JPH08213722A - Film carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To protect a film carrier against damage at a curved part, a punched corner part or a positioning hole by forming a reinforcing metal layer pattern on the opposite fringe parts of the curved part. CONSTITUTION: The film carrier 1 comprises a laminate of a polyimide resin film 2 and a copper foil 3, for example, and punched to have a right angle curved part being fitted to a predetermined containing space. A sectoral reinforcing metal pattern 11 is formed at a so-called punched corner part 7 by photolithography and etching simultaneously with the formation of a circuit pattern 4. Even if tensile stress is applied to the corner part 7 at the time of punching during manufacture or actual use, the film carrier can be protected against rupture because the corner part 7 is reinforced by the metal layer pattern.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention can be arranged, for example, to connect a printer controller to a carriage for transmitting drive signals to a printhead mounted on a carriage that is reciprocated in the printer. The present invention relates to a film carrier such as a flexible printed circuit board, and more particularly to a film carrier that is disposed by being folded in a narrow space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional general film carrier 1
9 has a long structure in which a resin film 2 made of polyimide or the like and a metal layer 3 made of copper foil or the like are laminated, as shown in FIG. 9A, and is mounted on, for example, a carriage that reciprocates in a printer. A circuit pattern 4 capable of transmitting a drive signal to the print head is formed. The circuit pattern 4 is formed by removing a part of the metal layer 3 by photolithography and etching.

Since the film carrier 1 has flexibility, it can be bent and used when it is arranged at a predetermined position of a printer or the like.

[0004]

However, with the recent miniaturization of printers, the film carrier 1 connected to the substrate of the print head must be folded and used in a small size, as shown in FIG. 9 (b). As shown in, sometimes it is bent at 180 degrees. Therefore, due to this bending, excessive stress is applied to the film carrier 1, and no matter how excellent the flexibility is in the two-layer structure film carrier 1, both side edge portions 6 of the bent portion 5 in which the resin film is bent. It sometimes broke from.

Further, when the film carrier 1 is folded, a folding margin serving as a mark of a folding position is not formed, so that there is a problem that it is troublesome because the folding position must be determined by a jig or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the film carrier 1 is punched so as to have a so-called punched corner portion 7 which is bent at a predetermined angle so as to be suitable for use, at the time of punching or in actual punching. Depending on the usage situation of, the pulling corner portion 7 is likely to be pulled,
Since stress concentrates here, there is a risk of breakage.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a positioning hole 9 for fixing to the jig 8 or the like is formed in the film carrier 1 at the manufacturing stage, and is fitted and fixed to a positioning pin 10 of the jig 8. In some cases, the positioning hole 9 is gradually distorted and the position of the film carrier 1 is displaced while being fixed to the jig 8 or the like and being processed.

Therefore, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, prevents the film carrier from being damaged at a bent portion, a cut corner portion, or a positioning hole, and easily determines a bending position. The purpose is to provide a film carrier that can be manufactured.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the film carrier according to claim 1 of the present invention is a film carrier comprising a resin film and a metal layer laminated on the resin film. A metal layer pattern for reinforcement is formed on both side edges of the.

A film carrier according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, folding margins are formed on both side edge portions of the bent portion.

Further, the film carrier of the present invention according to claim 3 is a film carrier having a metal film layered on a resin film and having a cut corner portion, wherein the metal corner pattern for reinforcement is provided in the cut corner portion. Is formed.

A film carrier according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third aspect, a curved notch is formed in the punched corner portion.

Further, the film carrier of the present invention according to claim 5 is a film carrier in which a metal layer is laminated on a resin film and a positioning hole for fixing is formed, and the positioning hole is provided around the positioning hole. It is characterized in that a metal layer pattern for reinforcement is formed.

[0014]

In the film carrier of the present invention, since reinforcing metal layer patterns are formed on both side edges of the bent portion where stress is likely to be concentrated, the film carrier is strong against bending and can prevent disconnection due to breakage.

Further, since folding margins are formed on both side edges of the bent portion, it is easy to determine at which position the bending should be performed, and the place of use can be set quickly and accurately.

Further, the film carrier having the punched corner portion has a metal layer pattern formed at the punched corner portion and further has a curved notch, so that it is strong against tensile stress and can prevent breakage. .

Further, in the case of a film carrier in which a positioning hole is formed for fixing to a jig in the manufacturing process,
Since the reinforcing metal layer pattern is also formed around the positioning hole, the positioning hole can be prevented from being distorted and the position of the film carrier can be prevented from being displaced at the manufacturing stage.

[0018]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 to 3 show a film carrier 1 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The film carrier 1 in each figure is characterized in that a reinforcing metal layer pattern is formed at a position where stress due to bending, stress due to tension, or stress due to compression is applied.

First, (a) of FIG. 1 is a structural view in which the bent portion 5 of the film carrier 1 is partially omitted, and (b) of FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the film carrier 1 in use. The film carrier 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has an elongated structure in which a resin film 2 such as polyimide and a metal layer 3 such as copper foil are laminated. Then, a part of the metal layer 3 is removed through a photolithography and etching process, and a circuit pattern 4 for electrically connecting the semiconductor device and an external lead electrode (not shown) of the print head. Further, simultaneously with the formation of the circuit pattern 4, a semicircular reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed on both side edges 6 in the width direction of the film carrier 1. A portion where the reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed is a side edge portion 6 of the bent portion 5 of the film carrier 1, that is, as shown in FIG. It is a portion that is connected to the external extraction electrode of the print head and is disposed in the printer, so that it is folded into a small size or is folded to concentrate stress.

Therefore, according to the film carrier 1 shown in FIG. 1, since the metal layer pattern 11 is formed on the portion which is folded or bent when it is used as a product, the protection is strengthened. Even if the film carrier 1 is used by being folded in a small size when it is disposed in the above, it is possible to prevent the film carrier 1 from being broken and broken from the both side edge portions 6 of the bent portion.

Next, the film carrier 1 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B will be described. (A) is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the punching corner part 7 of the said film carrier 1, (b) is explanatory drawing of the said film carrier 1 at the time of use. The film carrier 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a resin film 2 made of polyimide or the like and a metal layer 3 made of copper foil or the like laminated thereon, and has a right-angled bend to match a predetermined storage space. Is punched out. Then, a fan-shaped reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed in the so-called hollow corner portion 7 which is an inner corner portion which is bent at a right angle at the same time when the circuit pattern 4 is formed by photolithography and etching.

According to the film carrier 1 shown in FIG. 2 described above, even if the punched corner portion 7 is subjected to tensile stress during punching in the manufacturing stage or during actual use, this portion is Since it is reinforced by the metal layer pattern 11, the film carrier 1 can be prevented from breaking.

Next, the film carrier 1 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be described. (A) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the film carrier 1 is fixed to the jig 8, and (b) shows a state in which the positioning hole 9 of the film carrier 1 is fitted to the positioning pin 10. FIG.

The film carrier 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is formed by laminating a resin film 2 of polyimide or the like and a metal layer 3 of copper foil or the like, and punching out positioning holes 9. . The positioning hole 9 is fitted to a positioning pin 10 provided on the film carrier 1 for fixing the film carrier 1 in a manufacturing process. Therefore, a reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 for preventing damage due to contact with the positioning pin 10 is provided around the positioning hole 9.
Are formed. The metal layer pattern 11 can be formed by simply replacing it with a dedicated mask (not shown).
It can be done at the same time as the formation of the normal circuit pattern 4,
No special process is required.

Such a film carrier 1 shown in FIG.
With this configuration, even when the film carrier 1 is moved in the left-right direction and the edge of the positioning hole 9 is pressed by the positioning pin 10 and receives compressive stress during manufacturing, the positioning hole 9 is made of metal. Since it is reinforced by the layer pattern 11, the positioning hole 9 is not distorted or displaced, and the manufacturing can be continued stably.

Therefore, according to the constitution of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the film carrier 1 is used in the manufacturing process or as a product, stress is concentrated to reinforce the portion which is easily damaged. Since the metal layer pattern 11 is formed, the film carrier 1 is less likely to be damaged, leading to improvement in reliability.

Further, the reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed at the same time when the circuit pattern 4 is formed on the film carrier 1 and does not increase the number of working steps, so that the manufacturing cost is not increased. The life of the film carrier 1 can be extended.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

In the second embodiment, the above-mentioned first
A description of the same components as those in the embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 4A is a schematic structural view showing the structure of the bent portion 5 of the film carrier 1, and FIG.
[FIG. 3] is an explanatory view of the film carrier 1 at the time of use. The film carrier 1 of the second embodiment is a long film carrier 1 having a two-layer structure in which the resin film 2 and the metal layer 3 shown in FIG. A reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed on the inner surface of the bent portion, and a semicircular cutout or the like is formed as a folding allowance 12 in order to clearly indicate the bending position of the bent portion 5.

By forming such a folding allowance 12, when the film carrier 1 is connected to the carriage or the like and arranged in a printer or the like by folding it into a small size, it is possible to immediately determine at which position the film carrier 1 should be folded and folded. Can be judged. Therefore, even if the bending position is a position that is obliquely displaced with respect to the width direction of the film carrier 1, the bending position can be determined quickly and reliably.

According to the structure of the second embodiment of the film carrier 1 of the present invention as described above, by forming the folding margin 12 at the position of the end of the bent portion 5 of the film carrier 1, a complicated shape and Even when the film carrier 1 is finely folded and disposed in the storage space of the printer, the folding position can be easily determined, and the film carrier 1 can be disposed at a predetermined position quickly and reliably.

Next, a third embodiment of the film carrier 1 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

In the third embodiment, the above-mentioned first
A description of the same components as those in the embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view showing the structure of the punched corner portion 7 of the film carrier 1.
FIG. 4B shows the film carrier 1 in use.
FIG. The film carrier 1 of the second embodiment is
2 in which the resin film 2 and the metal layer 3 shown in FIG. 2 are laminated
With respect to the film carrier 1 having a layered structure and punched out so as to have a right-angled bend, a fan-shaped reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed in the so-called punched corner portion 7 which is the position of the inside angle that is bent at the right angle. In addition, a curved notch 13 such as a fan is formed in the center of the punched corner 7 in order to disperse the stress applied to the punched corner 7.

In this way, the metal layer pattern 11 is formed on the punched corner portion 7 and the curved notch 13 is further formed.
By forming the, it is possible to disperse the stress as well as to strengthen the portion where the stress is concentrated.

Therefore, according to the structure of the film carrier 1 of the third embodiment, even if the punched corner portion 7 is subjected to tensile stress at the time of punching at the manufacturing stage or during actual use, this portion is Is reinforced by the metal layer pattern 11 and the curved notch 13 is formed, so that the film carrier 1 can be prevented from breaking from this position.

Next, other application examples of the film carrier 1 described in each of the above-mentioned embodiments are shown in FIGS.

In each of the drawings, a reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 is formed on a portion of the film carrier 1 where stress is likely to be concentrated, and a fold 12 is formed to clearly define the position, or stress is applied. In order to disperse, the notches 13 are provided in a curved shape.

Film carrier 1 shown in FIG. 6 (a)
In the example, an elongated hole 14 is formed along a broken line indicated by a chain line, and the metal layer pattern 11 is formed in a circular shape at a position of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the hole 14. On the other hand, in FIG. 6B, the slit 15 is formed along the polygonal line, and the circular hole 16 is formed at the position of the end portion in the longitudinal direction.
Further, the metal layer pattern 11 is formed around the hole 16.

According to the film carrier 1 shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), since the hole 14 or the slit 15 is elongated, the position where the film carrier 1 is bent becomes clear, and the film carrier 1 has an elongated shape. Since it is formed, it can be bent more easily.

Further, the film carrier 1 shown in FIG.
The case where the width of the bent portion 5 is narrower than that of the other film carrier 1 portions. Also at this time, the metal layer pattern 11 is formed and reinforced on both side edge portions 6 of the bent portion 5, and the semicircular notch 13 is formed as the folding margin 12.

According to the film carrier 1 of FIG. 7 as described above, the semicircular notch 13 serves as the folding margin 12, and the stress is dispersed by removing the corner of the acute angle portion in a curved shape. It also has a function.

Further, the film carrier 1 shown in FIG. 8 has a polygonal shape, and the central portion thereof is punched into a quadrangular shape 18. A metal layer pattern 11 is formed on a corner of the outer periphery of the film carrier 1 where a tensile force is easily applied, and a metal layer pattern is formed on each of the punched corners 7 of the part punched into a square shape 18. 1
1 is formed and a curved notch 13 is formed at the center thereof.

According to the film carrier 1 shown in FIG. 8 as described above, sufficient strength can be secured even when stress is applied to the rectangular shape 18 by punching or from the outside by a tensile force or the like.

As shown in the above application example, the metal layer pattern 11 for reinforcement is formed at the same time when the desired circuit pattern 4 is formed, and the folding margin 12 and the curved notch 1 are formed.
By forming 3, the film carrier 1 can be quickly and surely arranged at a predetermined setting place, and the probability of breakage during use can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as necessary.

For example, the reinforcing metal layer pattern 11 described in the second embodiment is formed in a semicircular shape, and has a folding allowance 12.
Also, although it is formed so as to be cut out in a semicircular shape, it may be formed into another shape such as an elliptical shape so that it can withstand each stress most.

[0050]

As described above, according to the film carrier of the present invention, a metal layer pattern is formed and reinforced on both side edges of a bent portion, a punched corner portion to which a tensile force is applied, or around a positioning hole, Further, by forming a fold margin on both side edges of the bent portion and forming a curved notch in the punched corner portion, the film carrier is damaged at the bent portion, the punched corner portion, or the positioning hole. Therefore, the bending position can be easily determined.

Therefore, the film carrier can be arranged at a predetermined position quickly and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a first embodiment of a film carrier according to the present invention, in which a part of the refraction portion is omitted, and FIG.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the first embodiment of the film carrier according to the present invention, in which the punching corner portion is partially omitted, and FIG.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view of a state of the film carrier of the first embodiment of the present invention when it is fixed to a jig, and FIG.

FIG. 4A is a partially omitted plan view of a refracting portion in a second embodiment of the film carrier of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the third embodiment of the film carrier according to the present invention, in which the punching corner portion is partially omitted, and FIG.

6A and 6B are views showing application examples of the first and second embodiments of the film carrier of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an application example of the first and second embodiments of the film carrier of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an application example of the first and second embodiments of the film carrier of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a conventional film carrier, in which (a) a refraction portion is partially omitted, and (b) a usage state diagram.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a conventional film carrier with (a) a punching corner portion partially omitted, and (b) a usage state diagram.

11A and 11B are state explanatory views of a conventional film carrier when fixed to a jig, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which a positioning hole is fitted to a positioning pin.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 film carrier 2 resin film 3 metal layer 4 circuit pattern 5 bent part 6 both side edges 7 punching corner part 8 jig 9 positioning hole 10 positioning pin 11 metal layer pattern 12 folding allowance 13 notch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A film carrier comprising a resin film and a metal layer laminated on the resin film, wherein a reinforcing metal layer pattern is formed on both side edges of the bent portion. 2. The film carrier according to claim 1, wherein fold margins are formed on both side edges of the bent portion. 3. A film carrier having a metal layer laminated on a resin film and having a punched corner portion, wherein a metal layer pattern for reinforcement is formed on the punched corner portion. 4. The film carrier according to claim 3, wherein a curved notch is formed in the punched corner portion. 5. A film carrier in which a metal layer is laminated on a resin film and a positioning hole for fixing is formed, wherein a metal layer pattern for reinforcement is formed around the positioning hole. Film carrier.