Flexible printed circuits (FPCs) have been around since the early 20th century and can be found in a wide range of industrial and consumer electronic products. Their multiple benefits, including weight, space and cost savings along with their ruggedness and electrical performance, make them a popular choice for designers grappling with the challenge of packing more functionality into ever-shrinking form factors. Until recently, most FPCs have been less than a metre long, due to restrictions in the manufacturing process, limiting their use to smaller applications such as instrument panels, control systems, consumer goods and medical instruments.
This situation has changed recently, however, thanks to Trackwise’s patented manufacturing process which enables the unique manufacture of FPCs of unlimited length. Marketed as Improved Harness Technology™ (IHT), a whole new range of applications are set to benefit from this development, particularly in the automotive, aerospace and telecommunications industries, where traditional, complex wiring harnesses are candidates for replacement by weight-saving FPCs. As many designers will be looking at FPCs with renewed interest, it is worthwhile reviewing exactly what they can be used for and the benefits that they bring.
Visit the Trackwise Designs Plc website for more information on IHT opens up FPC weight- and space-saving benefits in many new applications