Printed Circuit Board Plastic Deformation Area

Solution Overview

Problem

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) face challenges in maintaining electrical connections under external impacts and repeated bending due to their low elasticity and rigidity, while flexible PCBs struggle to maintain shape changes due to high elasticity.

Innovation Solution

A PCB design incorporating a component disposition area with a plastic deformation material for inducing plastic deformation and a flexible area without the material, allowing for both elastic and plastic deformation, enabling robust electrical connections and easy assembly/disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid PCB material (epoxy) is used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to housing shapes deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The PCB is divided into multiple functional areas: a rigid component disposition area for structural strength and electrical connections, and a flexible connection area for adaptability to housing shapes. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the PCB are assigned different material properties: the component disposition area uses rigid epoxy material for strength and stability, while the connection area uses flexible material for adaptability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both rigidity and flexibility in appropriate locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible PCB material (polyimide) is used, then adaptability to housing shapes is improved, but structural stability and ability to maintain electrical connections under impact deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidelectrical connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PCB is divided into multiple functional areas: a rigid component disposition area for structural strength and electrical connections, and a flexible connection area for adaptability to housing shapes. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the PCB are assigned different material properties: the component disposition area uses rigid epoxy material for strength and stability, while the connection area uses flexible material for adaptability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both rigidity and flexibility in appropriate locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the entire PCB is made flexible, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but reliability under external impact deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PCB is divided into multiple functional areas: a rigid component disposition area for structural strength and electrical connections, and a flexible connection area for adaptability to housing shapes. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the PCB are assigned different material properties: the component disposition area uses rigid epoxy material for strength and stability, while the connection area uses flexible material for adaptability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both rigidity and flexibility in appropriate locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 PCB maintains robust electrical connections under external impacts and repeated bending, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining flexibility and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a pre-forming area in which a plastic deformation material is laminated as a polymer material for inducing plastic deformation on a part of the printed circuit board

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

a flexible area having flexible characteristics and on which the plastic deformation material is not laminated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11770897B2Printed circuit board and electronic device including the same

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A printed circuit board and an electronic device including the printed circuit board are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, and a printed circuit board located in an inner space of the housing, wherein the printed circuit board includes a component disposition area in which at least one component is disposed, a pre-forming area in which a plastic deformation material is laminated as a polymer material for inducing plastic deformation on a part of the printed circuit board, and a flexible area having flexible characteristics and on which the plastic deformation material is not laminated.