TWI855451B - Flexible interconnect circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible interconnect circuit is disclosed for a flexible circuit board of a printing cartridge. The flexible circuit board includes an origin hole. The flexible interconnect circuit includes a plurality of conduction channels, a plurality of coupling gaskets and an electrical contact area. The electrical contact area includes a plurality of electrical contact points which are arranged in a columnar array. The plurality of electrical contact points include a first array group, a second array group and a third array group, which are arranged symmetrically by the origin hole of the flexible circuit board. The first array group is disposed on the outside of the second array group and the third array group. A first distance is maintained between the adjacent electrical contact points of the first array group. A second distance is maintained between the adjacent electrical contact points of the second array group and the third array group.

Description

Flexible Interconnect Circuit

This case relates to a flexible interconnect circuit, particularly a flexible interconnect circuit suitable for use with a print cartridge.

With the development of technology and the growth of demand, current print output devices, such as inkjet printers, can not only print various documents and forms, but also provide the output of promotional materials and digital photos, becoming an indispensable output device in daily life and work. Generally speaking, inkjet printers use removable and replaceable print cartridges. When the ink stored in the print cartridge is used up, the user can replace the used print cartridge and install a new print cartridge to perform inkjet printing operations. The print cartridge and the inkjet printer are electrically interconnected, so the operation of the print cartridge can be controlled by the inkjet printer.

The ink cartridge used in a general inkjet printer is shown in FIG. 1. The ink cartridge 1 is composed of an upper cover 10, a cartridge body 11, and an inkjet print head assembly 15. The upper cover 10 covers the cartridge body 11, and the inkjet print head assembly 15 is disposed below the cartridge body 11. The cartridge body 11 has a liquid storage space inside to store ink. The cartridge body 11 has a wall 12. When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on an inkjet printer (not shown), the wall 12 can be disposed corresponding to its seat (not shown). The wall 12 has a flexible circuit board 13, which has a plurality of electrical contacts 14. When the print cartridge 1 is placed on the seat of the inkjet printer, the electrical contacts 14 on the flexible circuit board 13 of the print cartridge 1 are electrically connected to the corresponding conductive portion (not shown) on the seat, thereby controlling and/or monitoring the communication of electrical signals between the inkjet printer and the inkjet print head assembly 15 of the print cartridge 1.

However, if the print cartridge 1 is incorrectly installed in the inkjet printer, it is likely to cause damage. For example, if the print cartridge 1 is offset during installation, or the electrical circuit on the flexible circuit board 13 of the print cartridge 1 has a tolerance accuracy problem, or if the print cartridge 1 used in other inkjet printers is installed, its electrical circuit will be incorrectly supplied with energy. If it is serious, it may cause damage to the print cartridge 1, the inkjet printer, or both, and this damage may also cause losses to the user. Therefore, it is necessary to consider and avoid the above-mentioned improper operation of the use of the print cartridge 1 in the inkjet printer, and at the same time, by designing specific, corresponding interconnection circuits, the print cartridge 1 suitable for different inkjet printers cannot be operated or becomes invalid after being installed on the machine, and can only be used with the print cartridge 1 with its specific interconnection circuit, thereby avoiding the situation where the incorrect print cartridge 1 is installed in the inkjet printer, resulting in damage to the print cartridge 1 and the inkjet printer.

In view of this, how to develop a flexible interconnect circuit suitable for print cartridges to improve the problem that the electrical circuit of the print cartridge cannot be correctly connected to the inkjet printer due to incorrect installation of the print cartridge, thereby causing damage to the print cartridge and the inkjet printer is an issue that urgently needs to be solved.

The main purpose of this case is to provide a flexible interconnect circuit suitable for a print cartridge. Through the design of specific, mutually corresponding flexible interconnect circuits, the problem that the electrical circuit of the print cartridge cannot correctly correspond to the inkjet printer due to incorrect installation of the print cartridge is solved, thereby damaging the print cartridge and the inkjet printer.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, a more general implementation of the present invention provides a flexible interconnect circuit suitable for a flexible circuit board of a print cartridge, and the flexible circuit board has an origin hole, the flexible interconnect circuit comprises: a plurality of conductive channels; a plurality of connecting pads, each electrically connected to one end of the plurality of conductive channels; and an electrical contact point area, which is configured with a plurality of electrical contact points arranged in a columnar array, and each of the electrical contact points is electrically connected to the other end of the corresponding conductive channel, and the A plurality of electrical contact points are configured to be respectively arranged at two outer sides of a first array group, and at the inner side of a second array group and a third array group, and are respectively arranged symmetrically on the flexible circuit board with the origin hole as a reference point, wherein the number of the electrical contact points of the first array group is greater than the number of the electrical contact points of the second array group, the number of the electrical contact points of the second array group is greater than the number of the electrical contact points of the third array group, and the bottom of the third array group is The straight line distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point to the origin hole is greater than the straight line distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the first array group to the origin hole, and the straight line distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the third array group to the origin hole is greater than the straight line distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the second array group to the origin hole, and the first array group maintains a first straight line distance in the longitudinal direction between the centers of the electrical contacts adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, The second array group and the third array group maintain the same second longitudinal straight line distance between the centers of the electrical contact points adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, the first array group maintains a first transverse straight line distance between the centers of the electrical contact points in the longitudinal direction and the origin hole, the second array group maintains a second transverse straight line distance between the centers of the electrical contact points in the longitudinal direction and the origin hole, and the third array group maintains a third transverse straight line distance between the centers of the electrical contact points in the longitudinal direction and the origin hole.

1: Print cartridge

10: Upper cover

11: Box body

12: Wall

13: Circuit board

14: Electrical contact points

15: Inkjet print head assembly

2: Flexible circuit board

2a: Flexible interconnect circuit

20: Origin hole

21: Transmission channel

22: Connecting gasket

23: Electrical contact area

23a: Electrical contact points

A: First array group

B: Second array group

C: The third array group

P1: Straight line distance in the first longitudinal direction

P2: Straight line distance in the second longitudinal direction

H1: Straight line distance in the first horizontal direction

H2: Straight line distance in the second horizontal direction

H3: Straight line distance in the third horizontal direction

L: Centerline

X: horizontal direction

Y: vertical direction

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the print cartridge of a general inkjet printer.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible circuit board of the preferred embodiment of this case.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the electrical contact points in the preferred embodiment of this case.

The embodiments used to embody the features and advantages of this case will be described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that this case can have various changes in different forms, which do not deviate from the scope of this case, and the descriptions and diagrams therein are essentially for illustrative purposes, rather than for limiting this case.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. This case is a flexible interconnection circuit applicable to a print cartridge (not shown). For example, the print cartridge can be the print cartridge 1 shown in Figure 1, and the flexible interconnection circuit 2a is arranged on the flexible circuit board 2 of the print cartridge, and the flexible circuit board 2 has an origin hole 20. In some embodiments, the flexible circuit board 2 can be arranged on a rear wall (not shown) of the print cartridge (not shown), or can be arranged on other walls, and its arrangement position can be changed according to the actual implementation situation.

It is worth noting that the above-mentioned flexible interconnect circuit 2a includes: a plurality of conductive channels 21, a plurality of connecting pads 22 and an electrical contact area 23, wherein the plurality of connecting pads 22 are electrically connected to one end of the plurality of conductive channels 21, and the connecting pads 22 are also electrically connected to the inkjet print head assembly (not shown), and the electrical contact area 23 is configured with a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in a columnar array. Contact point 23a, wherein each electrical contact point 23a is electrically connected to the other end of the corresponding conductive channel 21, that is, the conductive channel 21 extends between the electrical contact point area 23 and the connecting pad 22 of the inkjet print head assembly and provides an electrical connection between the two, and the electrical contact point area 23 is used to provide an area for electrical connection with the inkjet print head assembly (not shown) of the print cartridge.

It is worth noting that the flexible circuit board 2 is made of a flexible substrate, such as polyimide (PI) or other flexible polymer materials, but not limited thereto. As for the flexible interconnect circuit 2a disposed on the flexible circuit board 2, as described above, it is composed of a connecting pad 22 corresponding to the inkjet print head assembly (not shown), a conductive channel 21, and an electrical contact point area 23 that can be connected to the conductive channel 21. The material can be formed of copper, gold, or any other conductive material, but not limited thereto. Taking this embodiment as an example, the electrical contact point area 23 is a conductive area exposed by an opening in the flexible substrate, and in this conductive area, a plurality of electrical contact points 23a are arranged in a columnar array in multiple rows aligned with each other longitudinally and transversely. The shape of the plurality of electrical contact points 23a can be, but is not limited to, a circle, an octagon, a square, a square with rounded corners or a square with oblique angles, or some other shape, and is not limited to this.

In a specific implementation, the number of the plurality of electrical contact points 23a in the electrical contact point area 23 of the present invention is 36, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the electrical contact point 23a is electrically connected to the plurality of connection pads 22 via the conductive channel 21, and the number of the electrical contact points 23a is at least one or more, so the number can be at least 36 or more, and sometimes the number of the electrical contact points 23a is less than 36, depending on the design; furthermore, the coordinates of the geometric center of each of the electrical contact points 23a are (x, y), which are limited to fall within a square area range. As shown in FIG. 3, the vertices of the square area are respectively (x+2.75, y+2.75), (x-2.75, y+2.75), (x-2.75, y-2.75) and (x+2.75, y-2.75). Therefore, the geometric center coordinates of any electrical contact point 23a falling within any point within the area of the square are covered by this embodiment.

The plurality of electrical contacts 23a are configured to be a first array group A disposed on both outer sides, and a second array group B and a third array group C disposed on the inner side. The first array group A, the second array group B and the third array group C are symmetrically arranged with the origin hole 20 of the flexible circuit board 2 as the reference point and with the longitudinal center line L thereof. In other words, the flexible circuit board 2 has a first array group A on each side, and the first array group A has the same number and arrangement of the plurality of electrical contacts 23a, the flexible circuit board 2 has a second array group B on each side, and the second array group B has the same number and arrangement of the plurality of electrical contacts 23a, and the flexible circuit board 2 has a third array group C on each side, and the third array group C has the same number and arrangement of the plurality of electrical contacts 23a. The number of the electrical contact points 23a of the first array group A is greater than the number of the electrical contact points 23a of the second array group B, the number of the electrical contact points 23a of the second array group B is greater than the number of the electrical contact points 23a of the third array group C, and the vertical direction straight line from the center of the bottom electrical contact point 23a of the third array group C to the origin hole 20 is The distance is greater than the vertical straight line distance between the center of the bottom electrical contact point 23a of the first array group A and the origin hole 20, and the vertical straight line distance between the center of the bottom electrical contact point 23a of the third array group C and the origin hole 20 is greater than the vertical straight line distance between the center of the bottom electrical contact point 23a of the second array group B and the origin hole 20. In this embodiment, the first array group A has 16 electrical contact points 23a, the second array group B has 14 electrical contact points 23a, and the third array group C has 6 electrical contact points 23a, but it is not limited to this.

In this embodiment, each first array group A maintains a first longitudinal straight line distance P1 between the centers of the electrical contact points 23a adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the first longitudinal straight line distance P1 is between 5.9 and 9.35 mm. In one embodiment, the optimal value of the first longitudinal straight line distance P1 is 6.6 mm. The second array group B and the third array group C maintain the same second longitudinal straight line distance P2 between the centers of the electrical contact points 23a adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the second longitudinal straight line distance P2 is between 6.5 and 9.95 mm. In one embodiment, the optimal value of the second longitudinal straight line distance P2 is 7.2 mm. Each first array group A maintains a first horizontal straight line distance H1 between the center of the vertical electrical contact point 23a and the origin hole 20, and the first horizontal straight line distance H1 is between 26.55 and 21.05 mm. In one embodiment, the optimal value of the first horizontal straight line distance H1 is 23.8 mm. Each second array group B maintains a second horizontal straight line distance H2 between the center of the vertical electrical contact point 23a and the origin hole 20, and the second horizontal straight line distance H2 is between 13.95 and 19.45 mm. In one embodiment, the optimal value of the second horizontal straight line distance H2 is 16.7 mm. Each third array group C maintains a third horizontal straight line distance H3 between the center of the vertical electrical contact point 23a and the origin hole 20, and the third horizontal straight line distance H3 is between 7.05 and 12.55 mm. In one embodiment, the optimal value of the third horizontal straight line distance H3 is 9.8 mm.

In summary, by designing the specific and unique configuration of the electrical contact point area in the flexible interconnect circuit mentioned above, the corresponding inkjet printer is correctly configured, thereby avoiding the problem that the electrical circuit of the print cartridge cannot be correctly connected to the inkjet printer due to incorrect installation of the print cartridge, thereby damaging the print cartridge and the inkjet printer.

Although the present invention has been described in detail in the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways by those familiar with the art, it does not deviate from the scope of protection of the attached patent application.

2: Flexible circuit board

2a: Flexible interconnect circuit

20: Origin hole

21: Transmission channel

22: Connecting gasket

23: Electrical contact area

23a: Electrical contact points

A: First array group

B: Second array group

C: The third array group

P1: Straight line distance in the first longitudinal direction

P2: Straight line distance in the second longitudinal direction

H1: Straight line distance in the first horizontal direction

H2: Straight line distance in the second horizontal direction

H3: Straight line distance in the third horizontal direction

L: Centerline

Claims (14)

A flexible interconnect circuit is suitable for a flexible circuit board of a printing ink cartridge, and the flexible circuit board has an origin hole, wherein the flexible interconnect circuit includes: a plurality of conductive channels; a plurality of connecting pads, each electrically connected to one end of the plurality of conductive channels; and an electrical contact point area, which is configured with a plurality of electrical contact points arranged in a columnar array, and each of the electrical contact points is electrically connected to the other end of the corresponding conductive channel, and the plurality of electrical contact points are respectively arranged in a first array group on the outside, and arranged A second array group and a third array group are arranged on the inner side, and are symmetrically arranged on the flexible circuit board with the origin hole as a reference point, wherein the number of the electrical contact points of the first array group is greater than the number of the electrical contact points of the second array group, the number of the electrical contact points of the second array group is greater than the number of the electrical contact points of the third array group, and the distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the third array group to the origin hole is greater than the distance in the longitudinal direction from the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the first array group to the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the first array group. The distance between the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the third array group and the origin hole is greater than the distance between the center of the electrical contact point at the bottom of the second array group and the origin hole, wherein the first array group maintains a first distance between the centers of the electrical contact points adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the second array group and the third array group maintain the same second distance between the centers of the electrical contact points adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. The first array group maintains a first horizontal straight line distance between the center of the electrical contact point in the vertical column and the origin hole, the second array group maintains a second horizontal straight line distance between the center of the electrical contact point in the vertical column and the origin hole, and the third array group maintains a third horizontal straight line distance between the center of the electrical contact point in the vertical column and the origin hole. The first horizontal straight line distance is greater than the second horizontal straight line distance, and the second horizontal straight line distance is greater than the third horizontal straight line distance. A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal straight line distance is between 5.9 and 9.35 mm. The flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal straight line distance is 6.6 millimeters (mm). A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the second longitudinal straight line distance is between 6.5 and 9.95 mm. A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the first horizontal straight line distance is between 26.55 and 21.05 mm. The flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the first horizontal straight line distance is 23.8 millimeters (mm). A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the second horizontal straight line distance is between 13.95 and 19.45 mm. The flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the second horizontal straight line distance is 16.7 millimeters (mm). A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the third horizontal straight line distance is between 7.05 and 12.55 mm. The flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the third horizontal straight line distance is 9.8 millimeters (mm). A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the number of electrical contacts is 36. A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the number of electrical contact points of the first array group is 16. A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the number of electrical contact points of the second array group is 14. A flexible interconnect circuit as described in claim 1, wherein the number of electrical contact points of the third array group is 6.

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