# US 12,004,289 B2 · Flexible substrate and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,289 B2 - Document ID: US12004289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/227,426 - Filed: 2021-04-12 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-14 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tomohiro Nagai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004289B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas} - H05K 1/0237: {High frequency adaptations (H05K1/0216 takes precedence)} - H01P 3/08: Microstrips; Strip lines - H01P 5/184: {the guides being strip lines or microstrips} - H01Q 1/12: Supports; Mounting means - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01R 12/7076: {for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display} - H01R 12/777: {Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts (H01R12/78, H01R12/79 take precedence)} - H01R 12/79: connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures - H01R 24/50: mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board] - H05K 1/0277: {Bendability or stretchability details (H05K1/038, H05K3/4691 take precedence)} - H05K 1/0393: {Flexible materials (H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups)} - H05K 1/148: {Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means} - H05K 2201/0154: Polyimide - H05K 2201/09236: Parallel layout - H05K 2201/10189: Non-printed connector - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A flexible substrate includes a base substrate that has flexibility, connecting portions on the base substrate and connectible to an antenna substrate and a circuit substrate, and a first line and a second line at the base substrate and connected to the connecting portions. The first line and the second line include a first region in which the first line and the second line extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other, and a second region in which the first line and the second line are closer to each other than in the first region and coupled to each other, and the second region defines a directional coupler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible substrate comprising: a base substrate that has flexibility; a connecting portion on the base substrate and connectible to a mounted circuit; and a first line and a second line at the base substrate and connected to the connecting portion; wherein the first line and the second line include: a first region in which the first line and the second line extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other; and a second region in which the first line and the second line are closer to each other than in the first region and coupled to each other; and a length of each of the first line and the second line in the second region is equal or substantially equal to one quarter of a wavelength of a signal that propagates through the first line and the second line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the base substrate includes a stacked body including a plurality of insulating base material layers stacked on each other; and a thickness of the second region is larger than a thickness of the first region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first line and the second line in the second region varies in stages. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the base substrate includes an antenna portion electrically connected to the first line or the second line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the first region includes a bent portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction in which the first line and the second line extend, the first region is disposed on each side of the second region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the first line and the second line are disposed on different layers of the base substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electronic device comprising: the flexible substrate according to claim 1; a first mounted circuit; and a second mounted circuit; wherein the first mounted circuit and the second mounted circuit are connected to each other through the flexible substrate; the connecting portion includes: a first connecting portion connected to the first mounted circuit; and a second connecting portion connected to the second mounted circuit; the first line is connected to the first connecting portion; and the second line is connected to the second connecting portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the first mounted circuit is an antenna substrate including an antenna; and the second mounted circuit is a circuit substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the second region is closer to the antenna substrate than to the circuit substrate. ### Claim 11 A flexible substrate comprising: a base substrate that has flexibility; a connecting portion on the base substrate and connectible to a mounted circuit; and a first line and a second line at the base substrate and connected to the connecting portion; wherein the first line and the second line include: a first region in which the first line and the second line extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other; and a second region in which the first line and the second line are closer to each other than in the first region and coupled to each other; and the first region includes an interlayer connection conductor between the first line and the second line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flexible substrate according to claim 11, wherein the base substrate includes a stacked body including a plurality of insulating base material layers stacked on each other; and a thickness of the second region is larger than a thickness of the first region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The flexible substrate according to claim 11, wherein a distance between the first line and the second line in the second region varies in stages. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The flexible substrate according to claim 11, wherein the base substrate includes an antenna portion electrically connected to the first line or the second line. ### Claim 15 A flexible substrate comprising: a base substrate that is at least partially bent; a connecting portion on the base substrate and connectible to a mounted circuit; and a first line and a second line at the base substrate and connected to the connecting portion; wherein the first line and the second line include: a first region in which the first line and the second line extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other; and a second region in which the first line and the second line extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other; and a maximum distance between the first line and the second line in the second region is smaller than a maximum distance between the first line and the second line in the first region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An electronic device comprising: the flexible substrate according to claim 15; a first mounted circuit; and a second mounted circuit; wherein the first mounted circuit and the second mounted circuit are connected to each other through the flexible substrate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the first mounted circuit is an antenna substrate including an antenna; and the second mounted circuit is a circuit substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the second region is closer to the antenna substrate than to the circuit substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The flexible substrate according to claim 15, wherein the base substrate includes a stacked body including a plurality of insulating base material layers stacked on each other; and a thickness of the second region is larger than a thickness of the first region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The flexible substrate according to claim 15, wherein a distance between the first line and the second line in the second region varies in stages. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The flexible substrate according to claim 15, wherein the base substrate includes an antenna portion electrically connected to the first line or the second line.