Learn the 4 Different Types of Flexible Circuit Boards

Flexible circuit boards have paved new directions for electronics immensely. The more flexibility a designer has, the more advanced an electronic can become. As the demand for smaller electronics has grown, companies have had to find ways to pack a ton of functionality onto a tiny PCB. Royal Flex Circuits is a leader in the flexible PCB industry, and it offers four different circuit board types. Here are what they are and how they might help you.

1. Single-Sided Flex PCBs

Simple electronics, such as the keyboard on a laptop computer can be brought to life with a single-sided flex circuit board. The PCB needs to be flexible yet flat because the space inside the laptop is quite limited. It’s tricky to get the connection between the key and mother boards. A single-sided PCB has one conductor layer made of copper that rests on top of a flexible dialectric film.

2. Double-Sided Flex PCBs

The next step up in terms of complexity is the double-sided PCB. This has two conductive layers made from copper that are separated and protected by an insulating layer in the middle. The insulating layer is key to this flexible board’s design, as the two electrical currents must be kept separate from each other. Crossing voltage is dangerous and could destroy the electronic device.

3. Multi-Layer PCBs

For complex electronics that need a lot of power and functionality without using a lot space, Royal Flex Circuits design multi-layer circuit boards. Flexible PCBs can have as many eight layers to conduct electricity to various components. Rigid PCBs can have as many as 10 layers for added functionality, which works well for larger equipment, such as network servers.

4. Rigid-Flex Circuit Boards

You can have the best of both worlds, as well. You can have the functionality of a rigid flex circuit board combined with flexibility. In this case, smaller rigid circuit boards are held together by flexible joints. This opens the door to additional design options for electronics engineers where they might them most. Consumers don’t want to sacrifice any of their desires.

Contact Royal Flex Circuits today to discuss these four PCB options with an expert. The person will listen to your design idea, answer any questions you might have, ask any questions he or she might have and then provide a free estimate to manufacture your PCBs. Once you have the complete boards, your next great electronic device can hit the production line and then the markets before your competition has any clue as to what you are doing.