Rigid-flex assembly for high-speed sensor module comprising a flexible wiring section with dual flexible strips stacked and attached together
First Claim
1. A rigid-flex assembly for high-speed data transfer, the assembly comprising:
- a flexible wiring section having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupleable to an electrical component for transferring data gathered by a sensor, the flexible wiring section comprising a first flexible strip and a second flexible strip stacked and attached together;
a controlled separation void between the first and second flexible strips having a gap distance optimized between signal integrity and reduced thermal loads;
a first set of electrical traces formed on the first flexible strip;
a second set of electrical traces formed on the second flexible strip, such that the first set of electrical traces oppose the second set of electrical traces about the controlled separation void;
a first rigid substrate attached to the first flexible strip about the second end of the flexible wiring section, and a second rigid substrate attached to the second flexible strip about the second end of the flexible wiring section, such that the first and second rigid substrates are spatially separated from each other and form a stack; and
a connector electrically coupled to the first and second rigid substrates, and attachable to a computer system for processing the data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rigid-flex assembly (RFA) includes a circuit board attachable to a focal plane sensor. The RFA includes a flexible wiring section electrically coupled at opposing ends to the circuit board and to an edge connector. The flexible wiring section has a controlled separation distance or volume or vacuum gap between wiring strips for reduction of dielectric electrical loss and electrical cross talk. The flexible section has wires or traces configured to reduce the amount of copper used while optimizing signal integrity. Rigid substrates electrically couple the flexible wiring section to the connector. The RFA uses an end-launch, in-plane connection to the sensor for improved performance. A sensor module includes a housing and a sensor. An RFA is coupled to the sensor for high-speed data transfer and that optimizes signal integrity while providing thermal isolation via the flexible section.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A rigid-flex assembly for high-speed data transfer, the assembly comprising:
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a flexible wiring section having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupleable to an electrical component for transferring data gathered by a sensor, the flexible wiring section comprising a first flexible strip and a second flexible strip stacked and attached together; a controlled separation void between the first and second flexible strips having a gap distance optimized between signal integrity and reduced thermal loads; a first set of electrical traces formed on the first flexible strip; a second set of electrical traces formed on the second flexible strip, such that the first set of electrical traces oppose the second set of electrical traces about the controlled separation void; a first rigid substrate attached to the first flexible strip about the second end of the flexible wiring section, and a second rigid substrate attached to the second flexible strip about the second end of the flexible wiring section, such that the first and second rigid substrates are spatially separated from each other and form a stack; and a connector electrically coupled to the first and second rigid substrates, and attachable to a computer system for processing the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 26)
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11. A sensor module for capturing and transferring data, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a sensor within the housing; an integrated circuit board assembly electrically coupled to the sensor; a flexible wiring section electrically coupled to the circuit board for transferring data gathered by the sensor, the flexible wiring section comprising a first flexible strip and a second flexible strip stacked and attached together, and a controlled separation void between the first and second flexible strips having a gap distance optimized between signal integrity and reduced thermal loads; a rigid section electrically coupled to the flexible wiring section; and a connector electrically coupled to the rigid section and attachable to of a computer system for processing data gathered from the sensor, wherein the flexible wiring section is capable of high-speed data transfer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of making a high-speed sensor module, the method comprising:
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providing a housing; attaching a sensor within the housing; electrically attaching a rigid-flex assembly to the sensor, the rigid-flex assembly comprising; an integrated circuit board electrically coupled to the sensor; a flexible wiring section electrically coupled to the circuit board for transferring data gathered by the sensor, the flexible wiring section comprising a first flexible strip and a second flexible strip stacked and attached together, and a controlled separation between the first and second flexible strips void having a gap distance optimized between signal integrity and reduced thermal loads; a rigid section electrically coupled to the flexible wiring section; and a connector electrically coupled to the rigid section and attachable to of a computer system for processing data gathered by the sensor, wherein flexible wiring section is capable of high-speed data transfer for optimal signal integrity and to minimize thermal loss. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A rigid-flex device, comprising:
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a flexible wiring section having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupleable to an electrical component for transferring data gathered by a sensor, the flexible wiring section having a first flexible strip and a second flexible strip stacked and attached together, a separation void and first and second sets of electrical wires opposing each other about the separation void; at least one rigid substrate electrically coupled to the second end of the flexible wiring section; and a connector electrically coupled to the at least one rigid substrate, the connector configured to be attached to of a computer system for processing the data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification