TE Connectivity (TE)

FPC Connectors

Lighter Interconnect Solutions

As the market trends towards miniaturization, FPC connectors have been developed to meet the challenges of this expanding market, which demands smaller centerline or pitch spacing, lower profile heights, and lighter interconnect solutions. TE's FPC solutions are reliable interconnects that use an actuator to secure the cable termination, and are field terminatable (require no tooling) and are available in centerline spacing of 0.25mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 1.0mm, and 1.25mm, and incorporate a low profile height and light-weight features.

Trend Paper

Considerations for Addressing the Demands of Today’s Power and Signal Connections

Smaller, lighter, more portable yet still flexible and rugged. Sound familiar? These are just some of the requirements for today’s engineering needs. Will your design address the needs for intense heat or cold with gold plating? Will it be light enough with a slim profile to suit a range of applications? Will it provide quality along with reliability?

Features

FPC Connectors

Can accommodate FPC/FFC cable
Available in ZIF and non-ZIF styles
Variety of centerline spacing options
Available in SMT and T/H PCB termination
Requires no tooling
Available in right-angle and vertical mounting orientations
Right-angle version available with top, bottom, or dual contact
Solder pads and kinked legs for PCB retention
Locking feature provides high retention force

↓

Low profile height

Cost effective solution

Save Time

Quick Reference Guide

Flexible Printed Circuit Connectors (English)

Virtual Sample Kit

Flexible Printed Circuit Connectors (English)

Product Line Options

FPC Connectors

0.25mm pitch FPC Connectors
Centerline 0.25mm. Robust actuator, back flip-lock, bottom contact, slanted insertion.
0.3mm pitch FPC Connectors
Centerline 0.3mm. Variety of flip-lock types, contact points, and actuator types.
0.5mm pitch FPC Connectors
Centerline 0.5mm. Variety of flip-lock types, contact points, and actuator types. Right-angle and vertical orientation styles. Top, bottom, or dual contact versions.
1.0mm pitch FPC Connectors
Centerline 1.0mm. ZIF and non-ZIF versions. Through-hole and surface mount versions. Right-angle and vertical orientation styles.
1.25mm pitch FPC Connectors
Centerline 1.25mm. Non-ZIF. Right-angle and vertical orientation styles

Product Options

Low Profile

Click here to view our low profile flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors

Engineering a Connected Future of Everything: IoT Connectivity Solution from TE

See our IoT portfolio & solutions

Our new FPC connectors enable the design flexibility our customers need. In addition, they allow for low profile height, space savings and reduced assembly time.

Joseph Proffitt,: Product Manager, TE Connectivity

Applications

FPC Connectors

Flat flex printed cable
LC displays
Game consoles
Tablets
Wearables
Cameras
Inkjet, laser, and 3D printers
Personal computers
Mobile and smart phones
GPS devices
Set top boxes
Disk drives
Copiers
Medical equipment

Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) Connector

Centerline Options

0.25mm pitch Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) Connector
0.3mm Pitch FPC Connector
0.5mm Pitch FPC Connector
1.0mm Pitch FPC Connector
1.25mm Pitch FPC Connector

TAIL ORIENTATION

FPC Figure A&B — All of our fine pitch FPC products feature a staggered tail orientation. This orientation type means that the layout of the front and rear contacts are staggered as illustrated in Figure A. When the tail orientation is staggered, it is important to remember that you can measure the centerline by measuring the distance between the center of the front contact and the center of the rear contact as illustrated in Figure B.

CENTERLINE SPACING

FPC Basics Figure C — Figure C | Centerline can be measured many different ways, however, in general it is simply the spacing between the center of one contact and the center of the contact next to it. You can note the centerline of our fine pitch FPC product by looking at the contacts of the connector itself, shown in Figure C, or by the method already described in Figure B.

ACTUATOR TYPES

All of our fine pitch FPC connectors incorporate a flip lock actuator for greater printed circuit retention. This termination method also allows for zero insertion force, which is why this product is commonly referred to as a ZIF connector. The operation of a flip-lock actuator can be seen in the images below.

Front Flip-Lock Actuator

Front Flip-Lock Actuator Step 3 — Step Three: With the FPC inserted, close the flip-lock actuator.

Front Flip-Lock Actuator Step 4 — Step Four: Your FPC is now securely mated with the connector

Back Flip-Lock Actuator

Back Flip-Lock Actuator - Step 3 — Step Three: With the FPC inserted, close the flip-lock actuator.

Back Flip-Lock Actuator - Step 4 — Step Four: Your FPC is now securely mated with the connector.

Stuffer Actuator (Plunger Style)

Stuffer Actuator (Plunger Style) - Step 3 — Step Three: Insert the FPC into the connector & slide stuffer backward to close

Stuffer Actuator (Plunger Style) - Step 4 — Step Four: Your FPC is now securely mated with the connector.

CONTACT TYPES

ANGLED INSERTION

Advantages

FPC Straight insertion — Straight Insertion: Typically FPCs are inserted straight into the interconnect (or parallel to the PCB). This insertion method uses valuable real estate in front of the interconnect, which can be a problem as today’s devices are trending towards miniaturization.

FPC Angled insertion: — Angled Insertion: With the angled or slanted insertion you can see how the FPC enters the interconnect from an angle. This insertion method frees up the space in front of the interconnect that would not have been available using the standard insertion method.

FPC Advantage of angled insertion — Advantage of Angled Insertion: In this image, you can see how the saved board space can be optimized when using the angled insertion interconnect. You can easily use the freed board space to run a group of FPC connectors or to place anything in this space on the PCB.

Frequently Asked Questions

Standard & Fine Pitch

Q: What position sizes can TE Connectivity provide?

A: We offer odd number position sizes only, unless otherwise stated on the product drawing. We can also offer up to 71P in our 0.3mm series and up to 61P in our 0.25mm pitch series.

Q: What is the advantage of angled flexible printed circuit insertion?

A: Being able to insert and mate the FPC into the connector at an angle makes it possible to mount the FPC connector almost anywhere on your PCB as there is much less clearance needed in front of the connector during mating and unmating.