Flexible Circuits are a rapidly
growing application of printed wiring technology. Flexible
circuits are most commonly used for connections to moveable objects like
printer heads. However, many applications do not require the
multiple flex capability of these expensive devices.
Eddy Electronics offers flexible circuits
as both the high performance product on laminates such as Kapton, or
lower cost flex circuits, ideal for prototypes on less expensive
laminates. The choice of laminates is growing with the number of
applications that require flex.
Very often, a flex circuit is specified to
replace wiring or cables which would require more space. Flex
circuits also offer design options, and when coupled with
multilayer processes, impedance can be controlled and components can be
located anywhere a designer wishes.
In large or complex systems involving
multiple printed circuits, the whole system can be designed as one panel
with individual boards connected through flexible segments. This
is refered to as flex-rigid technology. In this kind of
application, the whole product may be folded up and installed with a
minimum of confusion or interferance. This has been employed in
the newest night vision equipment and the Mars-Probe
lander.
The two types of
flexible circuit here are actually very different. The brown
coloured one is a more common multiple flex type. Reliable but
expensive. The green one is for a consumer product in which it had to
flex only for installation and involves flexible soldermask as well as
laminate. This was less expensive, however, some of the materials'
properties require some compromise in temperature resistance and
multiple flexibility.