FPC for mounting components and spread illuminating apparatus using the same

• US 20010015891A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shingo, Toyoda, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,601,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/326 the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits H05K3/365 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided an FPC for mounting components with an improved workability of fitting into other components. Both a second bend (23) and a third bend (25) are provided with a copper foil(s) (15). The copper foil (15) provided at each bend functions as a core material to be plastically transformed when the respective bends (23, 25) are formed and to prevent an FPC (9) from rebounding due to elastic recovery, thereby enabling the bends to retain their shape as desired. As shown in the figure, in case there are a plurality of bends, the copper foil (15) extends to be disposed at all the bends, thereby avoiding the deterioration in workability of assembly, which is invited due to the FPC (9) rebounding. Further, after assembling the FPC (9), a cover portion (20) does not rebound with time within the other components and does not shift off a predetermined position.

Claims

1. An FPC for mounting components, which is bent along a wall surface of a mounted chip component, characterized in that a core material which can be plastically transformed is disposed at a bend.

2. The FPC for mounting components as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein a plurality of said bends are provided and said core material is disposed at all of said bends.

3. The FPC for mounting components as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein said core material is a metallic foil constituting an FPC pattern.

4. The FPC for mounting components as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

3

, wherein a difference in area between patterns continuous with pads of both electrodes, on which a terminal of said chip component is mounted, is reduced as required.

5. A spread illuminating apparatus, in which a bar-like light source comprising a light conductive member made of a transmissible material, formed bar-like and disposed close to and along at least one end surface of a transparent substrate and a spot-like light source disposed on at least one end of said light conductive member and mounted on an FPC is disposed close to an end surface of said transparent substrate made of a light-transmissible material, characterized by employing the FPC for mounting components as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

4

.