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DE-102025145983-A1 - Flat ribbon cable harness arrangement

DE102025145983A1DE 102025145983 A1DE102025145983 A1DE 102025145983A1DE-102025145983-A1

Abstract

An FFC tree assembly (100) comprises a main FFC (200) with a main FFC cable (220) and a main connector attached to one end of the main FFC cable. The main FFC cable includes main flat wires (230) and a main cable body (240). The FFC tree assembly includes a branch FFC (300) that is separate from the main FFC. The branch FFC comprises a branch FFC cable (320) and a branch connector (310) attached to one end of the branch FFC cable. The branch FFC cable includes branch flat wires (330) and a branch cable body (340). The FFC tree assembly includes an interconnection (600) at a branch point between the main FFC and the branch FFC. The interconnection is located between the main FFC and the branch FFC and connects at least one of the main flat wires to at least one of the branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the branch plug to the main plug.

Inventors

  • CHRISTOPHER RYAN RAYBOLD
  • Adam Tyler
  • David Bruce Sarraf

Assignees

  • TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251107
Priority Date
20250116

Claims (20)

  1. Flat ribbon cable (FFC) tree assembly (100), comprising: a main FFC (200) with a main FFC cable (220) and a main connector (210) connected at one end (222) of the main FFC cable, the main FFC cable comprising main flat wires (230) and a main cable body (240) with an insulator (242) supporting the main flat wires, the main flat wires comprising terminals at the end of the main FFC connected to the main connector; a branch FFC (300) that is separate and independent from the main FFC, wherein the branch FFC comprises a branch FFC cable (320) and a branch connector (310) terminated at one end of the branch FFC cable, wherein the branch FFC cable comprises branch flat wires (330) and a branch cable body (340) with an insulator (342) supporting the branch flat wires, the branch flat wires comprising terminals at the end of the branch FFC that are terminated at the branch connector; and a connection (600) at a branch point (160) between the main FFC and the branch FFC, wherein the connection is located between the main FFC and the branch FFC, wherein the connection electrically connects at least one of the main flat wires with at least one of the branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the branch plug to the main plug.
  2. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the main FFC (200) and the branch FFC (300) are stacked with the interconnection (600) in between.
  3. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the branch FFC cable (320) does not extend parallel to the main FFC cable (220).
  4. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the interconnection (600) comprises an interconnection housing (620) and interconnection conductors (610) held by the interconnection housing, each interconnection conductor comprising a first interface (612) electrically connected to the corresponding main flat wire (230) and a second interface (614) electrically connected to the corresponding branch flat wire (330) to electrically connect the main FFC (300) and the branch FFC (300) (200).
  5. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 4 , wherein the interconnection housing (620) has a panel (622) with a top surface (624) facing the main FFC cable (220) and a bottom surface (626) facing the branch FFC cable (320), wherein the interconnection conductors (610) extend between the top surface and the bottom surface to form an interface (612) with the corresponding main flat wire (230) and branch flat wire (330).
  6. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 4 , wherein the interconnection housing (620) includes openings that accommodate the interconnection conductors (610).
  7. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 4 , wherein the interconnection conductors (610) are spherical.
  8. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 4 , wherein the interconnection (600) is a printed circuit board, the interconnection housing (620) comprises a substrate and the interconnection conductors (610) comprise circuits of the printed circuit board formed on one or more layers of the substrate.
  9. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 4 , wherein the interconnection conductors (610) are soldered to the corresponding main flat wire (230) and branch flat wire (330).
  10. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , which further comprises an outer housing (170) at the branch point (160) that surrounds the stack of the main FFC (200), the branch FFC (300) and the interconnection (600).
  11. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the branch FFC (300) is located at a second end (224) of the main FFC cable (220) opposite the end (222) which has the main connector (210) to which the main FFC (200) is connected.
  12. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the branch FFC (300) is connected to the main FFC (200) at an intermediate point between the end (222) of the main FFC cable (220) and a second end (224) of the main FFC cable.
  13. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the main cable body (240) has windows (248) exposing the main flat wires (230), the branch cable body (340) has windows exposing the branch flat wires (330), and the interconnection (600) is connected via the windows to the corresponding main flat wires and branch flat wires.
  14. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein at least one of the main flat wires (230) is electrically connected to at least two of the branch flat wires (330).
  15. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein at least one of the branch flat wires (330) is electrically connected to at least two of the main flat wires (230).
  16. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the branch FFC (300) comprises a second branch connector (310) which terminates at a second end (224) of the branch FFC cable (320).
  17. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , further comprising a second branch FFC (400) which is separate and independent from the branch FFC (300), wherein the second branch FFC comprises a second branch FFC cable (420) and a second branch connector (411) which is terminated at one end (424) of the second branch FFC cable, wherein the second branch FFC cable comprises second branch flat wires (430) and a second branch cable body, wherein the interconnection (600) electrically connects at least one of the main flat wires (230) to at least one of the second branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the second branch connector to the main connector (210).
  18. FFC tree arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 , further comprising: a second branch FFC cable (400) that is separate from and independent of the branch FFC cable (300), wherein the second branch FFC cable comprises a second branch FFC cable (420) and a second branch connector (410) terminated at one end (224) of the second branch FFC cable, the second branch FFC cable comprising second branch flat wires and a second cable body; and a second interconnection (600) between the main FFC (200) and the second branch FFC, wherein the second interconnection electrically connects at least one of the main flat wire (230) to at least one of the second branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the second branch connector to the main connector (210).
  19. Flat ribbon cable (FFC) tree assembly (100), comprising: a main FFC (200) with a main FFC cable (220) and a main connector (210), connected at one end of the main FFC cable (220) to the main FFC cable (222), the main FFC cable comprising main flat wires (230) and a main cable body (240) with an insulator (242) supporting the main flat wires, the main flat wires comprising terminals at the end of the main FFC that are connected to the main connector; a main FFC (200) comprising a main FFC cable (220) and a main connector (210) terminated at one end (222) of the main FFC cable, the main FFC cable comprising main flat wires (230) and a main cable body (240) with an insulator (242) supporting the main flat wires, the main flat wires comprising terminals at the end of the main FFC connected to the main connector; a branch FFC (300) that is separate and independent from the main FFC, wherein the branch FFC comprises a branch FFC cable (320) and a branch connector (310) connected to one end of the branch FFC cable, the branch FFC cable having branch flat wires (330) and a branch cable body (340) with an insulator (342) supporting the branch flat wires, the branch flat wires having terminals at the end of the branch FFC connected to the branch connector; and an interconnection (600) between the main FFC and the branch FFC, wherein the interconnection comprises an interconnection housing (620) and interconnection conductors (610) which are held by the interconnection housing, each interconnection conductor comprising a first interface (612) which is electrically connected to the corresponding main flat wire and a second interface (614) which is electrically connected to the corresponding branch flat wire to electrically connect the branch FFC and the main FFC.
  20. Flat ribbon cable (FFC) tree assembly (100) comprising: a main FFC (200) comprising a main FFC cable (220) and a main connector (210) connected at one end of the main FFC cable, the main FFC cable having main flat wires (230) and a main cable body (240) with an insulator (242) supporting the main flat wires, the main flat wires comprising terminals at the end of the main FFC connected to the main connector; a first branch FFC (300) that is separate and independent from the main FFC, wherein the first branch FFC comprises a first branch FFC cable (320) and a first branch connector (310) connected at one end (322) of the first branch FFC cable, wherein the first branch FFC cable has first branch flat wires (330) and a first branch cable body (340) with an insulator (342) supporting the first branch flat wires, wherein the first branch flat wires comprise terminals at the end of the first branch FFC that are connected to the first branch connectors are connected; a second FFC branch cable (400) that is separate and independent from the main FFC cable and the first branch FFC, wherein the second branch FFC comprises a second branch FFC cable (420) and a second branch connector (410) connected to one end (224) of the second branch FFC cable, wherein the second branch FFC cable has second branch flat wires (430) and a second branch cable body with an insulator supporting the second branch flat wires, the branch flat wires of the second branch, comprising terminals at the end of the second branch branch FFC, being connected to the second branch connector; a first interconnection (600) between the main FFC and the first branch FFC, wherein the first interconnection electrically connects at least one of the main flat wires with at least one of the first branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the first branch plug to the main plug; and a second interconnection between the main FFC and the second branch FFC, wherein the second interconnection electrically connects at least one of the main flat wires with at least one of the second branch flat wires in order to electrically connect the second branch plug to the main plug.

Description

This application claims priority of US application no. 63/718,828 , submitted on November 11, 2024, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. The subject of this application generally concerns cable harness assemblies. Wiring harness assemblies are used to connect electrical and electronic components within a system. For example, in automotive applications, wiring harness assemblies can be used to connect a vehicle control or management system to electronic controls, lighting, air conditioning, and other vehicle components. Wiring harness assemblies transmit electrical power and signals between components such as the control module, battery, lighting devices, sensors, and the like. Wiring harness assemblies can also be used in other applications, such as in aerospace, defense, household appliances, automation, industrial machinery, and the like. In one embodiment, an FFC tree assembly is provided, comprising a main FFC, which includes a main FFC cable and a main connector attached to one end of the main FFC cable. The main FFC cable comprises main flat wires, and a main cable body has an insulator that supports the main flat wires. The main flat wires include terminals at the end of the main FFC that is connected to the main connector. The FFC tree assembly includes a branch FFC that is separate from the main FFC. The branch FFC comprises a branch FFC cable and a branch connector attached to one end of the branch FFC cable. The branch FFC cable includes branch flat wires and a branch cable body that has an insulator supporting the branch flat wires. The branch flat wires include terminals at the end of the branch FFC that are connected to the branch connector. The FFC tree arrangement includes a connection at a branch point between the main FFC and the branch FFC. This connection is located between the main FFC and the branch FFC. The connection electrically connects at least one of the main flat wires to at least one of the branch flat wires to electrically connect the branch connector to the main connector. The invention is described by way of example with reference to the attached figures, wherein 1 shows an FFC tree arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment. 2 is a wiring diagram of the FFC tree arrangement, showing an exemplary arrangement and branching of the flat wires of the FFCs according to an exemplary embodiment. 3 This is a perspective view of the interconnection according to an exemplary embodiment. 4 This is a perspective view of part of the interconnection according to an exemplary embodiment. 5 is a perspective view of part of the interconnection according to an exemplary embodiment, showing the interconnection during assembly. 6 is a perspective view of part of the interconnection according to an exemplary embodiment in a partially assembled state. 7 shows the FFC tree arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment, which shows the interconnections that electrically connect the branch FFC and the main FFC. 8 is an enlarged exploded view of part of the FFC tree arrangement, showing the branch point between the main FFC and the branch FFC. 9 is a schematic representation of a simplified version of the FFC tree arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment, showing the electrical interconnections between the branch FFCs and the main FFC. 10 is a circuit diagram of the in 9 FFC tree arrangement shown according to an exemplary embodiment. 1 Figure 1 shows a flat flexible cable (FFC) tree assembly 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The FFC tree assembly 100 is used to electrically connect components within a system. For example, the FFC tree assembly 100 can be used to electrically connect a first component 110 to one or more additional components, such as a second component 120, a third component 130, a fourth component 140, and a fifth component 150. The FFC tree assembly 100 can be used in alternative embodiments to connect more or fewer components. to connect different components. The FFC tree assembly 100 can transmit electrical energy and signals between the various components 110-150, such as the control module, battery, lighting devices, sensors and the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the FFC tree assembly 100 is used in an automotive application, for example, to connect a vehicle control or management system with electronic controls, lighting, air conditioning, and other vehicle components. For example, the first component 110 may be a vehicle control module, and the other components 120-150 may be lighting assemblies within the vehicle. In alternative embodiments, the components 110-150 may also be other devices or assemblies within the vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, the FFC tree assembly 100 is a roof or headliner tree assembly configured to be installed in the vehicle's headliner. In alternative embodiments, the FFC tree assembly 100 may also be used in other applications, such as in aerospace, defense, household app