SQUIGGLE motor FPC connectors
With the SQL-RV SQUIGGLE motor
and drive ASIC, New Scale provides the smallest motor
and drive electronics package in the world (figure 1). We
continue to support our customers’ need for miniaturized integration
packages with innovative solutions for position sensing, mechanical
system design and electrical connections.
SQUIGGLE motors, specifically the SQL series motors, are wired with
Flexible Printed Circuits (FPCs) that are easy to integrate into
small mechanisms. They are available in custom lengths and shapes to
accommodate most routing requirements.
As a standard, the SQUIGGLE motor FPC has five conductor
terminations: two for Phase 1, two for Phase 2, and one for Ground.
(Please refer to the motor datasheets and specifications for a
circuit diagram of your specific motor.) The SQUIGGLE motor runs on
only these three signals (P1, P2, GND), which is in fact the output
from the NSD Series drive ASIC.
There are four piezoelectric elements on the SQL series SQUIGGLE
motors, and each element has its own electric lead. The standard FPC
requires that the Phase 1 signal be applied to two leads, which is
most easily accomplished by jumpering the connector leads on the
board. A standard five-lead, board-mountable FPC connector can then
be used to make the connection to the motor. While quite small, this
may not be small enough for some applications.
Custom FPC Connector Options
Alternatively, New Scale can supply a custom FPC combining the
leads in the FPC itself, rather than on the board, thereby requiring
only a three-lead connection to the PCB. These connectors are
typically offered in a board-mountable configuration and are
slightly smaller than the five-lead version.
For some mechanisms these five-lead or three-lead FPC connectors
still aren’t small enough. New Scale has worked with customers on
other ways to connect to the FPC in order to reduce the footprint
and volume required for FPC connection. These options include:
- Using alternate form factor connectors. Alternative
connectors can be slightly wider, but not as deep, and have a
lower profile relative to the PCB. This option may be worth
considering if you need to optimize the size in only one or two
dimensions. Some form factors will be more expensive than
others.
- Directly soldering the FPC to the circuit board. Figure 2
shows some examples of custom FPCs that were designed to be
soldered directly to the PCB. This can be done with pre-tinning
of the FPC, with wire bonding, or with a solder bridge
technique. This requires less upfront tooling and design work,
but potentially a more expensive assembly operation if you do
not already have this capability set up.
Figure 2 - Custom FPC connectors with solder pads for direct
connection to a PCB.
- Integrating the FPC with the PCB – a Rigid Flexible Printed
Circuit. This option offers the greatest optimization in size
and cost by reducing the number of parts and simplifying the
assembly. The upfront tooling and design work is a little more
expensive, but in volume it offers significant cost advantages.
New Scale is able to provide custom-designed FPCs for any of these
options. The rigid FPC option is especially attractive, as New Scale
can integrate the NSD Series ASIC and any other components along
with the motor, and provide a complete electrical and mechanical
motion system ready for integration into your product.
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