US5219640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible circuit having flexing section of reduced stiffness, and method of manufacture thereof
Assignee: ADFlex Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1991-09-11
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Granted: 1993-06-15
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Expires: 2011-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A flexible circuit is presented having a flexing (cyclic bending) section of lower stiffness than adjacent parts of the circuit. The lower stiffness in the flexing section is achieved by reducing the thickness of the flexing section, either by omitting or removing some or all of the dielectric material of the flexible circuit in the flexing section, or by replacing conventional dielectric material in the flexing section with a polymer of lower modulus of elasticity.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Gazit
- 👤 Richard T. Traskos
- 👤 Leonard S. Calabrese
- 👤 Michael J. Taylor
- 👤 Jeffrey B. Otto
- 👤 Brett W. Kilhenny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0277; H05K1/028; G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/4806; G11B5/4846; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0104; H05K2201/0133; H05K2201/0183; H05K2201/0191; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/0332; H05K2201/0388; H05K2201/0394; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09009; H05K2201/09036; H05K2201/09063; H05K2201/09818; H05K2201/0989; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/02; H05K2203/0228; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107; H05K3/00; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/0026; H05K3/0032; H05K3/0041; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/281; H05K3/38; H05K3/386; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/901; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A flexible circuit having: a first layer of insulating material; a first layer of adhesive material bonded to said first layer of insulating material; at least one circuit line of a conductive material bonded to said first layer of adhesive material; a second layer of adhesive material bonded to said circuit line; a second layer of insulating material bonded to said second layer of adhesive; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit, the flexing section extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials in an amount effective to provide said flexing section with a stiffness less than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A flexible circuit having: a first layer of insulating material; a first layer of adhesive material bonded to said first layer of insulating material; at least one circuit line of a conductive material bonded to said first layer of adhesive material; a second layer of adhesive material bonded to said circuit line; a second layer of insulating material bonded to said second layer of adhesive; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit, the flexing section extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials in an amount effective to provide said flexing section with a stiffness less than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 1 wherein: the moment of inertia of said flexing section is less than the moment of inertia of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 1 wherein: said flexing section is defined by first and second opposed windows in each of said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 3 wherein: said opposed windows are entirely devoid of said first and second insulating materials.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 3 wherein said flexing section includes: edge strips of said first insulating material bonded to said first layer of adhesive and extending across said first window along the edges of a first surface of the flexible circuit; and edge strips of said second insulating material bonded to said second layer of adhesive and extending along the edges of a second surface of the flexible circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 3 wherein: said flexing section is symmetric about said circuit line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 3 wherein: said windows are devoid of said first and second insulating materials and said first and second adhesive materials, and said windows include a material surrounding said circuit line which has a lower elastic modulus than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 1 wherein said flexing section includes: opposed lengths of said first and second insulating materials having at least one channel formed therein to define a hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A flexible circuit of claim 8 including: a plurality of spaced channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit of claim 9 including: variable spacing between at least some of said spaced channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flexible circuit of claim 8 wherein: said at least one channel has a "U" or "V" shaped cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flexible circuit of claim 11 wherein: said at least one channel has a flattened "U" or "V" shaped cross-section for reducing stress concentration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
189 words
A flexible circuit having: a laminate construction of a plurality of circuit lines in the center of the thickness of the flexible circuit, opposed first and second layers of adhesive bonded to opposite sides of said circuit lines, and opposed first and second layers of dielectric material on the sides thereof removed from said circuit lines; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit and extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being thinner relative to the thicknesses of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to the flexing section and having a moment of inertia less than the moment of inertia of the remainder of the flexible circuit such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
189 words
A flexible circuit having: a laminate construction of a plurality of circuit lines in the center of the thickness of the flexible circuit, opposed first and second layers of adhesive bonded to opposite sides of said circuit lines, and opposed first and second layers of dielectric material on the sides thereof removed from said circuit lines; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit and extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being thinner relative to the thicknesses of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to the flexing section and having a moment of inertia less than the moment of inertia of the remainder of the flexible circuit such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 13 wherein: said flexing section is defined by first and second opposed windows in each of said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 14 wherein: said opposed windows are entirely devoid of said first and second insulating materials.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 14 wherein said flexing section includes: edge strips of said first insulating material bonded to said first layer of adhesive and extending across said first window along the edges of a first surface of the flexible circuit; and edge strips of said second insulating material bonded to said second layer of adhesive and extending along the edges of a second surface of the flexible circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 13 wherein: said flexing section is symmetric about said circuit lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 6 wherein: said windows are devoid of said first and second insulating materials and said first and second adhesive materials, and include a material surrounding said circuit lines which has a lower elastic modulus than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 13 wherein said flexing section includes: opposed lengths of said first and second insulating materials having at least one channel formed therein to define a hinge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A flexible circuit of claim 13 including: a plurality of spaced channels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit of claim 20 including: variable spacing between at least some of said spaced channels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flexible circuit of claim 13 wherein: said at least one channel has a "U" or "V" shaped cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flexible circuit of claim 22 wherein: said at least one channel has a flattened "U" or "V" shaped cross-section for reducing stress concentration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
125 words
A flexible circuit having: a first layer of insulating material; a second layer of insulating material; at least one circuit line of a conductive material sandwiched between said first and second layers of insulating material; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit, the flexing section extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials in an amount effective to provide said flexing section with a stiffness less than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
125 words
A flexible circuit having: a first layer of insulating material; a second layer of insulating material; at least one circuit line of a conductive material sandwiched between said first and second layers of insulating material; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit, the flexing section extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials in an amount effective to provide said flexing section with a stiffness less than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 24 wherein: the moment of inertia of said flexing section is less than the moment of inertia of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 24 wherein: said flexing section is defined by first and second opposed windows in each of said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 26 wherein: said flexing section is symmetric about said circuit line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 26 wherein: said windows are devoid of said first and second insulating materials and said first and second adhesive materials, and said windows include a material surrounding said circuit line which has a lower elastic modulus than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 24 wherein said flexing section includes: opposed lengths of said first and second insulating materials having at least one channel formed therein to define a hinge.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
A flexible circuit of claim 29 including: a plurality of spaced channels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit of claim 30 including: variable spacing between at least some of said spaced channels.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flexible circuit of claim 29 wherein: said at least one channel has a "U" or "V" shaped cross-section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flexible circuit of claim 32 wherein: said at least one channel has a flattened "U" or "V" shaped cross-section for reducing stress concentration.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible circuit of claim 24 wherein: said circuit line is directly bonded to both said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible circuit of claim 24 including: a layer of adhesive material between said circuit line and said second layer of insulating material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
187 words
A flexible circuit having: a laminate construction of a plurality of circuit lines in the center of the thickness of the flexible circuit, and opposed first and second layers of dielectric material on opposed sides of said circuit lines; with at least said first layer of dielectric material being bonded to said circuit lines; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit and extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being thinner relative to the thicknesses of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to the flexing section and having a moment of inertia less than the moment of inertia of the remaining of the flexible circuit such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
187 words
A flexible circuit having: a laminate construction of a plurality of circuit lines in the center of the thickness of the flexible circuit, and opposed first and second layers of dielectric material on opposed sides of said circuit lines; with at least said first layer of dielectric material being bonded to said circuit lines; and a flexing section in the flexible circuit and extending along a part of the length of the flexible circuit, said flexing section being thinner relative to the thicknesses of sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to the flexing section and having a moment of inertia less than the moment of inertia of the remaining of the flexible circuit such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section, said flexing section being formed by selectively and symmetrically removing at least part of the first and second layers of insulating materials, the first and second layers of insulating materials both having non-uniform dielectric thicknesses with respect to the length of the flexible circuit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 36 wherein: said flexing section is defined by first and second opposed windows in each of said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 36 wherein: said flexing section is symmetric about said circuit lines.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 37 wherein: said windows are devoid of said first and second insulating materials and said first and second adhesive materials, and said windows include a material surrounding said circuit line which has a lower elastic modulus than sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section such that the energy required to flex said flexing section is reduced relative to the energy required to flex the sections of the flexible circuit adjacent to said flexing section.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible circuit of claim 36 wherein: said circuit line is directly bonded to both said first and second layers of insulating material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible circuit of claim 36 including: a layer of adhesive material between said circuit line and said second layer of insulating material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 1 wherein said flexing section includes: only a part of said first and second layer of insulating materials being removed.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 13 wherein said flexing section includes: only a part of said first and second layer of insulating materials being removed.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 24 wherein said flexing section includes: only a part of said first and second layer of insulating materials being removed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flexible circuit as in claim 36 wherein said flexing section includes: only a part of said first and second layer of insulating materials being removed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4812213A
Cited
US4945029A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |