PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8923003-B2
Application Number: US-201213367131-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Flexible circuit connectors with reduced profiles

Abstract:
An electronic device may contain components such as flexible printed circuits and rigid printed circuits. Electrical contact pads on a flexible printed circuit may be coupled electrical contact pads on a rigid printed circuit using a coupling member. The coupling member may be configured to electrically couple contact pads on a top surface of the flexible circuit to contact pads on a top surface of the rigid circuit. The coupling member may be configured to bear against a top surface of the flexible circuit so that pads on a bottom surface of the flexible circuit rest against pads on a top surface of the rigid circuit. The coupling member may bear against the top surface of the flexible circuit. The coupling member may include protrusions that extend into openings in the rigid printed circuit. The protrusions may be engaged with engagement members in the openings.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus, comprising: a flexible printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on the first surface;
 a rigid printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on and in contact with the first surface, wherein a portion of the second surface of the flexible printed circuit rests against a portion of the first surface of the rigid printed circuit; and 
 an electrical coupling member having a first portion that is attached to the contact pad on the flexible printed circuit with solder and having a second portion that is electrically connected to the contact pad on the rigid printed circuit, wherein the electrical coupling member comprises a first metal portion, a second metal portion, and a dielectric portion that insulates the first metal portion from the second metal portion, and wherein the second metal portion is coupled to a ground structure on the rigid printed circuit. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the electrical coupling member is attached to the contact pad on the rigid printed circuit by solder. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus defined in  claim 2  further comprising a display, wherein the flexible printed circuit is coupled to the display. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the electrical coupling member is soldered to the contact pad on the rigid printed circuit, wherein the solder with which the second portion of the electrical coupling member is soldered to the rigid printed circuit has a first reflow temperature, and wherein the solder with which the first portion of the electrical coupling member is soldered to the flexible printed circuit has a second reflow temperature that is less than the first reflow temperature. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the electrical coupling member comprises a solder-philic coating that covers at least some of the electrical coupling member. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the electrical coupling member comprises a strip of metal. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the first metal portion is coupled to the contact pad on the flexible printed circuit and the contact pad on the rigid printed circuit. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus defined in  claim 1  wherein the electrical coupling member comprises a plurality of metal members embedded within an insulating structure. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on the first surface; 
 a rigid printed circuit board having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on and in contact with the first surface, wherein the contact pad on the first surface of the flexible printed circuit rests against the contact pad on the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board; and 
 a coupling member that presses the first surface of the flexible printed circuit against the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board, wherein the coupling member comprises a metal member that has a first portion that is attached to the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board and that has a second portion that bears against the second surface of the flexible printed circuit, wherein the rigid printed circuit board has at least one opening, wherein the first portion of the coupling member includes a protruding portion that extends into the at least one opening, wherein the protruding portion comprises a metal protruding portion, and wherein the rigid printed circuit board includes a ground contact in the at least one opening that is coupled to the metal protruding portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus defined in  claim 9  wherein the first portion of the metal member is soldered to an additional contact pad on the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus defined in  claim 9  further comprising a display, wherein the flexible printed circuit is electrically coupled between the rigid printed circuit board and the display. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus defined in  claim 9  wherein the opening extends from the first surface to the second surface of the rigid printed circuit board, the apparatus further comprising an engagement member that engages the coupling member in the at least one opening. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus defined in  claim 9  wherein the opening extends from the first surface to the second surface of the rigid printed circuit board, the apparatus further comprising first and second engagement members, wherein the second engagement member engages the first engagement member in the at least one opening and wherein the coupling member is welded to the first engagement member. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus defined in  claim 9  wherein the coupling member has a top portion and sidewalls attached to the top portion, wherein the second portion that bears against the second surface of the flexible printed circuit comprises the top portion and wherein the sidewalls are attached to the rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus defined in  claim 14  wherein the sidewalls are coupled to the ground contact on the rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus defined in  claim 15  wherein the coupling member further comprises planar portions that are parallel to the top portion and are attached to the sidewalls, wherein the planar portions rest against the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus defined in  claim 16  wherein the planar portions have protruding members, wherein the rigid printed circuit board comprises openings in the first surface and wherein the protruding members extend into the openings. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on the first surface; 
 a rigid printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on and in contact with the first surface and having a recess in the first surface that receives a portion of the flexible printed circuit; and 
 an electrical coupling member that has a first portion that is coupled to the contact pad on the first surface of the rigid printed circuit and having second portion that is coupled to the contact pad on the first surface of the flexible printed circuit, wherein the first surface of the flexible printed circuit lies in a common plane with the first surface of the rigid printed circuit. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus defined in  claim 18  wherein the electrical coupling member comprises a metal member, wherein the first portion is soldered to the contact pad on the first surface of the rigid printed circuit, and wherein the second portion is soldered to the contact pad on the first surface of the flexible printed circuit. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus defined in  claim 18  further comprising a recess in the second surface of the flexible printed circuit that mates with the recess in the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible printed circuit having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad on the first surface; 
 a rigid printed circuit board having opposing first and second surfaces and a contact pad in an opening that extends from the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board to the second surface of the rigid printed circuit board, wherein a portion of the second surface of the flexible printed circuit rests against a portion of the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board, wherein the first surface of the rigid printed circuit board comprises a top surface of the rigid printed circuit board, and wherein the second surface of the rigid printed circuit comprises a bottom surface of the rigid printed circuit board; and 
 an electrical coupling member having a first portion that is coupled to the contact pad on the flexible printed circuit with solder and having a second portion that is soldered to the contact pad in the opening. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus defined in  claim 21  wherein the first portion of the electrical coupling member comprises a surface in a recess in the electrical coupling member and wherein a portion of the second surface of the flexible printed circuit rests against an additional surface of the recess in the electrical coupling member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices having flexible circuitry. 
     Electronic devices often include components such as displays that are coupled to printed circuit boards by an interposing flexible printed circuit. 
     A flexible printed circuit is often coupled to a printed circuit board using a flex-to-board connector attached to an end of the flexible printed circuit. A flex-to-board connector can be as thick as several millimeters. Tolerances in device design must include space for these connectors. This can be problematic for compact electronic devices. 
     In some situations, an anisotropic conductive film is interposed between a flexible printed circuit and a printed circuit board. However, electrical connections formed using anisotropic conductive film are often undesirable for providing sufficient current for powering components such as displays. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved ways to control the operation of electronic devices with displays. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may have circuitry such a printed circuit boards and flexible printed circuits. A printed circuit board may be a rigid printed circuit board. A rigid printed circuit board may be electrically coupled to flexible circuitry that carries electrical signals from the printed circuit board to other electronic device components such as a display. 
     The flexible circuitry may include a flexible printed circuit (flex-circuit) or other flexible circuitry. A display may include a thin-film-transistor (TFT) layer that is coupled to the printed circuit board with the flexible circuitry. 
     The flexible circuitry may be electrically coupled to additional circuitry in the electronic device. The additional circuitry may include, as examples, a printed circuit board, a rigid layer of a display (e.g., a thin-film-transistor glass layer), a rigid-flex circuit, or another flexible circuit such as a flexible printed circuit. The flexible circuitry may be electrically coupled to the additional circuitry using electrical contacts (sometimes referred to herein as electrical contact pads, contact pads, or pads) that contact electrical contacts on the additional circuitry. The electrical contacts on the flexible circuitry may be coupled to the contacts on the additional circuitry using a coupling member. 
     A coupling member may include a rigid conductive coupling member that is electrically coupled between the contacts on the flexible circuitry and the contacts on the additional circuitry. The coupling member may be formed from conductive portions and non-conductive portions or may be substantially all conductive. Non-conductive portions may be formed from insulating material that is overmolded onto conductive portions of the coupling member or the coupling member may be formed having conductive and non-conductive portions using a two-shot molding process or other process. 
     If desired, a coupling member may include solder that couples electrical contacts on a top side of the flexible circuitry to electrical contacts on a top side of the additional circuitry that is in physical contact with a bottom side of the flexible circuitry. 
     A coupling member may include protrusions such as bumps that provide a contact force against a top side of the flexible circuitry in order to hold electrical contacts on a bottom side of the flexible circuit in physical contact with contacts on the top side of the additional circuitry. If desired, solder may be provided between the contacts on the bottom side of the flexible circuit and contacts on the top side of the additional circuitry. 
     The coupling member may be attached to the additional circuitry using a suitable conductive material such as solder or using a conductive weld. If desired, the coupling member may be attached to the additional circuitry using one or more protrusions that extend into associated openings in the additional circuitry such as openings in a printed circuit board. The coupling member may include a conductive connection to a ground contact on the additional circuitry. The ground contact may be formed on a surface of the additional circuitry or in an opening in the additional circuitry. 
     Protruding portions on the coupling member may engage the openings in the additional circuitry. The protrusions may be non-conductive protrusions or may be formed from conductive material that is attached to a ground contact in the additional circuitry. 
     If desired, openings in the additional circuitry may extend from a first (e.g., top) surface through to a second (e.g., bottom) surface of the additional circuitry. Protrusions on the coupling member may be attached to an engagement member in the openings. Engagement members may include screws or other fasteners, clips, mating recesses, grooves, and other engagement features, glue, welds, or other suitable attachment mechanisms. 
     If desired, a conductive coupling member may be soldered to electrical contacts in the openings. A conductive coupling member that is soldered to electrical contacts in the openings may include a recess. The electrical contacts on the flexible circuit may be soldered to a surface of the recess in the conductive coupling member. 
     During manufacturing, the coupling member may first be attached to the additional circuitry by welding, soldering, attaching to an engagement member in an opening, etc. Following attachment of the coupling member to the additional circuitry, the flexible circuit may be inserted into a space between the coupling member and the additional circuitry. Following insertion of the flexible circuitry, electrical contacts on the flexible circuitry may be pressed against electrical contacts on the additional circuitry, may be soldered to electrical contacts on the additional circuitry, may be soldered to the coupling member, or may be or otherwise electrically coupled to electrical contacts on the additional circuitry using the coupling member. 
     The coupling member may be provided with solder paste that is reflowed into contact with the electrical contacts on the flexible circuit using, for example, a heat bar. The heat bar may also provide pressure that helps attach the flexible circuit to the additional circuitry. 
     If desired, the flexible printed circuit may be inserted into an opening in the additional circuitry and attached to the additional circuitry by wicking solder into the opening. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with flexible circuitry coupled to a printed circuit board using a coupling member such as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with flexible circuitry coupled to a printed circuit board using a coupling member such as a cellular telephone or other handheld device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with flexible circuitry coupled to a printed circuit board using a coupling member such as a tablet computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with flexible circuitry coupled to a printed circuit board using a coupling member such as a computer monitor with a built-in computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of circuitry in an electronic device such as a display and a printed circuit board that are coupled using a flexible printed circuit and a coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative backlight module that includes an array of light-emitting diodes, an associated light guide plate, and flexible circuitry having electrical contacts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a portion of an illustrative printed circuit board and associated flexible circuit that may be coupled with a coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible circuit attached to a printed circuit board using solder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible circuit attached to a printed circuit board using a conductive coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible circuit seated in a recess in a printed circuit board and coupled to the printed circuit board using a conductive coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible circuit attached to a printed circuit board using a conductive coupling member that is welded to the printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having a solder-philic coating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having non-conductive portions and conductive portions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having a conductive portion for coupling to a ground contact in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having protruding portions for engaging openings in a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having non-conductive portions and conductive portions including a conductive portion for contacting a ground contact in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having non-conductive portions and conductive portions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible circuit attached to a printed circuit board using a conductive coupling member having bumps that exert a force on the flexible circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of an illustrative conductive coupling member having a solder-philic coating and bumps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device during assembly showing how protrusions on a coupling member may be inserted into openings in a printed circuit board before flexible circuitry is inserted into a space between the coupling member and the printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device during assembly showing how a coupling member having sidewalls may be attached to a printed circuit board before flexible circuitry is inserted into a space between the coupling member and the printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an illustrative coupling member having sidewalls and planar portions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a top view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device showing how a coupling member having a sidewalls and planar portions may include conductive portions for contacting a ground contact and conductive portions for electrically coupling flexible circuitry to the printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  is a top view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device showing how a coupling member having sidewalls and planar portions may include conductive portions for contacting a ground contact that extend along multiple edges of the coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  is a top view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device showing how a coupling member having sidewalls and planar portions may include protrusions for engaging openings in a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member having protrusions on planar portions for engaging openings in a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member having multiple engaging portions in an opening in a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member that is welded to multiple engaging portions in an opening in a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 30A  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member engaged in a plated through hole in a printed circuit board showing how a heat bar may be used to reflow solder for attaching flexible circuitry to the coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 30B  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member engaged in a plated opening in a printed circuit board showing how a heat bar may be used to reflow solder for attaching flexible circuitry to the coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 31A  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member engaged in a plated opening in a printed circuit board and having a recess for attaching flexible circuitry to the coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 31B  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member engaged in a plated opening in a printed circuit board and having a recess for attaching flexible circuitry to the coupling member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device showing how flexible circuitry may be inserted into a recess in an edge of a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member that is attached in an opening in a printed circuit board using solder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative coupling member that is welded to an engaging portion that is attached in an opening in a printed circuit board using solder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may include flexible circuitry such as flexible printed circuits and additional circuitry such as printed circuit boards. A flexible printed circuit may be coupled to the additional circuitry using a coupling member. The coupling member may help reduce the thickness of the connection between the flexible circuitry and the additional circuitry, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the electronic device. Flexible circuitry may, for example, include a flexible printed circuit substrate. The flexible printed circuit substrate may be coupled to additional circuitry such as a printed circuit board, a rigid layer of a display, another flexible printed circuit substrate or other additional circuitry. As an example, the flexible printed circuit substrate may be coupled between a printed circuit board and an electronic component such as a display. Displays may be used to display visual information such as text and images to users. 
     Illustrative electronic devices that may be provided with displays are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 . 
     An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided with a coupling member that attaches flexible circuitry to additional circuitry such as a printed circuit board is shown in  FIG. 1 . Electronic device  10  may be a computer such as a computer that is integrated into a display such as a computer monitor, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller portable device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, a tablet computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a computer monitor, a television, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may include a display such as display  14 . Display  14  may be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touch electrodes or other touch sensor components or may be a display that is not touch sensitive. Display  14  may include image pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components or other suitable display pixel structures. Arrangements in which display  14  is formed using liquid crystal display pixels are sometimes described herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Any suitable type of display technology may be used in forming display  14  if desired. 
     Device  10  may have a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. 
     Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , housing  12  may have multiple parts. For example, housing  12  may have upper portion  12 A and lower portion  12 B. Upper portion  12 A may be coupled to lower portion  12 B using a hinge that allows portion  12 A to rotate about rotational axis  16  relative to portion  12 B. A keyboard such as keyboard  18  and a touch pad such as touch pad  201  may be mounted in housing portion  12 B. 
     In the example of  FIG. 2 , device  10  has been implemented using a housing that is sufficiently small to fit within a user&#39;s hand (i.e., device  10  of  FIG. 2  may be a handheld electronic device such as a cellular telephone). As show in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include a display such as display  14  mounted on the front of housing  12 . Display  14  may be substantially filled with active display pixels or may have an active portion and an inactive portion. Display  14  may have openings (e.g., openings in the inactive or active portions of display  14 ) such as an opening to accommodate button  23  and an opening to accommodate speaker port  25 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of electronic device  10  in a configuration in which electronic device  10  has been implemented in the form of a tablet computer. As shown in  FIG. 3 , display  14  may be mounted on the upper (front) surface of housing  12 . An opening may be formed in display  14  to accommodate button  22 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of electronic device  10  in a configuration in which electronic device  10  has been implemented in the form of a computer integrated into a computer monitor. As shown in  FIG. 4 , display  14  may be mounted on the front surface of housing  12 . Stand  27  may be used to support housing  12 . 
     Display  14  may include an array of display pixels. Each display pixel may be used to control the light intensity associated with a portion of the display. 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative configuration that may be used for display  14  of device  10  (e.g., device  10  of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , or  FIG. 4  or other suitable electronic devices) is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , display  14  may include backlight structures such as backlight unit BLU for producing backlight  20 . During operation, backlight  20  travels outwards (vertically upwards in the orientation of  FIG. 5 ) and passes through image pixel structures in display module  22 . This illuminates any images that are being produced by the pixels of display module  22  for viewing by a user of device  10 . Display module  22  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) module. Other display technologies may be used for display  14  if desired. The use of LCD technology is merely illustrative. 
     Backlight unit BLU may have a chassis (not shown) with an interior shape that receives components such as light-emitting diodes  24 , light guide plate (LGP)  26 , and reflector  28 . Optical films  30  such as a diffuser layer and other films may be mounted over light guide plate  26 . Light guide plate  26  may be formed from a layer of clear material such as a sheet of acrylic, polycarbonate, or other polymer. Reflector  28  may be formed from a reflective substance such as white polyester or a high-low dielectric stack. 
     Light-emitting diodes  24  may be attached to substrate  31 . Substrate  31  may be a flexible printed circuit substrate (“flex circuit”) such as a sheet of polyimide or other flexible dielectric. During operation, light from light-emitting diodes  24  may be emitted in direction  34  and may be guided within light guide plate  26  by total internal reflection. Some of this light may escape upwards and may serve as backlight  20  for display  14 . Reflector  28  may reflect any light that escapes plate  26  in the downwards direction up through display module  22  to add to the strength of backlight  20 . Liquid crystal display module  22  may have upper and lower polarizers, a thin-film transistor layer, a color filter layer, and a layer of liquid crystal material that is interposed between the color filter layer and thin-film transistor layer (as an example). As backlight  20  travels through module  22 , a user may view a backlit image from direction  36 . 
     Substrate  31  may contain conductive traces (e.g., metal lines) that route signals between light-emitting diodes  24  and circuitry elsewhere in device  10 . With one suitable arrangement, substrate  31  is coupled to a main printed circuit board using a flexible printed circuit. In the example of  FIG. 5 , flexible circuitry  32  is coupled between display  14  and additional circuitry  38  (e.g., a rigid printed circuit board) using coupling member  40 . Flexible circuitry  32  may be an extended portion of substrate  31  or flexible circuitry  32  may be a separate flexible printed circuit that is attached to substrate  31  (e.g., using a connector, using solder, etc.). 
     Arrangements in which flexible circuitry  32  is coupled to a printed circuit board using coupling member  40  are sometimes discussed herein as examples. However, this is merely illustrative. A coupling member such as coupling member  40  may be used to couple flexible circuitry  32  to any additional circuitry  38  (e.g., a rigid printed circuit board, a display layer, a battery, an additional flexible printed circuit, or any other suitable circuit substrate having electrical contacts for coupling to a flexible printed circuit). 
     Circuitry for device  10  may be mounted on printed circuit boards such as board  38  and/or may be coupled to the circuitry on printed circuit board  38  through additional signal lines (e.g., signal lines on additional flex circuits, signal lines on additional rigid printed circuit boards, etc). This circuitry may include, for example, components  42 . 
     Components  42  may include control circuitry such as control circuitry based on one or more processing integrated circuits (e.g., microprocessors) and storage (e.g., volatile and non-volatile memory). Components  42  may include communications circuits such as integrated circuits for communicating over serial buses and parallel buses with internal components and external equipment that is connected to device  10  by a cable and a connector in device  10  and/or internal circuits in device  10 . 
     Discrete components may be mounted on board  38  with other components. Examples of discrete components are inductors, capacitors, and resistors. Other components  42  that may be mounted on board  38  or elsewhere in device  10  include switches, connectors, cameras, camera flash circuits (e.g., light-emitting diodes or other light sources that serve as a camera flash), and audio circuits. 
     Components  42  may include video chips such as one or more display driver integrated circuits for displaying images on display  14  and a video driver integrated circuit or circuits for driving video signals onto a monitor or other external display that is coupled to device  10 . Accessory interface circuitry such as circuitry that is associated with an external component that is controlled by device  10  and/or that provides input to device  10  and other circuits and devices may also be included in components  42  if desired. 
     Portion  33  of flexible printed circuit substrate (flexible circuit)  32  may be electrically coupled to conductive contacts such as contact  50  of additional circuitry (e.g., printed circuit board)  38 . PCB  38  may include conductive traces that couple contacts such as contact  50  to additional components such as components  42 . 
     Coupling member  40  may be an electrical coupling member that includes conductive portions coupled between contacts (not shown) on portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  and contacts such as contact  50  of PCB  38 . Additional portions of coupling member  40  may be electrically coupled to a ground contact such as ground contact  52  on PCB  38 . If desired, coupling member  40  may be configured to exert a force on portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  that holds conductive contacts on portion  33  of flexible circuitry  32  in contact with contacts  50  of PCB  38 . 
     Coupling member  40  may include solder that couples electrical contacts on a top side of flexible circuit  32  to electrical contacts  50  on a top side of printed circuit board  38 . 
     Coupling member  40  may be formed from conductive portions and non-conductive portions or may be substantially all conductive. Non-conductive portions may be formed from insulating material that is overmolded onto conductive portions of coupling member  40 , coupling member  40  may be formed having conductive and non-conductive portions using a two-shot molding process, or conductive and non-conductive portions may be formed separately and joined together using a manual or automated assembly process involving, as examples, ultrasonically welding, swaging, gluing, or otherwise attaching non-conductive and conductive portions to form coupling member  40 . 
     Coupling member  40  may include protrusions such as bumps that provide a contact force that holds contacts on a bottom side of flexible circuit  32  in physical contact with contacts  50  on the top side of the printed circuit board  38 . If desired, solder may be provided between contacts on the bottom side of flexible circuit  32  and contacts  50  on the top side of printed circuit board  38 . 
     Coupling member  40  may be attached to additional circuitry  38  using a suitable conductive material (e.g., solder, etc.) or using a conductive weld. If desired, coupling member  40  may be attached to PCB  38  using one or more engagement members in an opening in printed circuit board  38 . Coupling member  40  may include a conductive connection to ground contact  52  on printed circuit board  38 . The conductive connection to ground contact  52  may be formed using a surface connection (e.g., by soldering member  40  to the top surface of PCB  38 ) or using a protruding portion of coupling member  40  that extends into an opening in the printed circuit board. 
     Coupling member  40  may include protruding portions that engage an engagement member in openings in printed circuit board  38  or that are soldered to contacts in openings in PCB  38 . Protrusions may be non-conductive protrusions or may be formed from conductive material that is coupled to a ground contact in the printed circuit board. 
     If desired, coupling member  40  may include a recess in printed circuit board  38  that is configured to mate with portion  33  of flexible circuit  32 . Portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  may include a recess that is configured to mate with the recess in PCB  38 . 
     Flexible circuit  32  may be an extended portion of a substrate (e.g., substrate  31 ) that forms a portion of an electronic device component such as a device display as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the structures in backlight unit BLU, showing how additional circuitry  44  may, if desired, be mounted to the top surface of flex circuit substrate  31  (i.e., the same side of flex circuit substrate  31  to which light-emitting diodes  24  are mounted). Conductive traces  46  in flexible circuitry  32  may be used to route drive power to light-emitting diodes  24  from PCB  38 . If desired, components such as components  44  may be mounted in other locations of device  10 . The mounting arrangements of  FIGS. 5 and 6  are merely illustrative. 
     Portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  may include conductive contacts such as contacts  54 . Coupling member  40  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) may be configured to form an electrical bridge between contacts  54  of portion  33  and contacts  50  of PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. Coupling member  40  may be configured to apply pressure to portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  in order to hold contacts  54  in physical contact (for example) with contacts  50  of PCB  38 . Conductive traces  46  in flexible circuitry  32  may be used to route drive power to light-emitting diodes  24  from conductive pads  54  that are coupled to conductive pads  50  of PCB  38  using coupling member  40 . 
     The examples of  FIGS. 5 and 6  in which flexible circuitry  32  is coupled between a display such as display  14  and a printed circuit board such as printed circuit board  38  are merely illustrative. If desired, flexible circuitry  32  may be coupled to any suitable additional circuit using a coupling member such as coupling member  40 . As another example, flexible circuitry  32  may be coupled between a rigid printed circuit board and a battery (e.g., a battery flex). Flexible circuitry that is coupled between a rigid printed circuit board and a battery may be coupled to the rigid printed circuit board and/or the battery using a coupling member such as coupling member  40 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of a portion of PCB  38  in the vicinity of contacts  50 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , portion  33  may extend over a portion of PCB  38  so that contacts  54  on portion  33  are aligned with contacts  50  of PCB  38 . Contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  may be located on an upper surface of flexible circuit  32 , on a lower surface of flexible circuit  32  or may extend from a surface of portion  33  into one or more layers of flexible circuit  32 . In general, flexible circuit  32  may include an insulating layer, such as a coverlay on opposing upper and lower surfaces of the flexible circuit. The insulating layer may be removed from portions of either the upper or lower surface in regions (e.g., region  33 ) in which it is desired to provide access to electrical contacts such as contacts  54 . 
     For clarity of illustration, coupling member  40  is not shown in  FIG. 7 , however, coupling member  40  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) may be electrically coupled between contacts  50  and contacts  54 . In configurations in which contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  are formed on a bottom side of flexible circuit  32 , a coupling member  40  may be used to provide a force on flexible circuit  32  that holds contacts  54  in physical contact with contacts  50  of PCB  38 . 
     If desired, contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  may be electrically coupled to contacts  50  of PCB  38  using solder that is applied over contacts  54  and contacts  50  as shown in the cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 8 . Solder  56  may be applied by hand by a technician during assembly of device  10 . Solder  56  that is applied by hand may form a structure having a thickness of X millimeters (mm) as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, solder structure  56  may have a thickness X of less than 1 mm. Solder structures having a thickness of less than 1 mm may help reduce the thickness of a manufacturing margin for attaching flexible circuit  32  to PCB  38  during manufacturing of device  10 . However, solder structures  56  that are applied by a technician may have variable thicknesses X of up to 0.4 mm or more. The thickness of the connection between flexible circuit  32  and PCB  38  may be further reduced using a preformed coupling member. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a flexible circuit such as flexible circuit  32  coupled to a printed circuit board such as PCB  38  using a preformed coupling member such as coupling member  40 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , coupling member  40  may be attached to electrical contacts such as contact  50  of PCB  38  using a conductive adhesive material such as solder  62 . Coupling member  40  may have a curved shape that allows coupling member  40  to form a conductive bridge between contact  54  of flexible circuit  32  and contacts  50  of PCB  38  using an adhesive material such as solder  60 . 
     PCB  38  may have opposing first and second surfaces. Contacts  50  may be formed on the first surface (e.g., top surface  38 T). Flexible circuit  32  may have opposing first and second surface. In the example of  FIG. 9 , contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  are formed on the first surface (e.g., top surface  32 T) and the opposing second surface (e.g., bottom surface  32 B) rests against the first surface of PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, contacts  54  may be formed on bottom surface  32 B of flexible circuitry  32  and may be pressed into contact with contacts  50  on top surface  38 T of PCB  38  using coupling member  40 . 
     If desired, solder  62  may be configured to remain solid at a temperature that is higher than the reflow temperature of solder  60 . In this way, solder  60  may be reflowed at a temperature that allows solder  62  to remain attached to PCB  38 . Providing device  10  with solder  60  having a reflow temperature that is less than the reflow temperature of solder  62  may allow coupling member  40  to be attached to PCB  38  and flexible circuit  32  to be later inserted into the space between coupling member  40  and PCB  38  and attached to coupling member  40  using solder  60 . 
     Alternatively, if desired, solder  60  may be configured to remain solid at a temperature that is higher than the reflow temperature of solder  62 . In this way, solder  62  may be reflowed at a temperature that allows solder  60  to remain attached to flexible circuit  32 . Providing device  10  with solder  62  having a reflow temperature that is less than the reflow temperature of solder  60  may allow coupling member  40  to be attached to flexible circuit  32  and to be later attached to PCB  38  using solder  62  (e.g., by applying a hot bar that has been heated to a temperature that is greater than the reflow temperature of solder  62  and less than the reflow temperature of solder  60  to coupling member  40 ). However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, solder  60  may have a reflow temperature that is substantially the same as the reflow temperature of solder  60 . In configurations in which solder  60  and solder  62  have the same reflow temperature, coupling member  40  may be attached to both PCB  38  and flexible circuitry  32  using a single heat bar at a single temperature. 
     Coupling member  40  may have a curved shape that results in a thickness X′ mm of the connection of flexible circuit  32  to PCB  38  that is less than thickness X mm of a hand soldered connection as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, thickness X′ may be 0.15-0.5 mm, 0.25-0.3 mm, less than 0.3 mm, more than 0.2 mm, etc. 
     Coupling member  40  may be formed from a material that is substantially all conductive (e.g., a metal strip formed from copper, aluminum, an alloy or other conductive material) or, if desired, coupling member  40  may have one or more conductive (metal) portions and one or more non-conductive portions (i.e., insulating portions) interposed between the conductive portions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , PCB  38  may be provided with a recess such as notch  66  in the vicinity of contacts such as contact  50 . If desired, flexible circuit  32  may be provided with a recess such as notch  64 . Notch  66  may be formed in PCB  38  by removing a portion of PCB  38  (e.g., by etching, grinding, drilling or otherwise removing a portion of PCB  38 ) or notch  66  may be a portion of PCB  38  in which fewer layers of PCB  38  have been stacked (e.g., portion  38 N of PCB  38  may be a 3-layer PCB while portion  38 F of PCB  38  may be a 4-layer PCB). 
     Notch  64  may be formed in flexible circuit  32  by removing a portion of flexible circuit  32  (e.g., by etching, grinding, drilling or otherwise removing a portion of flexible circuit  32 ) or notch  64  may be a portion of flexible circuit  32  in which fewer layers of flexible circuit  32  have been stacked (e.g., portion  33 F of flexible circuit  32  may be a 3-layer flex circuit while portion  33  of flexible circuit  32  may be a 2-layer flex circuit). 
     Providing PCB  38  with a recess  66  that receives flexible circuit  32  (and, if desired, providing flexible circuit  32  with a recess  64  that mates with recess  66 ) may result in a thickness X″ mm for the connection of flexible circuit  32  to PCB  38  that is less than thickness X′ mm of  FIG. 9 . For example, thickness X″ mm may be 0.05-0.15 mm, 0.0-0.25 mm, less than 0.25 mm, more than 0.25 mm, etc. If desired, recesses  66  and  64  may be configured so that portion  32  of flexible circuit  32  and the top surface of PCB  38  lie in a single common plane. If desired, notches  64  and  66  may be configured so that the surface of contacts  54  are mounted below the top surface of PCB  38  on which contacts  50  are formed (e.g., the thickness of flexible circuit  32  may be less than the depth of notch  66 ). In this configuration, the thickness of the connection between flexible circuit  32  and PCB  38  may be reduced to the thickness X′″ mm that is equal to the thickness of coupling member  40  and the thickness of any interposed connecting material (e.g., solder  62 ). 
     A coupling member such as coupling member  40  that is connected to connectors  50  of PCB  38  using solder is merely illustrative. If desired, coupling member  40  may be attached to connectors  50  using any suitable coupling method. For example, coupling member  40  may be welded to connectors  50  using a weld such as weld  68  of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of coupling member  40  showing how coupling member  40  may be extended along a lateral dimension parallel to the y-axis of  FIG. 12 . Coupling member  40  may have a curved shape with one or more portions parallel to the x-y plane of  FIG. 12  and a portion that is curved out of the x-y plane. Coupling member  40  may have an upper surface  40 U and an opposing lower surface  40 L. Lower surface  40 L may be mounted in contact with PCB  38  and flexible circuit  32 . 
     If desired, one or more portions of lower surface  40 L of coupling member  40  may be provided with a coating such as coating  70  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Coating  70  may be a solder-philic coating formed from a metal such as gold, nickel, a gold-nickel alloy or other solder-philic material. Coating  70  may be configured so that when heat is applied to coupling member  40 , coating  70  heats more efficiently than other portions of member  40  and solder wicks onto portions of bottom surface  40 B that are coated with coating  70 . 
     If desired, coupling member  40  may be provided with conducting portions and non-conducting (insulating) portions. In the example of  FIG. 14 , coupling member  40  includes conducting portions  40 C that form three conducting strips formed on (or embedded in) an insulating portion  40 I. Conducting portions  40 C may be formed from copper, aluminum, or other conducting material. Conducting portions  40 C may include an additional coating formed from a conductive material such as gold, a gold-nickel alloy or other solder-philic coating. Insulating portion  40 I may be formed from plastic, glass, ceramic, rubber, or other suitable insulating material. If desired, conducting portions may extend from an upper surface of coupling member  40  to an opposing lower surface of coupling member  40 , or insulating portion  40 I may be formed over conducting portions  40 C so that conducting portions  40 C are exposed on only a single (e.g., lower) surface of coupling member  40 . 
     The three conducting (e.g., metal) strips  40 C of  FIG. 14  may be configured to connect three electrical contacts  54  in flexible circuit  32  to three respective electrical contacts  50  in PCB  38 , as an example (as shown in, for example,  FIG. 9 ). However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, coupling member  40  may include more than three conducting strips, less than three conducting strips, or may include conducting portions  40 C having other shapes or configurations. 
     In the example of  FIG. 15 , coupling member  40  includes an additional conducting portion  40 C at the base of coupling member  40 . The additional conducting portion  40 C may be connected (e.g., soldered, welded) to a conductor such as a ground conductor on a substrate such as PCB  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , conducting portions  40 C may include one or more round conducting portions  40 C. Round conducting portions  40 C may, if desired, contact a ground conductor on a substrate such as PCB  38 . If desired, additional conducting portions  40 C formed in insulating portion  40 I may have any suitable shape and may include protrusions that extend from bottom surface  40 B of coupling member  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , coupling member  40  may be formed from first and second extended conducting portions  40 C that are separated by an insulating portion  40 I that extends along a lateral dimension of coupling member  40 . One of conducting portions  40 C may be configured to connect electrical contacts  54  in flexible circuit  32  to respective electrical contacts  50  in PCB  38 , as an example. Another conducting portion  40 C may be connected (e.g., soldered, or welded) to a conducting pad such as a ground conductor on a substrate such as PCB  38  (as shown in, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , coupling member  40  may be formed from a conducting material such as metal having one or more conductive strips  40 C that are embedded in insulating strips  40 I in the conducting material. 
     Each strip  40 C may be configured to connect one of electrical contacts  54  in flexible circuit  32  to a respective one of electrical contacts  50  in PCB  38 , as an example. Another conducting portion  40 C may be connected (e.g., soldered, or welded) to a conducting pad such as a ground conductor on a substrate such as PCB  38 . 
     The examples of  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11  in which contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  are formed on top surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32  are merely illustrative. As shown in  FIG. 19 , contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  may be formed on an opposing bottom surface (e.g., bottom surface  32 B) of flexible circuit  32 . Contacts  54  may rest against contacts  50  of rigid printed circuit  38 . Coupling member  40  may be configured to bear against top surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32  (in direction  75 ) so that contacts  54  are pressed against contacts  50 . 
     A first portion of coupling member  40  may bear against flexible circuit  32  and a second portion of coupling member  40  may be attached to a contact pad such as ground contact  52 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , coupling member  40  may be attached to ground contact  52  using solder  61 . 
     The portion of coupling member  40  that bears against flexible circuit  32  may, if desired, include extrusions such as bumps  72  for pressing flexible circuit  32  against rigid printed circuit  38 . Bumps  72  may, for example, be formed from dimples in coupling member  40 . 
     Bumps  72  may be formed from conducting or insulating materials. In the configuration of  FIG. 20 , bumps  72  may be formed from conducting or insulating material and may be configured to bear against an insulating upper surface (e.g., a coverlay that forms a potion of surface  32 T). However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, bumps  72  may be formed from conducting material (e.g., copper, aluminum, etc.) and each bump  72  may be configured to form a conductive contact with a corresponding one of electrical contacts  54  (e.g., electrical contacts  54  on a top surface of flexible circuit  32  as in the configuration of, for example,  FIG. 9 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , coupling member  40  may include one or more bumps  72  and a solder-philic coating (e.g., a gold coating). Coupling member  40  may include three bumps  72  for pressing three contacts  54  against three contacts  50  of rigid printed circuit  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. Coupling member  40  may include less than three bumps, no bumps, four bumps, or more than four bumps. Flexible circuit  32  and rigid printed circuit  38  may each include less than three contacts, four contacts, or more than four contacts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , PCB  38  may include one or more holes such as openings  74 . Openings  74  may be formed in a top surface such as top surface  38 T of PCB  38 . If desired, openings  74  may extend from top surface  38 T of PCB  38  an opposing bottom surface such as bottom surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Coupling member  40  may include one or more protruding portions such as protrusions (sometimes called protruding members)  76 . Protrusions  76  may be configured to engage openings  74 . Openings  74  may include a conductive contact such as a ground contact  52  or other contact pad. Protrusions  76  may be formed from conductive material (e.g., metal) or may include a conductive coating. However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, openings  74  may be non-conductive openings and protrusions  76  may be non-conductive protrusions. 
     During assembly of device  10 , protruding members  76  of coupling member  40  may be inserted into openings  74  on surface  38 T of PCB  38  (as indicated by arrow  77 ). As shown in  FIG. 21 , coupling member  40  may be curved so that when protrusions  76  are mounted in openings  74 , a space between coupling member  40  and surface  38 T of PCB  38  may be formed. Flexible circuit  32  may be inserted into the space between coupling member  40  and surface  38 T (as indicated by arrow  79 ) so that contacts  54  rest against contacts  50 . 
     If desired, coupling member  40  may include a top portion such as portion  40 T that is parallel to surface  38 T of PCB  38  and sidewall portions such as portions  40 S as shown in  FIG. 22 . Top portion  40 T may bear against a top surface such as surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32 . Sidewall portions  40 S may be attached to PCB  38 . If desired, sidewall portions  40 S may be attached to one or more ground contacts  52  using solder  61 . 
     During assembly of device  10 , coupling member  40  may be attached to ground contacts  52  and flexible circuit  32  may be inserted under top portion  40 T so that contacts  54  couple to contacts  50  on PCB  38 . In the example of  FIG. 22 , sidewall portions  40 S are substantially perpendicular to top portion  40 T. However this is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , sidewall portions  40 S may have a curved shape that extends from top portion  40 T to a planar portion  40 P. Portions  40 T,  40 S, and  40 P of coupling member  40  may be formed from a conducting material such as metal (e.g., copper, aluminum, etc.) or may be formed from an insulating material (e.g., glass, plastic, etc.) having embedded or overmolded conductive portions. Planar portion  40 P may, if desired, be attached to surface  38 T of PCB  38  as shown in the top view of  FIG. 24 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 24 , planar portions  40 P are attached to top surface  38 T of PCB  38  so that flexible circuit  32  may be attached to PCB  38  under top portion  40 T of coupling member  40 . If desired, coupling member  40  may include conductive portions  40 C and insulating portions  40 I. One of conductive portions  40 C on planar portions  40 P may be attached to a ground contact on PCB  38 . Conductive portions  40 C that extend from top portion  40 T to planar portions  40 P may include conductive strips for coupling contacts such as contacts  54  on top surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32  to contacts such as contacts  50  on top surface  38 T of PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, portions  40 T,  40 S and  40 P of coupling member  40  may be substantially all conductive and top portion  40 T may be configured to bear against top surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32  so that contacts such as contacts  54  on a bottom surface of flexible circuit  32  rest against contacts such as contacts  50  on top surface  38 T of PCB  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 25 , conductive portions  40 C may include a conductive portion  40 C that extends along more than one (e.g., all three) edges of planar portions  40 P coupling member  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 26 , planar portions  40 P of coupling member  40  may include one or more protruding members such as protrusions  76  that engage openings in surface  38 T of PCB  38 . Protrusions  76  may include conductive protrusions that couple to electrical contacts in openings in PCB  38  or may include non-conductive protrusions that attach member  40  to PCB  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , protrusions  76  may extend from planar portions  40 P of coupling member  40 . If desired, some of protrusions  76  may conductively couple member  40  to PCB  38  and some protrusions  76  may be non-conductive protrusions that non-conductively engage openings in PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, all of protrusions  76  may be conductive or all of protrusions  76  may be non-conductive. 
     As shown in  FIG. 28 , openings  74  may, if desired, extend from top surface  38 T through to bottom surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Coupling member  40  may be engaged with an engagement member such as engagement member  40 E in opening  74 . Engagement member  40 E may include a mating recess for mating with coupling member  40  or coupling member  40  and engagement member  40 E may be screwed, snapped, glued or otherwise engaged within opening  74  (e.g., using screws or other fasteners, clips, grooves, and other engagement features, glue, welds, or other suitable attachment mechanisms). 
     During assembly of device  10 , contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  may be placed in contact with contacts  50  of PCB  38  and coupling member  40  may be attached to engagement member  40 E in opening  74  so that coupling member  40  holds contacts  54  in contact with contacts  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 29 , engagement member  40 E may be attached to a second engagement member  40 E- 1  in opening  74 . In configurations in which engagement member  40  is attached to a second engagement member  40 E- 1  in opening  74 , coupling member  40  may be attached to second engagement member  40 E- 1  using, for example, weld  88 . Engagement member  40 E may be screwed, snapped, glued or otherwise engaged with second engagement member  40 E in opening  74 . Engagement member  40 E- 1  may be screwed, snapped, glued, welded or otherwise attached to coupling member  40  so that coupling member  40  bears against top surface  32 T of flexible circuit  32 . 
     If desired, electrical contacts  50  of PCB  38  may be partially or completely formed within openings  74 . As shown in  FIG. 30A , coupling member  40  may be electrically coupled to contacts  50  in opening  74  using, for example, solder  62 . As indicated in  FIG. 30A , contacts  50  may be formed on a portion of the surface of opening  74  or may include extended portions  51  that extend along the length of opening  74  and, if desired, onto surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Solder  62  may wick onto portions of contacts  50  that extend onto surfaces  38 T and/or  38 B or solder  62  may be configured to remain within opening  74 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 30A , coupling member  40  extends only partially into opening  74 . However, this is merely illustrative. Coupling member  40  may, if desired, extend along the full length of opening  74  (e.g., coupling member  40  may extend to surface  38 B of PCB  38 . 
     During assembly of device  10 , a heated bonding tool such as heat bar  82  may be used to reflow solder such as solder  60  and  62  in order to connect coupling member  40  to contacts  50  and contacts  54 . If desired, solder  62  may have a first reflow temperature and solder  60  may have a second reflow temperature that is less than the first reflow temperature of solder  62 . Coupling member  40  may be soldered to contacts  50  in openings  74  using heat bar  82  at the first temperature (e.g., by heating heat bar  82  to the first temperature and temporarily pressing heat bar  82  against coupling member  40  as indicated by arrows  83 ). Contacts  54  on flexible circuit  32  may then be soldered to coupling member  40  using heat bar  82  at the lower, second temperature (e.g., by heating heat bar  82  to the second temperature and temporarily pressing heat bar  82  against coupling member  40  as indicated by arrows  83 ) so that solder  62  remains fixed. However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, coupling member  40  may be soldered to flexible circuit  32  and later soldered into opening  74  using heat bar  82  (i.e., solder  62  may, if desired, have a reflow temperature that is less than the reflow temperature of solder  60 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 30A , opening  74  extends from surface  38 T to surface  38 B of PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, opening  74  may extend only partially into PCB  38 , as shown in  FIG. 30B . 
     If desired, coupling member  40  may include a recess such as recess  90  as shown in  FIG. 31A . Flexible circuit  32  may be inserted into recess  90  in coupling member  40  that has been soldered to contacts  50  in openings  74 . Contacts  54  on flexible circuit  32  may be soldered to a conductive surface such as surface  40 SI in recess  90 . 
     As indicated in  FIG. 31A , contacts  50  may be formed on a portion of the surface of opening  74  or may include extended portions  51  that extend along the length of opening  74  and, if desired, onto surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Solder  62  may wick onto portions of contacts  50  that extend onto surfaces  38 T and/or  38 B or solder  62  may be configured to remain within opening  74 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 31A , coupling member  40  having recess  90  extends only partially into opening  74 . However, this is merely illustrative. Coupling member  40  may, if desired, extend along the full length of opening  74  (e.g., coupling member  40  may extend to surface  38 B of PCB  38 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 31A , opening  74  extends from surface  38 T to surface  38 B of PCB  38 . However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, opening  74  may extend only partially into PCB  38  from surface  38 T as shown in  FIG. 31B . 
     The examples of  FIGS. 1-29 ,  30 A,  30 B,  31 A, and  31 B in which contacts  50  of PCB  38  are formed on an outer surface (e.g., surface  38 T) of PCB  38  are merely illustrative. As shown in  FIG. 32 , if desired, contacts  50  may be formed in an interior surface such as surface  381  of a slot such as slot  92 . Slot  92  may be formed in an edge such as edge  38 E of PCB  38  so that flexible circuit  32  may be inserted into slot  92  during assembly of device  10  (in direction  93 ). Solder such as solder  60  (not shown) may be reflowed in to slot  92  after flexible circuit  32  has been inserted into slot  92  in order to couple contacts  54  of flexible circuit  32  to contacts  50  on interior surface  381  of PCB  38 . 
     As described above in connection with, e.g.,  FIG. 28 , openings  74  may, if desired, extend from top surface  38 T through to bottom surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Coupling member  40  may be engaged with in opening  74  using solder. In the example of  FIG. 33 , a coupling member having bumps  72  for pressing flexible circuit  32  against PCB  38  is soldered to ground contacts  52  in opening  74  using solder  61 . In this way, coupling member  40  may be coupled to a ground plane in PCB  38 . 
     Coupling member  40  of  FIG. 33  may extend partially into opening  74  or may extend to surface  38 B of PCB  38 . Opening  74  may extend from top surface  38 T through to bottom surface  38 B or may extend only partially from surface  38 T into PCB  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 34 , a coupling member such as coupling member  40  having bumps  72  for pressing flexible circuit  32  against PCB  38  and that is soldered to ground contacts  52  in opening  74  using solder  61  may include an engagement member  40 E- 1  that is soldered to ground contacts  52  in opening  74  using solder  61 . In configurations in which engagement member  40  is attached to engagement member  40 E- 1  in opening  74 , coupling member  40  may be attached to engagement member  40 E- 1  using, for example, weld  88 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120206
Publication Date: 20141230
Grant Date: 20141230
Priority Date: 20120206
Inventors: SCHLAUPITZ ALEXANDER D.
WURZEL JOSHUA G.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R12/58", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/57", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/57", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/58", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 48902698