Space-efficient flex cable with improved signal integrity for a portable electronic device

• US 10,696,078 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sloey, Jason, Helmore, Simon C., Smith, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aychillhum, Andargie M
• Application Number:
  US16/127,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20190082529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 361760
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/084 from aluminium or aluminium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/085 from copper or copper alloys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/08 Microstrips; Strip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0216 Reduction of cross-talk, noise or electromagnetic interference grounding H05K1/0215
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 : characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0007 : Casings standardised racks H05K9/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0075 : Magnetic shielding materials

Abstract

This application relates to a flexible cable for a portable electronic device, where the portable electronic device includes operational components having connectors that are capable of being electrically coupled to the flexible cable. The flexible cable includes a dielectric substrate having a generally planar shape, an upper grounding plane, a lower grounding plane, and a first signal transmission line that is separated by the upper and lower grounding planes, where the dielectric substrate is capable of electromagnetically shielding the first signal transmission line.

Claims

1. A flexible cable for a portable electronic device, the flexible cable comprising:

a first signal transmission line configured to transmit a first data signal

a second signal transmission line configured to transmit a second data signal different from the first data signal;

a first grounding plane;

a second grounding plane, wherein the first signal transmission line and the second signal transmission line are positioned between the first grounding plane and the second grounding plane; and

an integrated switching component capable of switching between transmission of the first data signal or the second data signal.

2. The flexible cable of claim 1, wherein the first signal transmission line comprises a coaxial cable connection, and wherein the second signal transmission line comprises a flexible cable connection.

3. The flexible cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a first dielectric substrate that encloses the first grounding plane; and

a second dielectric substrate that encloses the second grounding plane.

4. The flexible cable of claim 3, wherein the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate define an outer perimeter, and wherein:

at a first location, the outer perimeter comprises a first cross-sectional area, and

at a second location, the outer perimeter comprises a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area.

5. The flexible cable of claim 1, further comprising a grounding element connected to the first grounding plane and the second grounding plane, wherein the first grounding plane and the second grounding plane are grounded together based on the grounding element.

6. The flexible cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a first end configured to electrically coupled to a circuit board; and

a second end opposite the first end, wherein;

the first signal transmission line comprises a coaxial cable connection,

the second signal transmission line comprises a flexible cable connection, and

the coaxial cable connection and the flexible cable connection are carried by the second end.

7. The flexible cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a first grounding element that defines an opening; and

a second grounding element that is positioned between the first grounding plane and the second grounding plane.

8. The flexible cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane is directly exposed to a grounding contact of the portable electronic device.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

operational components that are separated by a pathway, wherein the operational components include connectors; and

a flexible cable positioned in the pathway and electrically coupled to the connectors, the flexible cable comprising;

a first grounding plane and a second grounding plane, and

a first signal transmission line and a second signal transmission line that are positioned between the first grounding plane and the second grounding plane, wherein the flexible cable includes (i) a first cross-sectional area corresponding to a first region of the pathway, and (ii) a second cross-sectional area corresponding to a second region of the pathway, wherein the second region is different than the first region.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first signal transmission line transmits a first data signal, and wherein the second signal transmission line transmits a second data signal that is different from the first data signal.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the flexible cable further comprises an integrated switching component capable of switching between transmission of the first data signal or the second data signal.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operational components comprise an antenna and a transceiver, and wherein:

the first signal transmission line comprises a coaxial cable connection connected to the antenna, and

the second signal transmission line comprises a flexible cable connection connected to the transceiver.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a first dielectric substrate that encloses the first grounding plane; and

a second dielectric substrate that encloses the second grounding plane, wherein the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate define the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising an enclosure that defines a cavity that carries the operational components and the flexible cable, wherein the operational components comprise a power supply unit and a logic board, the power supply and the logic board defining the pathway.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the flexible cable further comprises:

a first end configured to electrically coupled to the logic board; and

a second end opposite the first end, wherein the coaxial cable connection and the flexible cable connection are carried by the second end.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a dielectric substrate that encloses the first grounding plane, wherein the dielectric substrate defines an exposed portion, and wherein the first grounding plane is in contact with a grounding contact at the exposed portion.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure that defines a cavity, the enclosure carrying components, the components comprising;

a flexible cable comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the flexible cable comprising;

a first signal transmission line configured to carry a first data signal, a second signal transmission line configured to carry a second data signal, wherein the first and second signal transmission lines are separated by a grounding plane;

a logic board that is coupled to the flexible cable at the first end;

an antenna coupled to a first terminal connection located at the second end, wherein the first data signal passes from the antenna through the first signal transmission line; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to a second terminal connection located at the second end, wherein the second data signal passes from the wireless transceiver through the second signal transmission line.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the flexible cable further comprises an integrated switching component capable of switching between transmission of the first data signal or the second data signal.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the first terminal connection comprises a coaxial cable connection, and wherein the second terminal connection comprises a flexible cable connection, and wherein the integrated switching component capable of switching between the coaxial cable connection and the flexible cable connection.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the grounding plane defines a first grounding plane, and wherein the flexible cable further comprises:

a second grounding plane;

a third grounding plane, wherein the second grounding plane combines with the third grounding plane to surround the first signal transmission line and the second signal transmission line;

a first dielectric substrate that encloses the first grounding plane; and

a second dielectric substrate that encloses the second grounding plane.