Flex circuit with single sided routing and double sided attach

• US 8,549,738 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Grunthaner, Martin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ANGWIN, DAVID PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/985,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 298/29, 174/254, 361/751, 361/750, 361/810, 361/749, 178 1801- 1806, 349/150, 349/151, 349/158, 349/493
• US Class Current: 29/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions
• 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 2201/053 Tails
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09781 Dummy conductors, i.e. not used for normal transport of current; Dummy electrodes of components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1572 Processing both sides of a PCB by the same process; Providing a similar arrangement of components on both sides; Making interlayer connections from two sides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/323 by applying an anisotropic conductive adhesive layer over an array of pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

A method for providing electrical connections to both sides of a touch sensor panel is disclosed. The method comprises forming conductive traces on a first surface of a base film, shaping the base film to form first and second attachment areas that include the conductive traces, forming a conductive shield over the conductive traces, wherein the shield is electrically coupled to one or more of the conductive traces, and folding the base film such that the conductive traces on the first and second attachment areas are positioned and aligned for attachment to pads on first and second sides of the touch sensor panel.

Claims

1. A method for providing electrical connections to both sides of a touch sensor panel, comprising:

forming conductive traces on a first surface of a base film;

shaping the base film to form first and second attachment areas, the first and second attachment areas including the conductive traces;

forming a conductive shield over the conductive traces, the shield electrically coupled to one or more of the conductive traces; and

folding the base film such that the conductive traces on the first and second attachment areas are positioned and aligned for attachment to pads on first and second sides of the touch sensor panel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an insulator between the conductive shield and the conductive traces.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming active and dummy conductors on the first attachment area and lower conductors on the second attachment area, the lower conductors arranged in conjunction with the active and dummy conductors so that when the flex circuit is folded and attached to the touch sensor panel, the lower conductors and the active and dummy conductors are not on directly opposing sides of the touch sensor panel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising integrally forming a tail with the flex circuit, the tail containing tail conductors for connecting to a logic board.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming active and dummy conductors on the first attachment area, with one or more dummy conductors placed between each active conductor; and

spacing the active and dummy conductors to substantially contain conductive bonding material used to bond the first attachment area to the touch sensor panel.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forming lower conductors on the second attachment area;

limiting the insulator to expose the lower conductors at each distal end of the second attachment area; and

adding a stiffener at each distal end of the second attachment area, the stiffeners and the exposed lower conductors located on directly opposing sides of the distal ends of the second attachment area.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the conductive shield comprises:

forming a first conductive film over the insulator; and

connecting the first conductive film to one or more of the conductive traces for holding the first conductive film at a fixed potential.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming a first opening in the insulator for providing a connection from the first conductive film to the one or more conductive traces.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

forming a second conductive film on a second surface of the base film; and

connecting the second conductive film to one or more of the conductive traces for holding the second conductive film at a fixed potential.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming a second opening in the base film and the insulator for providing a connection from the second conductive film to the first conductive film.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein either or both of the first and second openings are notches.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

forming a bottom conductive film on a bottom side of the flex circuit;

overhanging the top and bottom conductive films beyond the flex circuit; and

conductively bonding the top and bottom conductive films in the overhanging area.