TYPE I: Single-Sided Flex
TYPE I is a single conductor layer laminated to dielectric providing point-to-point connection with access from either one or two sides. The choice for High Density Edge Connection (HDEC) applications.
Benefits of Single-Sided Flexible Printed Circuits:
- Simplified design and manufacture
- Low acquisition costs
- Minimized interconnect errors / higher reliability /reduced assembly costs
- Greater durability when used in dynamic applications
- Neater/cleaner system appearance
- Ability to reduce packaging sizes
Background:
Single-sided flexible printed circuits present a wide variety of benefits when utilized in a system or package, most notable being ease of design.
Consisting of a single layer of conductor laminated to polyimide with the circuitry or traces accessible from one side, single-sided flex can be manufactured with or without coverlayers. Coverlayers act as a protective barrier or dielectric and are usually on the "top" side of the flex, depending on the intended application or requirement.
Single-sided flex when compared to typical wiring harnesses offer unmatched dynamic flexing ability, particularly where applications demand repetitive movement of the interconnected system or sub-assemblies. In many instances, single-sided flex is simply used to create a "cleaner" or more organized system than can be realized by wiring harnesses. The leads of a single-sided flex are in fixed position thereby making it possible to dramatically reduce assembly errors related to miss-wired terminations.