Patent Publication Number: US-2020303845-A1

Title: Connection member

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-054586, filed on Mar. 22, 2019. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a connection member. 
     A connection member has a plate shape or a sheet shape. The connection member includes a flexible flat cable (FFC). Alternatively, the connection member includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC). 
     Robots have been actively introduced into processes of manufacturing electronic devices. The robots are capable of performing assembly work of inserting, into a connector, the connection member that has the plate shape or the sheet shape. 
     SUMMARY 
     A connection member having a plate shape or a sheet shape, according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes at least three layers of a signal layer, a first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer. The signal layer is sandwiched between the first and second insulating layers. The signal layer is provided with a terminal and a signal line connected to the terminal. The terminal is positioned adjacent to an end of the connection member in a lengthwise direction of the connection member and exposed from the second insulating layer. The signal line extends away from the end of the connection member. The connection member further includes a through-part going through the connection member in a thickness direction of the connection member. Here, the thickness direction intersects the lengthwise direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an FFC that is a connection member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the FFC. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the FFC and illustrates a handling method thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of an FFC as a variation. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of an FFC as another variation. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of an FFC as still another variation. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of an FFC that is a connection member according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described with the accompanying drawings. In the present specification, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis perpendicular to one another are defined for convenience. The X axis and the Y axis are parallel to a horizontal direction, and the Z axis is parallel to a vertical direction. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are allocated the same reference signs, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
     An FFC  10  that is a connection member according to an embodiment will first be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 .  FIG. 1  is a plan view of the FFC  10 .  FIG. 2  is a back view of the FFC  10 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the FFC  10  has a plate shape or a sheet shape. A lengthwise direction of the FFC  10  matches an X-axis direction. A widthwise direction of the FFC  10  matches a Y-axis direction. Here, the widthwise direction intersects the lengthwise direction of the FFC  10 . A thickness direction of the FFC  10  matches a Z-axis direction. Here, the thickness direction intersects the lengthwise direction of the FFC  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the FFC  10  includes a signal layer  20 , a first insulating layer  30 , and a second insulating layer  40 . The signal layer  20  is sandwiched between the first and second insulating layers  30  and  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , terminals  21  and signal lines  22  are formed in the signal layer  20 . Here, the signal lines  22  are connected to the respective corresponding terminals  21 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the terminals  21  are positioned adjacent to an end  11  of the FFC  10  in an X-axis positive direction and exposed from the second insulating layer  40 . The terminals  21  have their respective terminal lengths A in the X-axis direction. The signal lines  22  extend away from the end  11  in an X-axis negative direction. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the signal lines  22  extend parallel to two edges  12  of the FFC  10  in the lengthwise direction. The edges  12  are respectively located at both ends of the FFC  10  in the Y-axis direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , “B” is defined as an insertion length of the FFC  10 . The insertion length B indicates a length of a portion of the FFC  10 . Here, the portion is adjacent to the end  11  and inserted into an unillustrated connector. The insertion length B is greater than the terminal length A. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 , the FFC  10  further includes a reinforcement plate  50 . The reinforcement plate  50  provides rigidity to the FFC  10 . The reinforcement plate  50  is positioned adjacent to the end  11  and covers part of the first insulating layer  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the FFC  10  further includes two through holes  15  each of which goes through the FFC  10  in the Z-axis direction. The through holes  15  are rectangular in shape. A longitudinal (lengthwise) direction of each through hole  15  is parallel to the X-axis direction. A widthwise direction of each through hole  15  is parallel to the Y-axis direction. Each through hole  15  has a dimension L 1  in the lengthwise direction and a dimension W in the widthwise direction. Each through hole  15  corresponds to one example of a “through-part”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the through holes  15  are adjacent to the reinforcement plate  50  at a position farther from the end  11  than the terminals  21  in the X-axis direction. In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the through holes  15  are located at respective outer sides of the terminals  21  and the signal lines  22  in the Y-axis direction. 
     A handling method of the FFC  10  will next be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the FFC  10  and illustrates a handling method thereof. 
     A robot lifts the FFC  10  up using two L-shaped hands  60 .  FIG. 5  depicts only one of the L-shaped hands  60 . Each L-shaped hand  60  is made of for example metal wire and includes a vertical portion  61  and a horizontal portion  62 . Here, the vertical portion  61  extends in the Z-axis direction, while the horizontal portion  62  extends from a lower end of the vertical portion  61  in the X-axis positive direction. 
     A wire thickness of each L-shaped hand  60  is smaller than the dimension W of each through hole  15  in the widthwise direction in  FIG. 2 . A length of the horizontal portion  62  is smaller than the dimension L 1  of each through hole  15  in the lengthwise direction. This therefore enables the robot to cause the horizontal portions  62  to pass through the through holes  15  by moving the L-shaped hands  60  from above the FFC  10  to the through holes  15  in a Z-axis negative direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the above configuration enables the robot to easily lift the FFC  10  up by hooking the L-shaped hands  60  to the FFC  10  through the through holes  15 . The robot can insert the FFC  10  into an unillustrated connector by further moving the L-shaped hands  60  in the X-axis positive direction. During the time, the vertical portions  61  are in contact with the reinforcement plate  50 , thereby enabling the robot to effectively transmit a force pushing the FFC  10  to the reinforcement plate  50 . Thus, the robot can easily insert the FFC  10  into the connector. Note that the respective lengths of the horizontal portions  62  are designed to prohibit respective tips of the horizontal portions  62  from entering an area in the range of the insertion length B from the end  11 . 
     An FFC  10  that is a variation will next be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a plan view of the FFC  10  of the variation.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line in  FIG. 6 . 
     The FFC  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  differs from the FFC  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that the FFC  10  as the variation further includes positioning holes  16  going through the FFC  10  in the Z-axis direction. The positioning holes  16  are aligned in a straight line along each of two edges  12 . The positioning holes  16  are rectangular in shape. Each of the positioning holes  16  has a dimension L 2  in its own longitudinal direction. Each positioning hole  16  corresponds to one example of the “through-part”. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a wiring guide  100  provided with protrusions such as bosses  101 . The FFC  10  is easily positioned as a result of the bosses  101  being inserted into the positioning holes  16 . 
     An FFC  10  that is another variation will next be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a plan view of the FFC  10  in the present variation. 
     The FFC  10  illustrated in  FIG. 8  differs from the FFC  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that the number of through holes  15  in the present variation is one. The through hole  15  in the present variation is adjacent to a reinforcement plate  50  at a position farther from an end  11  of the FFC  10  than terminals  21  of the FFC  10  in the X-axis direction. The through hole  15  is located substantially at a center of the FFC  10  in the Y-axis direction. The terminals  21  and signal lines  22  of the FFC  10  are distributed on both sides of the through hole  15 . 
     An FFC  10  that is still another variation will next be described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the FFC  10  in the present variation. 
     The FFC  10  illustrated in  FIG. 9  differs from the FFC  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that the FFC  10  in the present variation is provided with cuts  17  in place of the through holes  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the FFC  10  includes two cuts  17  each of which goes through the FFC  10  in the Z-axis direction. The cuts  17  are rectangular in shape. A longitudinal (lengthwise) direction of each cut  17  is parallel to the X-axis direction. A widthwise direction of each cut  17  is parallel to the Y-axis direction. Each cut  17  corresponds to one example of the “through-part”. 
     The cuts  17  in the present variation are adjacent to a reinforcement plate  50  at a position farther from the end  11  than the terminals  21  in the X-axis direction. In addition, the cuts  17  are located at respective outer sides of the terminals  21  and the signal lines  22  in the Y-axis direction. 
     The above configuration enables the robot to easily lift the FFC  10  up by hooking the L-shaped hands  60  to the FFC  10  through the cuts  17 . The cuts  17  are provided adjacent to the reinforcement plate  50 , thereby enabling the robot to effectively transmit a force pushing the FFC  10  to the reinforcement plate  50 . Thus, the robot can easily insert the FFC  10  into an unillustrated connector. 
     An FPC  10   a  that is a connection member according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will next be described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a plan view of the FPC  10   a.    
     The FPC  10   a  illustrated in  FIG. 10  differs from the FFC  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that respective signal lines  22  closest to both edges  12  have their respective detours  23 . Unlike the FFC  10 , the FPC  10   a  includes a signal layer  20  having a multilayer structure, and it is therefore easy to form the detours  23 . Each of the detours  23  passes between a corresponding edge  12  and a corresponding through hole  15 . The edges  12  are accordingly reinforced against external force. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . Note that the present disclosure can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present disclosure and is not limited to the above embodiments. 
     Although each embodiment of the present disclosure provides for example one or two through holes  15  that are adjacent to the reinforcement plate  50 , the present disclosure is not limited to this. The number of through holes  15  may be three or more. 
     Although each embodiment of the present disclosure provides the positioning holes  16 , the cuts  17 , or one or two through holes  15  that are rectangular in shape, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Another shape such as circular or elliptical may be employed. 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure provide the cuts  17  and one or two through holes  15  that are adjacent to the reinforcement plate  50 , the present disclosure is not limited to this. It is however preferable that the cuts  17  and one or two through holes  15  be provided immediately near the reinforcing plate  50 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure provide the FFC  10  and the FPC  10   a  each of which includes its own reinforcement plate  50 , the present disclosure is not limited this. The present disclosure is applicable to an FFC  10  or an FPC  10   a  with no reinforcement plate  50 .