FLAT CABLE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20190326035A1
• Filed: 04/10/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Akagi, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 11,133,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/06 for developing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6535 using electrostatic means, e.g. a separating corona
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1652 Electrical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/041 attached to mobile objects, e.g. portable tools, elevators, mining equipment, hoisting cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/08 Flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure

Abstract

A flat cable includes a first region including a first conducting wire, a second region including a second conducting wire and divided from the first region by a slit provided between the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire, the first region and the second region being at least partially overlapped with each other when viewed in a thickness direction of the flat cable.

Claims

1. A flat cable comprising:

a first region comprising a first conducting wire; and

a second region comprising a second conducting wire and divided from the first region by a slit provided between the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire, the first region and the second region being at least partially overlapped with each other when viewed in a thickness direction of the flat cable.

2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the first region comprises a third conducting wire adjacent to the first conducting wire,

wherein the second region comprises a fourth conducting wire adjacent to the second conducting wire, and

wherein an interval between the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire is larger than an interval between the first conducting wire and the third conducting wire, and an interval between the second conducting wire and the fourth conducting wire.

3. The flat cable according to claim 2, wherein the first conducting wire, the second conducting wire, the third conducting wire, and the fourth conducting wire are arranged so as not to overlap in the thickness direction at both end portions of the flat cable in a longitudinal direction thereof.

4. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the first region and a thickness of the second region are each 0.15 mm to 1 mm.

5. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the slit is not defined at both end portions of the flat cable in a longitudinal direction thereof.

6. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the second region comprises a mountain-folded portion having a mountain-folded shape and a valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape, and

wherein the mountain-folded portion and the valley-folded portion are overlapped with each other in a longitudinal direction of the flat cable.

7. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the first region comprises a first valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape,

wherein the second region comprises a second valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape, and

wherein the first valley-folded portion and the second valley-folded portion are overlapped with each other in a width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and a longitudinal direction of the flat cable.

8. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a first electronic device and a second electronic device; and

a flat cable comprising a plurality of conducting wires and configured to transmit an image signal between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the plurality of conducting wires comprising a first conducting wire and a second conducting wire,

wherein the flat cable is divided into a first region and a second region by a slit provided between the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire, the first region and the second region being at least partially overlapped with each other when viewed in a thickness direction of the flat cable.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a sheet support portion configured to transmit light and support a sheet,

wherein the first electronic device is a reading unit comprising a light source and an image pickup portion and configured to read an image on the sheet supported by the sheet support portion while moving along the sheet, the light source being configured to radiate light onto the sheet supported by the sheet support portion through the sheet support portion, the image pickup portion being configured to receive light radiated from the light source and reflected on the sheet and convert the received light into an image signal, and

wherein the second electronic device is a controller comprising a power supply portion and configured to control the light source and the image pickup portion, the power supply portion being configured to supply power.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the reading unit comprises a conversion portion configured to convert the image signal output from the image pickup portion into a digital signal,

wherein the first region of the flat cable transmits the digital signal, and

wherein the second region of the flat cable transmits a communication signal to the conversion portion and supplies a power voltage to the light source, the image pickup portion, and the conversion portion.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a conversion portion configured to convert the image signal output from the image pickup portion into a digital signal,

wherein the first region of the flat cable transmits the image signal, and

wherein the second region of the flat cable supplies a power voltage to the light source and the image pickup portion.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in a case where the reading unit moves, the flat cable warps in a horizontal direction, and slides on a side surface of a frame of the reading unit without being in contact with a bottom surface of the frame.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of conducting wires comprises a third conducting wire disposed in the first region and adjacent to the first conducting wire, and a fourth conducting wire disposed in the second region and adjacent to the second conducting wire, and

wherein an interval between the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire is larger than an interval between the first conducting wire and the third conducting wire, and an interval between the second conducting wire and the fourth conducting wire.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first conducting wire, the second conducting wire, the third conducting wire, and the fourth conducting wire are arranged so as not to overlap in the thickness direction at both end portions of the flat cable in a longitudinal direction thereof.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in the flat cable, a thickness of the first region and a thickness of the second region are each 0.15 mm to 1 mm.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the slit is not defined at both end portions of the flat cable in a longitudinal direction thereof.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second region comprises a mountain-folded portion having a mountain-folded shape and a valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape, and

wherein the mountain-folded portion and the valley-folded portion are overlapped with each other in a longitudinal direction of the flat cable.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first region comprises a first valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape,

wherein the second region comprises a second valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape, and

wherein the first valley-folded portion and the second valley-folded portion are overlapped with each other in a width direction of the flat cable perpendicular to the thickness direction and a longitudinal direction.