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  Flat flex cable (ffc) with embedded spring contacts for connecting to a pcb or like electronic deviceUSPTO Application #: 20060189179Title: Flat flex cable (ffc) with embedded spring contacts for connecting to a pcb or like electronic device Abstract: This invention pertains to flat flex cable (FFC) with embedded spring contacts at one or both ends, and in between the ends as needed, to engage electrical devices by inserting the spring contacts on an end of the FFC into a clamp or receptacle that secures the spring contacts into engagement with electrical contacts on the electrical device and with electrical contacts on a camera module as used in cell phones. (end of abstract) Agent: Neoconix, Inc. C/o Intellevate, LLC - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Larry E. Dittmann, John D. Williams, William B. Long USPTO Applicaton #: 20060189179 - Class: 439074000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Connectors, Preformed Panel Circuit Arrangement, E.g., Pcb, Icm, Dip, Chip, Wafer, Etc., With Provision To Conduct Electricity From Panel Circuit To Another Panel Circuit, Overlying Second Preformed Panel Circuit, Both Adapted To Be Electrically Connected The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060189179. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/265,205, filed on Nov. 3, 2005 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/412,729 filed on Apr. 11, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention pertains to flat flex cable (FFC) with spring contacts at one or both ends, spring contacts at one end and exposed electrical leads at the other end or contact pads at one end and connectors at the other end. One application for the FFC is connecting a camera module as used in cell phones to a PCB or like electrical circuit. BACKGROUND [0003] Flat flex cable (FFC) is an existing product supplied by many vendors. Typically electrical traces embedded in insulation in the FFC make electrical connection with one or more electronic components at either end of the FFC. Socket or pin connectors are often used to attach the end of the FFC to the electronic component. These types of connectors have space limitations and are not considered to be reliable forms of electrical interconnect. The environment in which the FFC operates has an impact on the selection of materials for the FFC and the type of connectors at either end. FFC used in small scale environments require connectors with a small pitch and occupy little space. Existing connectors have housings and support structures that occupy space and therefore do not easily fit into tight spaces. It is desirable to eliminate these bulky connectors attached to the FFC and enable electrical connection in tight spaces and in areas in which the electrical components to be electrically connected are not in physical contact or spaced a distance one from another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] FIG. 1 shows a FFC with embedded springs connected to internal traces within the FFC. [0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an assembly consisting of a camera module as used in cell phones and a FFC with electrical traces connecting embedded spring connectors aligned to be clamped into the camera module and with embedded spring connectors at the opposite end of the FFC that clamp into a PCB or like device. [0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an assembly consisting of a camera module as used in cell phones, a FFC with embedded spring connectors aligned with contact pads on a camera module ready to be clamped into electrical contact. [0007] FIG. 4 is a Cross Section of FFC with embedded spring contacts. [0008] FIG. 5 is a view of FFC with its internal electrical traces connected to embedded spring contacts on one end. [0009] FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the spring contacts as would be seen prior to attachment to pads or traces embedded within the FFC [0010] FIG. 7 is an expanded version of embedded spring contacts on FFC. These contacts are electrically connected to traces embedded within the FFC not visible in this drawing for connection to a camera module. [0011] FIG. 8 is embedded contacts on FFC affixed to an end to be inserted into a PCB clamp mechanism. [0012] FIG. 9 is terminal ends of contacts that are formed as an uninterrupted continuum of electrical traces embedded in a FFC inserted into a clamping mechanism [0013] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a clamp on a PCB or like device, used to hold and align a camera module to contacts that are embedded on or within the FFC. [0014] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of FFC with exposed electrical traces aligned to be inserted into a clamp containing spring contacts on a PCB or like electrical device. [0015] FIG. 12 shows a receptacle containing electrical contacts on a PCB or like device for receiving FFC with either spring contacts or exposed electrical traces. [0016] FIG. 13 shows a FFC with spring flanges aligned to be inserted into a receptacle mounted on a PCB or like device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a flat flex cable (FFC) 100 is shown in a perspective view. At one end of FFC 110 are spring contacts 102 and at the other end are a second set of spring contacts 104 disposed on the opposite side of FFC 110 to spring contacts 102. The spring contacts 102, 104 are connected by electrical traces 106 embedded within FFC 100. The location of the spring contacts 102 and 104 may change as the design parameters require. Spring contacts 102 and 104 may be on the same or opposite side of FFC 110. Or, the spring contacts 102 and 104 may be placed at intervals along the length of FFC 110. The process for making the spring contacts 102 and 104 are disclosed and claimed in a co-pending patent application filed on ______ April, 2006, entitled A SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING A CAMERA MODULE, OR LIKE DEVICE, USING FLAT FLEX CABLES, by the same inventors and assigned to Neoconix, Inc. [0018] Still referring to FIG. 1 FFC 110 electrical traces 106 are insulated over the length of FFC 110. The electrical traces 106 are then connected to spring contacts 102 and 104 by the process of forming by applying a sheet of conductive material such as BeCu to the area where the traces 106 terminate, placing a mask on the conductive sheet thereby defining the shape of spring contacts 102, 104 and locating the mask on an end of a trace 106, etching the mask to leave the three dimensional spring contact 102, 104 shape and singulate each spring contact 102, 104 to electrically isolate it from the others. The singulation process may include mechanical and chemical etching. The spring contacts 102 and 104 may be attached to traces 106 by metallurgical plating or conductive adhesion such as a silver filled adhesive to form a mechanical and electrical bond. [0019] Referring to FIG. 2 at one end of the FFC 110 spring contacts 102 are aligned with electrical contacts (not shown) on camera module 110 as used in cell phones. A camera module clamp 108 engages spring contacts 102 on FFC 110 with the electrical contacts on the underside of camera module 110 resulting in a mechanical compression of the electrical contacts to complete an electrical connection. Clamp 108 is shown as a snap clamp. Any suitable clamping mechanisms may be used. An alternative approach is to attach a permanent cap to secure spring contacts 102 to camera module 110. Continue reading... Full patent description for Flat flex cable (ffc) with embedded spring contacts for connecting to a pcb or like electronic device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Flat flex cable (ffc) with embedded spring contacts for connecting to a pcb or like electronic device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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