connector, featuring a stepwise configuration and reinforcing elements to secure the components against bending and vibrations, using a flexible printed circuit with copper foil wiring patterns and a polyimide base film, and a moisture-proof seal to prevent disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If electronic components are connected directly to wiring patterns on a flexible printed circuit, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electronic components are prone to being peeled from the wiring patterns due to vehicle vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into a housing and a cover that can be assembled together, creating separate functional zones. The electronic components are housed within the housing while the cover provides additional protection and sealing, allowing the structure to be manufactured in manageable segments while ensuring reliable component protection against vibrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic components are nested within the connector housing, which itself is nested within the overall flexible printed circuit assembly. This nested structure protects the electronic components from direct exposure to vibrations while maintaining a compact design that does not significantly increase the overall size of the assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible printed circuit is made flexible to adapt to battery module configurations, then the adaptability is improved, but the circuit board becomes susceptible to bending and vibrations that cause components to peel

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing is designed with stepwise configurations that create localized rigid zones at critical areas where electronic components are mounted. These stepwise structures provide enhanced stability and resistance to peeling forces exactly where needed, while the rest of the flexible printed circuit maintains its flexibility for adaptation to different battery module configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The connector incorporates multiple materials with different properties - the housing provides rigid structural support, the cover offers additional protection and sealing, and the flexible printed circuit provides adaptability. This composite structure combines the advantages of rigid stability at critical points with flexible adaptability in other areas, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3599800B1Connector-fitting structure of flexible printed circuit
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3599800B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3599800B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3599800B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connector-fitting structure of flexible printed circuit includes: a flexible printed circuit on which a wiring pattern is formed; an electronic component connected to the wiring pattern of the flexible printed circuit; and a connector to which one end part of the flexible printed circuit is fitted. The one end part of the flexible printed circuit is fitted to the connector to cause the electronic component to be housed in the connector.