Method for the connection and repair of flex and other circuits
First Claim
1. A method for the repair of electrical circuits, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an electrical assembly which includes;
(i) first and second electrical circuits having respective first and second edges thereof, wherein each electrical circuit has a plurality of circuit traces thereon or therewithin terminating proximate the respective first or second edge;
(ii) an interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having third and fourth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the third edge to proximate the fourth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes first and second connection features thereof disposed proximate the third and fourth edges, respectively, and at least one third connection features thereof disposed between the third and fourth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(iii) wherein the first and second electrical circuits are arranged with the first and second edges thereof overlapping the third and fourth edges of the interconnecting member, respectively, with the circuit traces of the first and second electrical circuits being mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding circuit traces of the interconnecting member at the first and second connection features, respectively;
(b) cutting the interconnecting member thereacross between the first connection features and the third connection features, thereby severing the first electrical circuit from the interconnecting member and thereby presenting a fifth edge of the interconnecting member proximate the third connection features;
(c) providing a third electrical circuit similar to the first electrical circuit and a second interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having seventh and eighth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the seventh edge to proximate the eighth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes fourth and fifth connection features thereof disposed proximate the seventh and eighth edges, respectively, and at least one sixth connection features thereof disposed between the seventh and eighth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(d) arranging the second interconnecting member and the third electrical circuit such that a sixth edge of the third electrical circuit contactedly overlaps the seventh edge of the second interconnecting member and the eighth edge contactedly overlaps the fifth edge of the interconnecting member; and
(e) mechanically and electrically connecting circuit traces of the third electrical circuit with corresponding circuit traces on the second interconnecting member at the fourth connection features, and the circuit traces of the second interconnecting member with corresponding circuit traces on the interconnecting member at the third and fifth connection features.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making and repairing connections between first and second circuits, such as flex circuits. An article 10 includes: a flexible dielectric substrate 12 having first and second edges 14/16, and a plurality of conductive circuit traces 18 arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each of the traces extends from proximate the first edge 14 to proximate the second edge 16. Each of the circuit traces 18 includes: a first connection feature 20 disposed proximate the first edge 14; a second connection feature 22 disposed proximate the second edge 16; and at least one third connection feature 24 disposed between the first and second edges 14/16. Each of the first, second, and third connection features 20/22/24 is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad. This article 10 may be used to connect together the first and second circuits 50/60 using the first and second connection features 20/22, such as by soldering. If either of the two circuits needs to be subsequently detached (e.g., because of a component failure), the article 10 may be cut so as to present a set of third connection features 24 to which a new replacement circuit may be connected.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for the repair of electrical circuits, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing an electrical assembly which includes;
(i) first and second electrical circuits having respective first and second edges thereof, wherein each electrical circuit has a plurality of circuit traces thereon or therewithin terminating proximate the respective first or second edge;
(ii) an interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having third and fourth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the third edge to proximate the fourth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes first and second connection features thereof disposed proximate the third and fourth edges, respectively, and at least one third connection features thereof disposed between the third and fourth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(iii) wherein the first and second electrical circuits are arranged with the first and second edges thereof overlapping the third and fourth edges of the interconnecting member, respectively, with the circuit traces of the first and second electrical circuits being mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding circuit traces of the interconnecting member at the first and second connection features, respectively;
(b) cutting the interconnecting member thereacross between the first connection features and the third connection features, thereby severing the first electrical circuit from the interconnecting member and thereby presenting a fifth edge of the interconnecting member proximate the third connection features;
(c) providing a third electrical circuit similar to the first electrical circuit and a second interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having seventh and eighth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the seventh edge to proximate the eighth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes fourth and fifth connection features thereof disposed proximate the seventh and eighth edges, respectively, and at least one sixth connection features thereof disposed between the seventh and eighth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(d) arranging the second interconnecting member and the third electrical circuit such that a sixth edge of the third electrical circuit contactedly overlaps the seventh edge of the second interconnecting member and the eighth edge contactedly overlaps the fifth edge of the interconnecting member; and
(e) mechanically and electrically connecting circuit traces of the third electrical circuit with corresponding circuit traces on the second interconnecting member at the fourth connection features, and the circuit traces of the second interconnecting member with corresponding circuit traces on the interconnecting member at the third and fifth connection features. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
(f) cutting the second interconnecting member thereacross between the fifth connection features and the sixth connection features, thereby severing the second electrical circuit from the second interconnecting member and thereby presenting a ninth edge of the second interconnecting member proximate the third connection features; (g) providing a fourth electrical circuit similar to the second electrical circuit and a third interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having eleventh and twelfth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the eleventh edge to proximate the twelfth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes seventh and eighth connection features thereof disposed proximate the eleventh and twelfth edges, respectively, and at least one ninth connection features thereof disposed between the eleventh and twelfth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(h) arranging the third interconnecting member and the fourth electrical circuit such that a tenth edge of the fourth electrical circuit contactedly overlaps the twelfth edge of the third interconnecting member and the eleventh edge contactedly overlaps the ninth edge of the second interconnecting member; and
(i) mechanically and electrically connecting circuit traces of the fourth electrical circuit with corresponding circuit traces on the third interconnecting member at the eighth connection features, and the circuit traces of the third interconnecting member with corresponding circuit traces on the second interconnecting member at the sixth and seventh connection features.
-
-
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the third connection features are exposed on at least one surface of the interconnecting member, and wherein a piece of flexible tape is positioned over the third connection features, further comprising the step of:
removing the flexible tape prior to the step of arranging the second interconnecting member and the third electrical circuit.
-
8. A method for the repair of electrical circuits, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing an electrical assembly which includes;
(i) first and second electrical circuits having respective first and second edges thereof, wherein each electrical circuit has a plurality of circuit traces thereon or therewithin terminating proximate the respective first or second edge;
(ii) an interconnecting member comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having third and fourth edges and a plurality of circuit traces arranged on or within the substrate, wherein each trace extends from proximate the third edge to proximate the fourth edge, wherein each circuit trace includes first and second connection features thereof disposed proximate the third and fourth edges, respectively, and third and fourth connection features thereof disposed between the third and fourth edges, wherein each of the connection features is a plated through hole, a plated blind via, or a mounting pad;
(iii) wherein the first and second electrical circuits are arranged with the first and second edges thereof overlapping the third and fourth edges of the interconnecting member, respectively, with the circuit traces of the first and second electrical circuits being mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding circuit traces of the interconnecting member at the first and second connection features, respectively;
(b) cutting the interconnecting member there across between the first connection features and the third connection features, thereby severing the first electrical circuit from the interconnecting member and thereby presenting a fifth edge of the interconnecting member proximate the third connection features;
(c) arranging a third electrical circuit similar to the first electrical circuit such that a sixth edge contactedly overlaps the fifth edge of the interconnecting member;
(d) mechanically and electrically connecting circuit traces of the third electrical circuit with corresponding circuit traces on the interconnecting member at the third connection features;
(e) cutting the interconnecting member thereacross between the second connection features and the fourth connection features, thereby severing the second electrical circuit from the interconnecting member and thereby presenting a seventh edge of the interconnecting member proximate the fourth connection features;
(f) arranging a fourth electrical circuit similar to the second electrical circuit such that an eighth edge thereof contactedly overlaps the seventh edge of the interconnecting member; and
(g) mechanically and electrically connecting circuit traces of the fourth electrical circuit with corresponding circuit traces on the interconnecting member at the fourth connection features. - View Dependent Claims (9)
removing the first piece of flexible tape prior to the step of arranging the third electrical circuit; and
removing the second piece of flexible tape prior to the step of arranging the fourth electrical circuit.
-
Specification