Water Resistant Flat Cable with Flexible Substrate and Enclosure Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible flat cables lack effective water resistance, especially in outdoor environments, leading to water ingress into electronic devices due to poor manufacturing quality of rubber pad-based sealing methods, which compromise flexibility and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A bundled flexible circuit board flat cable with a water-resistant section featuring an enclosure sleeve and water-resistant members, allowing for relative displacement and enhanced flexibility while preventing water penetration, is designed to address the issue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rubber pad based water resistant structure is applied to a mobile phone to serve as a hinge flat cable, then water resistance can be provided, but it is extremely hard to realize excellent water resistance due to poor manufacturing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate with integrated water resistant members and an enclosure sleeve to create a water resistant structure that maintains flexibility. The flexible substrate allows the cable to bend and fold while the integrated water resistant members provide sealing without requiring complex rubber pad assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the flexible substrate with water resistant members and an enclosure sleeve to create a composite structure. This integration of multiple materials and functions into a single assembly improves manufacturing quality by eliminating separate assembly steps while maintaining effective water resistance.
2Reliability
If conventional electronic cables with insulation jackets are used, then water resistance to some extent is achieved, but the diameter is large causing poor flexibility when bundled together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible substrate with integrated water resistant members that provides both water resistance and flexibility. The thin-film structure allows the cable to be bundled and folded without compromising either water protection or flexibility, unlike conventional thick insulation jackets.
Solution Approach 2:
The water resistant members are integrated directly into the flexible substrate at specific locations where water resistance is needed, rather than using a thick uniform insulation jacket throughout. This localized approach maintains flexibility while providing water resistance where required.
3Reliability
If thermal pressing or high temperature injection molding is used to attach rubber pad to flat cable, then water resistant structure can be formed, but the process is difficult and mold reliability is questionable leading to poor manufacturing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates water resistant members directly into the flexible substrate as a composite structure, eliminating the need for separate thermal pressing or injection molding processes. This integration simplifies manufacturing while maintaining effective water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the flexible substrate and water resistant members into a single integrated assembly, merging multiple components and functions into one structure. This eliminates complex attachment processes and mold requirements, significantly improving ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A flat cable includes an enclosure sleeve that encloses a selected section of a cluster section of a flexible substrate. The enclosure sleeve has opposite ends respectively coupled to a first water resistant member and a second water resistant member. Each water resistant member includes a base forming a hollow channel and an insertion end extending from the base. The insertion end is fit to an inside or outside wall of an end of the enclosure sleeve. The first water resistant member, the second water resistant member, and the enclosure sleeve are combined together to form a water resistant section. When the flexible substrate is subjected to a stretching force in an extension direction or a torque applied in a rotation direction, the flexible substrate is allowed to undergo relative displacement with respect to the first water resistant member, the second water resistant member, and the enclosure sleeve.