To successfully solve the issue mentioned in the first paragraph, flex-rigid PCB is applied to reduce the number of connectors and solder joints, which has been conformed to for over 16 years. As flex-rigid PCB is applied in automotive systems, the following advantages can be embraced.

Obvious Improvement of Product Quality and Reliability

  When applying flex-rigid PCB for automotives PCB, connectors and soldering joints can be reduced, which can decrease the potential risks leading to electrical failures? Performance and reliability of automotive electronics control systems will proportionally go up with the reduction of connectors and soldering joints.

Cost Reduction Due to Manufacturing Steps Shrinking

  As flex-rigid PCB is applied, soldering of tape cable and assembly connectors will be cut so that cost will go down. After all, all the manufacturing procedure implementation is costly.

Maintenance Simplification and Elimination

  Flex-rigid PCB for automotives is composed by two or more than two pieces of rigid materials and one or more than one piece of flexible material while rigid sections are connected with each other through the application of flexible materials. Each rigid-flex circuit can be accurately packaged into a smaller package so that lots of administration and maintenance will be eliminated.

Designer and Assembly Freedom Improvement

  Flex-rigid circuit designers are only responsible for rigid board layout. As for flexible section, they only need to lead the connection and are capable of freely fixing, slinging or piling, which dramatically eases design and assembly.

Up to now, two types of flex-rigid PCBs are available in current market:

Semi-flexible PCB

  Flexible section of semi-flex PCB is made of thin FR-4 material, especially applicable for assembly calling for just a couple of flexibilities. Moreover, semi-flexible PCB leads to low cost.

Multi-flexible PCB

  Made by polyimide (PI) material, multi-flexible PCB works agreeably on applications calling for dynamic flexibilities. Since PI layer can expands into internal rigid section of flex-rigid PCB, multi-flex circuit boards are more applicable for applications calling for gradually dynamic flexibilities.