Patent Application
20170025733
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-145121 filed on Jul. 22, 2015, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entity.
Technical Field
The invention relates to flexible wiring boards.
Background Art
JP 2007-123740 A and WO 2012/073591 A disclose conventional flexible wiring boards. Each conventional flexible wiring boards include an insulative base, a signal conductor, and a ground conductor. The signal conductor and the ground conductor are provided on the base to form a microstrip line.
Each flexible wiring board above is used in an electronic apparatus to connect between two electronic components. Contact of the flexible wiring board with another component (e.g. a terminal of an electronic component, a metal shell of an electronic component, etc.) in the electronic apparatus disturbs the characteristic impedance of the signal conductor and/or the ground conductor. This results in degradation of transmission characteristics of the flexible wiring board.
The invention is conceived in light of the above circumstances and provides a flexible wiring board that can reliably exhibit adequate and sufficient transmission characteristics.
A flexible wiring board according to an aspect of the invention includes a base, at least one cover, a signal conductor, and a ground conductor. The base is an elongate flexible dielectric including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a portion in a lengthwise direction of the base and has a first face and a second face opposite to each other in a thickness direction of the base. The second portion is another portion in the lengthwise direction of the base. The at least one cover is of dielectric material being lower in permittivity than the base. The at least one cover is fixed on and cover at least one of the first and second faces of the first portion of the base. The signal conductor is provided at the base and extends in the lengthwise direction and includes a first portion covered by the at least one cover and a second portion not covered by the at least one cover. The ground conductor is provided at the base and extends in parallel with and in spaced relation to the signal conductor. The ground conductor includes a first portion covered by the at least one cover and a second portion not covered by the at least one cover. A part of the second portion of the ground conductor situated in a second region of the second portion of the base is smaller in area than a part of the first portion of the ground conductor situated in a first region of the first portion of the base, the first region being equal in area to the second region.
The flexible wiring board of this aspect is configured to suppress degradation of transmission characteristics. Particularly, the cover covers a portion of at least one of the first and second faces of the base, reducing the possibility that the base comes into contact with another component. This reduces possibility of degradation of transmission characteristics of the flexible wiring board due to contact of the base with another component. Second, the signal conductor includes the first portion covered by the cover and the second portion not covered by the cover, which should result in difference in impedance between the first and second portions of the signal conductor. However, the ground conductor is configured such that the part of the second portion situated in the second region of the base is smaller in area than the part of the first portion situated in the first region of the base. This increases the impedance of the second portion of the signal conductor, i.e. reduces the difference in impedance between the first and second portions of the signal conductor. Hence, degradation of transmission characteristics is suppressed in the flexible wiring board.
There are a number of alternative means to make the second portion of the ground conductor smaller in unit area than the first portion of the ground conductor. An example of such a means is to differentiate the dimensions in the widthwise direction of the first and second portion of the ground conductor. More particularly, the second portion or portions of the ground conductor may be smaller in widthwise dimension than the first portion or portions of the ground conductor.
The ground conductor may have a plurality of openings arranged at intervals along a part of the ground conductor which is opposite to the signal conductor. In this case, at least one of the openings located in the second portion of the ground conductor may be larger in size or area than at least one of the openings located in the first portion of the ground conductor. Alternatively, the openings located in the second portion of the ground conductor may be arranged at shorter intervals (i.e. closer together) than the openings located in the first portion of the ground conductor. The openings may be of the same shape, or may be of different shapes, dimensions or aspect ratio. In these aspects of the invention, to differentiate the outer sizes of the openings located in the second portion of the ground conductor and those located in the first portion of the ground conductor, or to differentiate the intervals of the openings located in the second portion of the ground conductor and those located in the first portion of the ground conductor serve as some other example means to make the particular part of the second portion of the ground conductor in the second region smaller in area than the particular part of the first portion of the ground conductor in the first region.
The ground conductor may have at least one opening only in the second portion thereof. In this aspects of the invention, to provide an opening in the second portion of the ground conductor is still another example of a means to make the second portion of the ground conductor smaller in unit area than the first portion of the ground conductor.
There may be provided two ground conductors, between which the signal conductor, or a plurality of the signal conductors, may be disposed.
In the brief description of the drawings above and the description of embodiments which follows, relative spatial terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, etc., are used for the convenience of the skilled reader and refer to the orientation of the flexible wiring board and their constituent parts as depicted in the drawings. No limitation is intended by use of these terms, either in use of the invention, during its manufacture, shipment, custody, or sale, or during assembly of its constituent parts or when incorporated into or combined with other apparatus.
Embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to
The base 100 is an elongate flexible dielectric. The base 100 has a first face 101 and a second face 102. The first face 101 is one of the faces in the third direction of the base 100, and the second face 102 is the other face in the third direction of the base 100. In other words, the first and second faces are opposite faces of the base 100. In the embodiments as shown in
The at least one signal conductor 300 may be provided inside the base 100 or directly on the first face 101 of the base 100. The at least one signal conductor 300 extends along the base 100. In the embodiments of
The at least one ground conductor 400 may be provided inside the base 100 or directly on the second face 102 of the base 100. The ground conductor 400 extends in parallel with and in spaced relation in the third direction to the at least one signal conductor 300. The at least one ground conductor 400 is opposed to the at least one signal conductor 300 with the base 100 therebetween in the third direction. The or each ground conductor 400 is larger in second direction dimension, i.e. in width, than the or each signal conductor. It is preferable that the or each signal conductor 300 and the or each ground conductor 400 constitute a microstrip line.
The base 100 includes at least one first portion 110, at least one second portion 120, a first end portion 130, and a second end portion 140. The or each first portion 110 is a portion in the first direction of the base 100 and has a first face and a second face. The first face of the first portion 110 is one of the faces of the first portion 110 in the third direction and also a portion in the first direction (lengthwise direction) of the first face 101. The second face of the first portion 110 is the other face of the first portion 110 in the third direction and also another portion in the first direction (lengthwise direction) of the second face 102. The or each second portion 120 is a portion other than the at least one first portion 110 of the base 100 in the first direction. The second portion 120 has a first face and a second face. The first face of the second portion 120 is a face of the second portion 120 in the third direction and also another portion in the first direction (lengthwise direction) of the first face 101. The second face of the second portion 120 is the other face of the second portion 120 in the third direction and also another portion in the first direction (lengthwise direction) of the second face 102. The first end portion 130 is an end portion of the base 100 on one side in the first direction. The second end portion 140 is an end portion of the base 100 on the other side in the first direction.
The at least one cover 200 is formed of dielectric material being lower in permittivity than the base 100, and fixed on the first face and/or the second face of the at least one first portion 110 of the base 100. The or each cover 200 may be equal in first direction dimension to the or each first portion 110 of the base 100. The or each cover 200 may or may not be equal in second direction dimension to the or each first portion 110 of the base 100. The at least one cover 200 at least partially covers the or a respective first portion 110 and may entirely cover the or a respective first portion 110.
In the embodiments of
The or each cover 200 of any of the above aspects may be an insulating plate of plastic material, e.g. polyurethane foam or other plastic foam, which is relatively rigid as compared to the base 100, the material of the or each cover 200 having a permittivity lower than that of the base 100. In this case, the or each first portion 110 with a cover 200 fixed thereon is less readily curved or bent than the or each second portion 120 of the base 100 which is uncovered (see
The or each signal conductor 300 may include at least one first portion 310 and at least one second portion 320. The or each first portion 310 is located inside the or an associated first portion 110 or directly on the first face of the or an associated first portion 110 of the base 100. The or each first portion 310 is covered by the or an associated cover 200. The or each second portion 320 is located inside the or an associated second portion 120 or directly on the first face of the or an associated second portion 120 of the base 100. The second portion 320 is not covered by the at least one cover 200.
In each embodiment of
The or each ground conductor 400 may include at least one first portion 410 and at least one second portion 420. The or each first portion 410 is located inside the or an associated first portion 110 or directly on the second face of the or an associated first portion 110 of the base 100, and covered by the or an associated cover 200. The or each second portion 420 is located inside the or an associated second portion 120 or directly on the second face of the or an associated second portion 120 of the base 100, and not covered by the at least one cover 200.
In each embodiment of
The or each signal conductor 300 may further include a first end portion 330 and a second end portion 340. The or each first end portion 330, an end portion of the or each signal conductor 300 on the one side in the first direction, is located inside the first end portion 130 or directly on the first face of the first end portion 130 of the base 100. The or each second end portion 340, an end portion of the or each signal conductor 300 on the other side in the first direction, is located inside the second end portion 140 or directly on the first face of the second end portion 140 of the base 100. If the or each first end portion 330 is located inside the first end portion 130 and the or each second end portion 340 is located inside the second end portion 140, then the or each first end portion 330 and the or each second end portion 340 may each have a via hole for external connection, or may be exposed out of the first end portion 130 and the second end portion 140, respectively.
The or each ground conductor 400 may further include a first end portion 430 and a second end portion 440. The or each first end portion 430, an end portion of the or each ground conductor 400 on the one side in the first direction, is located inside the first end portion 130 or directly on the second face of the first end portion 130 of the base 100. The or each second end portion 440, an end portion of the or each ground conductor 400 on the other side in the first direction, is located inside the second end portion 140 or directly on the second face of the second end portion 140 of the base 100. If the or each first end portion 430 is located inside the first end portion 130 and the or each second end portion 440 is located inside the second end portion 140, then the or each first end portion 430 the or each second end portion 440 may each have a via hole for external connection, or may be exposed out of the first end portion 130 and the second end portion 140, respectively.
In each embodiment of
The at least one ground conductor 400 may further have a plurality of openings 450 as illustrated in
It should be noted that as described above, the first portion 310 of the or each signal conductor 300 is covered by the or an associated cover 200, whereas the second portion 320 of the or each signal conductor 300 is not covered by the at least one cover 200. This should result in difference in impedance between the or each first portion 310 and the or each second portion 320. Specifically, the or each second portion 320 should be smaller in impedance than the or each first portion 310. However, it is desirable to eliminate or reduce the difference in impedance between the or each first portion 310 and the or each second portion 320 by increasing the impedance of the or each second portion 320. To this end, the or each ground conductor 400 is configured such that a particular part of the or each second portion 420 situated in a second region of the base 100 is smaller in area than a particular part of the or each first portion 410 situated in a first region of the base 100, the first and second regions of the base 100 being regions of equal area extending in a plane direction of the base 100.
Specific means for making the particular part of the second portion 420 of the ground conductor 400 smaller in area than the particular part of the first portion 410 of the ground conductor 400 may be one of the following configurations (1) to (4), combination of (1) and (2), combination of (1) and (3), combination of (1) to (3), combination of (1) and (4), or combination of (2) and (3), but not limited thereto. (1) The or each second portion 420 of the at least one ground conductor 400 is smaller in second direction dimension (in width) than the or each first portion 410 of the same ground conductor 400. (2) If the at least one ground conductor 400 has the openings 450 arranged at intervals along the at least one signal conductor 300, at least one of the openings 450 located in the or each second portion 420 of the or each ground conductor 400 is larger in outer size than each opening 450 located in the or each first portion 410 of the or each ground conductor 400. In this case, it is preferable that the openings 450 excluding the enlarged one be of substantially the same outer size. (3) If the at least one ground conductor 400 has the openings 450 arranged at intervals along the at least one signal conductor 300, the openings 450 located in the or each second portion 420 of the or each ground conductor 400 are arranged at shorter intervals than the openings 450 located in the or each first portion 410 of the or each ground conductor 400. In this case, it is preferable that the openings 450 be of substantially the same outer size. (4) At least one opening 450 is provided only in the second portion 420 of the ground conductor 400. It should be appreciated that configuration (1) is adopted in the embodiments of
In the case of adopting configuration (1), the or each second portion 120 of the base 100 can be smaller in second direction dimension (in width) than the or each first portion 110 of the base 100. The reduced size of the second portion 120 of the base 100 in the second direction facilitates curving or bending the second portion 120. In the case of adopting configuration (1), the or each second portion 120 of the base 100 may be equal in second direction dimension (in width) to the or each first portion 110 of the base 100.
The flexible wiring board F may be fabricated in the following steps. First, prepared are the base 100, the at least one signal conductor 300, and the at least one ground conductor 400. The base 100 is provided with the at least one signal conductor 300 and the at least one ground conductor 400 in parallel with and in spaced relation in the third direction to the at least one signal conductor 300. At least a part of the base 100 is situated between the at least one signal conductor 300 and the at least one ground conductor 400. Second, the at least one cover 200 is prepared and fixed directly on the first face and/or the second face of the at least one first portion 110 of the base 100. The at least one cover 200 thus covers the first portion 310 of the at least one signal conductor 300 and the first portion 410 of the at least one ground conductor 400 provided at the or an associated first portion 110. The flexible wiring board F is thus fabricated.
The flexible wiring board F described above has at least the following technical features. First, the flexible wiring board F reliably exhibits adequate and sufficient transmission characteristics for the following reasons. When the flexible wiring board F is disposed in an electronic apparatus and connects two electronic components inside the electronic apparatus, the base 100 is unlikely to come into contact with other components of the electronic apparatus. This is because the at least one cover 200 covers at least one of the first face and the second face of the at least one first portion 110 of the base 100. This arrangement thus reduces degradation of transmission characteristics of the flexible wiring board F due to contact of the base 100 with such other components. Furthermore, the or each ground conductor 400 is configured such that a part of the or each second portion 420 situated in a second region of the base 100 is smaller in area than a part of the or each first portion 410 situated in a first region of the base 100. This increases the impedance of the or each second portion 320 of the or each signal conductor 300, i.e. reduces the difference in impedance between the or each second portion 320 and the or each first portion 310 of the or each signal conductor 300. This contributes to suppressed degradation of transmission characteristics of the flexible wiring board F.
Second, the flexible wiring board F can be curved or bent into an intended shape. Particularly, the at least one cover 200 is fixed on the or an associated first portion 110 of the base 100, making it more difficult to curve or bend the or each first portion 110 while allowing the or each second portion 120 of the base 100 to be curved or bent. It is accordingly possible to curve or bend the flexible wiring board F at one or more intended portions by setting the at least one second portion 120 specifically to such intended portions. Further, if the or each second portion 420 of the or each ground conductor 400 is smaller in width than the or each first portion 410 of the or each ground conductor 400, it is possible to facilitate curving or bending the at least one second portion 120 by reducing the width of the at least one second portion 120 of the base 100.
It should be noted that the flexible wiring board described above is not limited to the above embodiments but can be modified in any manner within the scope of the claims. Specific modifications will be described below.
The at least one ground conductors 400 of any aspect described above may be two ground conductors 400. As shown in
The at least one signal conductor 300 of any aspect described above may be a plurality of signal conductors. For example, two signal conductors 300 of any aspect described above may be provided inside the base 100 or directly on the first face 101 such as to extend in parallel with and in spaced relation to each other in the second direction of the base 100, and the at least one ground conductor 400 of any aspect described above may be provided inside the base 100 or directly on the second face 102 of the base 100 such as to extend in parallel with and in spaced relation to the two signal conductors 300.
It should be appreciated that the above embodiments and variants of the flexible wiring board are described above by way of examples only. The materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, arrangements, and other configurations of the constituents of the flexible wiring board may be modified in any manner if they can perform similar functions. The configurations of the embodiments and the variants described above may be combined in any possible manner.
F: flexible wiring board
100: base
101: first face
102: second face
110: first portion
120: second portion
130: first end
140: second end
200: cover
300: signal conductor
310: first portion
320: second portion
330: first end
340: second end
400: ground conductor
410: first portion
420: second portion
430: first end
440: second end
450: opening
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-145121 | Jul 2015 | JP | national |
