Flex circuit connector configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017271792-A1
Application number	US-201615071745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Sep 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic system includes first and second circuit boards and a flexible circuit connector. The flexible circuit connector is configured to electrically connect the first and second circuit boards. The flexible circuit connector includes first and second connectors and a spiral portion. The first connector is configured to connect to the first circuit board. The second connector is configured to connect to the second circuit board. The spiral portion is connected between the first and second circuit boards and includes a circumferential portion that extends around the second connector.

First claim

1 . A flexible circuit connector for connecting first and second circuit boards of a device, the flexible circuit connector comprising:
a first connector configured to connect to the first circuit board; a second connector configured to connect to the second circuit board; and a spiral portion connected between the first and second connectors, wherein the spiral portion comprises a circumferential portion that extends around the second connector.

2 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 1 , further comprising a middle portion connected between the first connector and the spiral portion, wherein the middle portion is connected to the first connector at a first bend point, and wherein the middle portion is connected to the spiral portion at a second bend point, and wherein the flexible circuit connector only bends at the first and second bend points when the device is in an operational state.

3 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 2 , wherein the first and second bend points are configured such that the first and second connectors are parallel to one another in the operational state.

4 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 2 , wherein the spiral portion and the second connector are configured in a common plane during the operational state.

5 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 4 , wherein the common plane is configured perpendicular to the middle portion during the operational state.

6 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 2 , wherein the middle portion includes a third connector configured to connect to an electronic system separate from the first and second circuit boards.

7 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 4 , wherein the circumferential portion extends 360° around the second connector.

8 . The flexible circuit connector of claim 4 , wherein the spiral portion is configured to pull out of the common plane toward the first connector when the first and second connectors are pulled apart from one another.

9 . An electronic system comprising:
a first circuit board; a second circuit board; and a flexible circuit connector configured to electrically connect the first and second circuit boards, wherein the flexible circuit connector comprises:
a first connector configured to connect to the first circuit board;
a second connector configured to connect to the second circuit board; and
a spiral portion connected between the first and second circuit boards, wherein the spiral portion comprises a circumferential portion that extends around the second connector.

10 . The electronic system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible circuit connector further comprises a middle portion connected between the first connector and the spiral portion, wherein the middle portion is connected to the first connector at a first bend point, and wherein the middle portion is connected to the spiral portion at a second bend point.

11 . The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible circuit connector only bends at the first and second bend points when the device is in an operational state.

12 . The electronic system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second circuit boards are parallel to one another in the operational state, and wherein the first and second bend points are configured such that the first and second connectors are parallel to one another in the operational state.

13 . The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the spiral portion and the second connector are configured in a common plane during the operational state.

14 . The electronic system of claim 13 , wherein the common plane is configured perpendicular to the middle portion during the operational state.

15 . The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the middle portion includes a third connector configured to connect to an electronic circuit separate from the first and second circuit boards.

16 . The electronic system of claim 13 , wherein the circumferential portion extends 360° around the second connector.

17 . The electronic system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic system is contained within an airborne munition.

18 . The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein the airborne munition includes first and second compartments, and wherein the first compartment is detachable from the second compartment, and wherein the first circuit board is positioned within the first compartment, and wherein the second circuit board is positioned within the second compartment.

19 . The electronic system of claim 18 , wherein the spiral portion is configured to pull out of the common plane when the first and second compartments are detached and pulled apart from one another.

20 . The electronic system of claim 18 , wherein the operational state comprises the first compartment and the second compartment attached to one another.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Whatcott Neal R

Classifications

• H01R12/62 Primary

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title

• H05K1/14

  Structural association of two or more printed circuits (providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00) · CPC title

• F42B35/00 Primary

  Testing or checking of ammunition {(apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14)} · CPC title

• H05K2201/09027

  Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular · CPC title

• H05K1/028

  Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits (H05K1/0283 takes precedence) · CPC title