Introduction

How does flex circuitry help designers address challenging space, weight, and capability problems? To understand this, compare the nature of flex to that of standard rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs) utilizing wire cabling and connectors.

Space

Flex is able to occupy three dimensions. It can be bent around corners and over itself in order to fit into a much smaller device enclosure. This contrasts with the clutter and bulkiness often seen in rigid interconnects.

Weight

Because flex is significantly thinner and lighter than standard rigid boards, products incorporating it will naturally be lighter and thus more portable.

Enhanced Capability

Flex lends itself to use in multilayer designs as well as in designs in which the flex circuit serves as an active layer in rigid boards. Such rigid-flex applications can actually remove the need for cabling and connectors; designers thus can use the flex layers for additional circuitry and component placement.

Types And Constructions

Some typical types of flexible circuits are shown as follows.

1. Single-Sided Flex Circuits

Single-sided flexible circuits are flexible circuits consisting of a single conductor layer on a flexible dielectric film. Components are only mounted on one side.

2. Dual-Access Flex Circuits

Dual-access flex, also known as back-bared flex, are flexible circuits with a single conductor layer, but are processed to allow access to selected features of the conductor pattern from both sides.

3. Double-Sided Flex Circuits

Double-sided flex circuits are flexible circuits having two conductor layers. Commonly, they are fabricated with plated through holes in order to allow components to be placed on both sides of the circuits.

4. Multilayer Flex Circuits

Multilayer flex circuits are flexible circuits having three or more layers of conductors. As the double-sided flex circuits, they are commonly fabricated with plated through holes.

5. Rigid Flex Circuits

Rigid Flex Circuits are rigid construction involving rigid and flexible substrates laminated together into single structure. The conductor layers are interconnected by the plated through holes always.

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