Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This present application is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/026,644, filed on Sep. 13, 2013. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure, and more particularly, to a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure which can raise the pulling force between the flexible flat cable and the connector to raise the usage stability. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A flexible flat cable (FFC) is widely used in the electronic devices because it can be bended. Furthermore, a connector is often set on an end of the FFC to be plugged into the electronic device such that the FFC can be electrically connected to the electronic device. Please refer to  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B , these figures depict an FFC connector according to the related art. The FFC connector comprises a FFC  100 , a first connector  200 , and a second connector  300 . The FFC  100  is composed of a plurality of conductive cables, and comprises a first cable end  101  and a second cable end  102 . The first connector  200  comprises a first slot  210 , a plurality of contacts  220 , a first circuit board  230 , and a back cover  240 . The first slot  210  comprises a plurality of passageways  211  and a top plate  212  positioned at the top of the slot  210 . A pulling part  250  is fixedly hitched on the top plate  212 . The contacts  220  are plugged into the passageways  211 . The contacts  220  comprise first conductive legs  221  on one ends and second conductive legs  222  on the other ends. The first circuit board  230  comprise a plurality of conducting portions  231  for conductively fixed (ex: soldered) with the second conductive legs  222  of the contacts  220 . The back cover  240  covers the back of the first slot  210 . The back cover  240  comprises a top trench  241  on the above of the back cover  240  and a lower trench  242  on the lower of the back cover  240 . The second connector  300  is positioned on the second circuit board  310 , and comprises a second slot  320  and a plurality of contacts  321 . When they are assembled, the first cable end  101  of the FFC  100  is conductively fixed on the front end of the first circuit board  230  and stretches out via the top trench  241  of the back cover  240 . The second cable end  102  is electrically connected to the contacts  321  of the second connector  300 . 
     The above-mentioned connector has its disadvantages. For example, the FFC  100  can directly stretch out via the top trench  241  of the back cover  240 . However, the FFC  100  is not supported by any components. If the FFC  100  is pulled by a pulling force, the connection portions of the FFC  100  are easily damaged or pulled apart such that the electrical connection or transmission may be ruined. Therefore, how to improve the current design is a new question in this industry. 
     Therefore, the applicants consider the above-mentioned disadvantages of the current design, and want to develop a FFC connector fixing structure having better fixing and supporting characteristics which can raise the capability of resisting pulling force. In the following disclosure, the present invention will be introduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one of the primary objectives of the claimed invention to provide a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure, which can raise the connecting force and supporting force of FFC, and also raise the mutual pulling force of the connector and the FFC. 
     Furthermore, another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure, which can prevent the connection portion of the FFC from being damaged or pulled apart. This raises the stability of electrical connection and smoothes the signal transmission such that quality of the electrical connection and the signal transmission can be ensured. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure is disclosed. The flexible flat cable connector fixing structure comprises a flexible flat cable and a first connector. The flexible flat cable comprises a wrapping portion positioned on one end of the flexible flat cable. The first connector is connected to an end of the flexible flat cable, and the first connector comprises: a plurality of contacts, a first slot, and a first circuit board. The first slot comprises a plurality of passageways, for placing the contacts. The first circuit board is fixed with a back of the first slot, and the first circuit board comprises: a plurality of conducting portions, for being conductively fixed with the contacts, and a plurality of conducting parts, positioned on a front of the first circuit board, for being electrically connected to the flexible flat cable. The wrapping portion wraps the first circuit board. 
     These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is another explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram depicting a part of the FFC connector fixing structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram depicting an FFC connector fixing structure according to the related art. 
         FIG. 9A  is an explosion diagram depicting the FFC connector fixing structure according to the related art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1A , and  FIG. 1B , which depict a flexible flat cable connector fixing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flexible flat cable connector comprises a flexible flat cable (FFC)  10 , a first connecting portion  20 , and a second connecting portion  30 . The FFC  10  comprises a plurality of conductive cables  11 , a lower insulating layer  12 , and an upper insulating layer  13 . The FFC  11  comprises a first cable end having a front end and a back end (according to the figures) and a second cable end having a front end and a back end. The first cable end  111  is a bended end. 
     The upper insulating layer  12  and the lower insulating layer  13  cover the cables  11 . The front ends of the upper insulating layer  12  and the lower insulating layer  13  are also bended as shown as the bended portion  132 . In addition, an aluminum foil layer  131  can be positioned on the upper insulating layer  13 , and is used to connect to ground. 
     The first connecting portion  20  is a connector. The connector  20  comprises a first slot  21 , a plurality of contacts  22 , a first circuit board  23 . The first slot  21  comprises a plurality of passageways  211 , a top plate  212  positioned on the top of the first slot  21 , and a bottom plate  213  positioned on the bottom of the first slot  21 . A top-plate seam  214  is formed on a position lower the center of the top plate  212 , and is used for hitching a pulling portion  25 . A bottom-plate seam  215  is formed on a position above the center of the bottom plate  213 . The top-plate seam  214  and the bottom-plate seam  215  can be regarded as a back-end seam of the first slot  21 . Besides, fixing blocks  216  are positioned on two sides of the first slot  21 . 
     The contacts  22  are plugged into the passageways  211 . Each of the contacts  22  comprises a conductive leg  22 A. The first circuit board  23  is fixed with the back of the first slot  21 . The first circuit board  23  comprises a plurality of conductive portions  231  for being conductively fixed (such as soldered) with the conductive legs  22 A of the contacts  22 . In addition, a plurality of conductive parts  232  are formed on the center of the front face of the first circuit board  23  (as shown in  FIG. 1B ), and a fixing portion  233  (such as a fixing trench) is positioned on the two sides of the center of the first circuit board  23 . Furthermore, a hold-down strip  24  is fixed with the fixing portions  233  by using its side portions  241  on the two sides of the hold-down strip  24 . 
     The second connecting portion  30  comprises a second connector  32  and a second circuit board  31 . The second connector  32  is positioned on the second circuit board  31  and comprises a plurality of contacts  321 . 
     When they are assembled, the first cable end  111  of the flexible flat cable  10  is conductively fixed on the conductive parts  232  on the front face of the first circuit board  23 . And then, the FFC  10  stretches out via the top-plate seam  214  (the upper side of the first circuit board  23 ) and goes down. In addition, the FFC  10  stretches out via the hold-down strip  24  and fixed by the hold-down strip  24  such that the second cable end  112  is conductively fixed with the contacts  321  of the second connector  32 . 
     Under the above-mentioned configuration, when the FFC  10  is fixed with the first connector  20  (the first circuit board  23 ), the FFC  10  is fixed and supported by the hold-down strip  24  such that the pulling-force can be raised and the connection portion of the FFC can be prevented from being damaged or pulled apart. Therefore, it ensures the stability of electrical connection and smoothes the signal transmission. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is a little different from the first embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the first and the second embodiments is: The second connecting portion  30 A only comprises a second circuit board  31 A. That is, the second connecting portion  30 A is merely a circuit board without the second connector  32  of the first embodiment. 
     When they are assembled, the first cable end  111  of the FFC  10  is conductively fixed with the first circuit board  23  and stretches out via the bottom-plate seam  215  (the bottom of the first circuit board  23 ) and then goes up. And then, the FFC  10  is fixed by the hold-down strip  24  and stretches out via the top of the hold-down strip  24 , and then the FFC is conductively fixed with the second circuit board  31 A. 
     Under the above-mentioned configuration, when the FFC  10  is fixed with the first connecting portion  20  (the first circuit board  23 ), the FFC  10  is similarly fixed and supported by the hold-down strip  24  such that the pulling-force can be raised and the connection portion of the FFC can be prevented from being damaged or pulled apart. Therefore, it ensures the stability of electrical connection and smoothes the signal transmission. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is a little different from the first embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the first and the third embodiments is: The first connecting portion  20 B further comprises a back cover  26 B. A top concave trench  261 B and a bottom concave trench  262 B are positioned on the center of the back cover  26 B. A first trench hole  263 B is formed between the top concave trench  261 B and the bottom concave trench  262 B. Two fixing trench portions  265 B are positioned on the two sides of the back cover  26 B. The fixing trench portions  265 B correspond to the fixing blocks  216  and are used to be fixed with the fixing blocks  216  such that the back cover  26 B can be fixed with the first slot  21 . Please note, this embodiment does not have the hold-down strip  24 . 
     When they are assembled, the FFC  10  goes around the top (or the bottom) of the first circuit board  23  and goes down between the first circuit board  23  and the back cover  26 B. And then, the FFC  10  stretches out via the first trench hole  263 B of the back cover  26 B and then conductively fixed with the second connector  32 . 
     Under the above-mentioned configuration, when the FFC  10  is fixed with the first connecting portion  20  (the first circuit board  23 ), the FFC  10  is similarly fixed and supported by the back cover  26 B such that the pulling-force can be raised and the connection portion of the FFC  10  can be prevented from being damaged or pulled apart. Therefore, it ensures the stability of electrical connection and smoothes the signal transmission. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 4A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is a little different from the third embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the fourth and the third embodiments is: A first trench hole  263 B and a second trench hole  264 B (two trench holes) are formed between the top concave trench  261 B and the bottom concave trench  262 B of the back cover  26 B. In addition, in this embodiment, the second connecting portion  30 A only comprises a second circuit board  31 A. That is, the second connecting portion  30 A is merely a circuit board without the connector. 
     When they are assembled, the FFC  10  goes around the top (or the bottom) of the first circuit board  23  and stretches out via the first trench hole  263 B (or the second trench hole  264 B) of the back cover  26 B and then conductively fixed with the second connector  32 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is a little different from the third embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the fifth and the third embodiments is: A folded portion  14 D is positioned on the front end of the FFC  10 D, where the folded portion  14 D is composed of two U-shape portions. 
     When they are assembled, the FFC  10  goes around the top of the first circuit board  23  and stretches out via the first trench hole  263 B of the back cover  26 B and then stretches in via the second trench hole  264 B. And then, the FFC  10  goes down and stretches out via the bottom concave trench  262 B. And then, the FFC  10  is conductively fixed with the second connecting portion  30  (the second connector  32 ). That is, the FFC  10 D stretches out and in via two trench holes (the first trench hole  263 B and the second trench hole  264 B) such that the fixing effect and the pulling force are improved. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 6A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is a little different from the fifth embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the fifth and the sixth embodiments is: When they are assembled, the FFC  10 D goes around the top of the first circuit board  23  and stretches out via the top concave trench  261 B of the back cover  26 B and then stretches in via the first trench hole  263 B. And then, the FFC  10 D stretches out via the second trench hole  264 B and then fixed with the second connecting portion  30  (the second connector  32 ). That is, the FFC  10 D stretches out and in via two trench holes (the first trench hole  263 B and the second trench hole  264 B) such that the fixing effect and the pulling force are improved. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7A , and  FIG. 7B , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is a little different from the fourth embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the seventh and the fourth embodiments is: The back cover  26 B does not have the first trench hole  263 B or the second trench hole  264 B. Instead, a wrapping portion  15 E is formed on the front end of the FFC  10 E. 
     When they are assembled, the FFC  10 E surrounds the first circuit board  23  from the bottom of the first circuit board  23  (that is, the wrapping portion  15 E surrounds the first circuit board  23 ) and then stretches out via the bottom-plate seam  215  (the bottom plate  213 ) of the first slot  21  and the bottom concave trench  262 B of the back cover  26 B. And then, the FFC  10 E is conductively fixed with the second connecting portion  30 A (the second circuit board  31 A). This configuration also improves the fixing effect and the pulling force. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 8A , which depict a FFC connector fixing structure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment is a little different from the fourth embodiment, and similar components have the same numbers such that further illustration can be omitted for simplicity. The difference between the seventh and the eighth embodiments is: When they are assembled, the FFC  10 E goes from the top of the first circuit board  23  and then goes down between the first circuit board  23  and the back cover  26 B. And then, the FFC  10 E stretches out via the bottom-plate seam  215  (the bottom plate  213 ) of the first slot  21  and the bottom concave trench  262  of the back cover  26 B. And then, the FFC  10 E is conductively fixed with the second connecting portion  30 A (the second circuit board  31 A). This configuration also improves the fixing effect and the pulling force. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5