What are FPC and FFC?

FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) is a flexible printed circuit board, usually made of polyimide (PI) material. It has excellent flexibility and heat resistance and is widely used in high-density and miniaturized electronic products.

FFC (Flat Flexible Cable) is a flat flexible cable with a simple structure, consisting of multiple parallel metal conductors laminated together in a plastic insulating film. It is known for its compact size, light weight, and strong anti-interference properties, making it particularly suitable for scenarios involving dynamic bending and sliding contact.

Application Areas

FPC and FFC have been widely used in many cable and electronic fields, including:

1. LED lighting control system

• Used to connect the main control board and LED lamp module.

• Replaces traditional wire harnesses for thinner and more flexible wiring.

• Reduce assembly difficulty and wiring volume, and improve heat dissipation efficiency.

2. Consumer electronics

• In products such as TVs, laptops, printers, mobile phones, and tablets, it is used for data/power transmission between the screen and the motherboard.

• FFC can achieve multi-point connection, high-speed transmission, and is easy to plug and unplug, which facilitates maintenance.

3. On-board cable system

• Used between modules such as instrument panels, vehicle cameras, audio systems, and navigation devices.

• It has the advantages of anti-vibration, high temperature resistance, strong spatial adaptability, etc., and is suitable for stable operation in harsh environments.

4. Industrial automation equipment

• Connect control signals and execution units in robot joints, slide rails, and movable mechanisms.

• FPC can support multi-layer wiring, is suitable for complex control systems, and improves system compactness.

Recommended matching connector types

In response to different usage requirements, EasyChips can provide the following matching connectors for FPC/FFC:

• ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connector : Suitable for frequent installation.

• LIF (Low Insertion Force) connector : suitable for space-constrained occasions.

• Board-to-board/board-to-wire connectors : provide a more robust mechanical and electrical connection.

• Customized pitch (0.3mm–1.25mm) connectors : compatible with FPC/FFC of different specifications.