Linking Conductive Member for Flexible Substrate Bottom Surface Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting a connection terminal on a flexible substrate are ineffective when the conductive portion is exposed on the bottom surface, as they only facilitate electrical connection when the conductor is exposed on the top surface.
Innovation Solution
A connecting method using a linking conductive member with a U-shaped bottom portion, a first arm, and a second arm, which is pushed to cut and insert into a recessed portion of the connection terminal, allowing electrical connection between the top-surface terminal and the bottom-surface conductive portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional connector is used to connect a connection terminal on the top surface of a flexible substrate, then electrical connection is achieved when the conductor is exposed on the top surface, but the connector becomes useless when the conductor is exposed on the bottom surface
Solution Approach 1:
The linking conductive member is inserted from the bottom surface side of the flexible substrate opposite to the conventional top surface insertion, enabling the connector to adapt when the conductor is exposed on the bottom surface instead of the top surface
Solution Approach 2:
A linking conductive member is introduced as an intermediary element that bridges the connection terminal on the top surface and the conductor on the bottom surface, enabling electrical connection through the flexible substrate
2Ease of operation
If the flexible substrate is cut to expose the conductor on the bottom surface, then the conductor becomes accessible for connection, but conventional connectors cannot establish electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion direction is inverted from the conventional top surface insertion to bottom surface insertion, allowing the connector to work with conductors exposed on the bottom surface after cutting
3Ease of manufacture
If a connection terminal is disposed on the top surface of the flexible substrate, then the terminal can be connected to external components, but connecting to a conductor on the bottom surface becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The linking conductive member serves as a mediator that extends the connection path from the top surface terminal through the flexible substrate to the bottom surface conductor, enabling connection without complex routing
Data Source
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AI summary
A connection terminal is placed with an opening end of a recessed portion of the connection terminal contacting a top of a flexible substrate, a linking conductive member is pushed from a bottom toward a top of the flexible substrate, whereby the linking conductive member projects inside the recessed portion through the opening end as catching a part of the flexible substrate, and the part of the flexible substrate is sandwiched between a pressing portion of the linking conductive member and a first inner portion in the recessed portion to allow the pressing portion to contact a conductive portion exposed on the bottom of the flexible substrate and allow a contact portion of the linking conductive member to contact a second inner portion in the recessed portion, whereby the connection terminal is electrically connected to the conductive portion of the flexible substrate via the linking conductive member.