# US 10,485,107 B2 · Downhole equipment using flexible circuits

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- Number: US 10,485,107 B2
- Document ID: US10485107B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/366,808
- Filed: 2016-12-01
- Published: 2018-06-07
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Harmel Defretin; Tao Xu; Glenn Gardner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10485107B2

## CPC

- H05K 1/147: {at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit (H05K1/148 takes precedence)}
- H05K 1/148: {Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means}
- H05K 3/363: {by soldering}
- H05K 1/028: {Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits (H05K1/0283 takes precedence)}
- H05K 3/4691: {Rigid-flexible multilayer circuits comprising rigid and flexible layers, e.g. having in the bending regions only flexible layers}
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

Downhole equipment circuitry, comprising: a first substrate member including one or more circuits; a second substrate member including one or more circuits; and a flexible circuit, wherein: the first and second substrate members are separate substrate members; the flexible circuit is of a laminated construction; and the flexible circuit provides electrical communication between the one or more circuits of the first substrate member and the one or more circuits for the second substrate member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Downhole equipment circuitry, comprising:
a first substrate member including one or more circuits;
a second substrate member including one or more circuits; and
a flexible circuit, wherein:
the first and second substrate members are separate substrate members;
the flexible circuit is of a laminated construction with a plurality of layers, wherein the flexible circuit is of a rigid-flexible type such that at least one rigid portion of the flexible circuit has at least one rigid layer that is mounted with respect to the first or second substrate members; and
the flexible circuit provides electrical communication between the one or more circuits of the first substrate member and the one or more circuits for the second substrate member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first support member and a second support member, wherein the first substrate member is mounted to the first support member and the second substrate member is mounted to the second support member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 2, wherein the at least one rigid portion includes a rigid portion mounted on the first or second support member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid portion includes a rigid portion mounted adjacent the first or second substrate member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 3, wherein the flexible circuit is wire bonded to at least one of the first or second substrate members.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 2, wherein the support member is a wall of a housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the one or more circuits of the first or second substrate members is substantially sealed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The downhole equipment circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the first or second substrate member is a co-fired ceramic material.

### Claim 9

Downhole equipment including:
a housing containing downhole equipment circuitry, wherein the downhole equipment circuitry comprises:
a first substrate member including one or more circuits;
a second substrate member including one or more circuits; and
a flexible circuit, wherein:
the first and second substrate members are separate substrate members;
the flexible circuit is of a laminated construction with a plurality of layers, wherein the flexible circuit is of a rigid-flexible type such that at least one rigid portion of the flexible circuit has at least one rigid layer that is mounted with respect to the first or second substrate members; and
the flexible circuit provides electrical communication between the one or more circuits of the first substrate member and the one or more circuits for the second substrate member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The downhole equipment according to claim 9, wherein the downhole equipment is a tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The downhole equipment according to claim 9, wherein the first and second substrate members are mounted in the housing such that each substrate member extends primarily through a different plane to the other substrate member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The downhole equipment according to claim 11, wherein each substrate member faces at least part of the other substrate member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The downhole equipment circuitry of claim 2, wherein the first and second support members are spaced apart and the flexible circuit partially overlaps each of the first and second support members.