# US 2014/0193986 A1 · High-voltage resistance and retention of printed flex circuits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193986 A1 - Document ID: US20140193986A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/115,599 - Filed: 2012-05-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-03 - Assignees: Cardioinsight Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: John T. Venaleck; Larry Crofoot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193986A1 ## CPC - H01R 12/771: {Details} - H01R 12/7005: {Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors (for printed circuit boards H05K)} - H01R 12/772: {Strain relieving means} - H01R 12/79: connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures - H01R 13/03: characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials - H05K 1/0256: {Electrical insulation details, e.g. around high voltage areas} - H05K 1/117: {Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors} - H05K 1/118: {specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions} - H05K 3/28: Applying non-metallic protective coatings {(H05K3/0091 takes precedence; methods for intermediate insulating layers for build-up multilayer circuits H05K3/4673)} - H05K 2201/09063: Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A device includes an electrical connector coupled to the end of a flex circuit. The connector includes interior ribs that engage slots in the flex circuit, with the ribs and slots separating adjacent contact pads on the flex circuit. The contact pads are exposed portions of conductive traces on the flex circuit. Other portions of the conductive traces may be covered by a dielectric material, such as a non-conductive ink. The ribs provide an increased isolation path between the contact pads. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: an electrical connector; and a flex circuit that is coupled to the electrical connector; wherein the flex circuit includes a substrate, with conductive traces that terminate in contact pads; and wherein the flex circuit had slots between the contact pads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the slots extend into a non-conductive ink region where a non-conductive ink layer covers the conductive traces that terminate in the conductive pads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the non-conductive ink layer covers substantially all of a width of the flex circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate extends beyond the contact pads to the end of the flex circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the slots extend into the portion of the substrate beyond the contact pads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the slots are back from an edge of the flexible circuit that is beyond the contact pads, by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the slots overlap the contact pads. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the slots are rectangular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the contact pads do not extend all the way to an edge of the flex circuit that is beyond the contact pads, with the contact pads beyond offset from the edge by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive traces are made of conductive ink. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the connector has ribs that fit into the slots. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the ribs are an integral part with one connector half of the connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the ribs extend from the one connector half to another connector half of the connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein engagement of the ribs and the slots provides mechanical retention of the flex circuit in the connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the ribs in the connector body fit the slots in the flexible circuit and extend beyond the conductive pads both fore and aft of the conductive pads. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the ribs and slots are positioned such that a potential current path is lengthened, avoiding current leakage and voltage breakdown. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein respective of the ribs are located between respective of adjacent pairs of the contact pads. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the connector includes conductive contacts that press against respective of the contact pads. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the contacts are in a header body clamped between connector halves of the connector. ### Claim 20 A flex circuit comprising: a substrate; and conductive traces that terminate in contact pads; wherein the flex circuit had slots between the contact pads. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The flex circuit of claim 20, wherein the slots extend into a non-conductive ink region where a non-conductive ink layer covers the conductive traces that terminate in the conductive pads. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, wherein the non-conductive ink layer covers substantially all of a width of the flex circuit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the substrate extends beyond the contact pads to the end of the flex circuit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the slots extend into the portion of the substrate beyond the contact pads. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the slots are back from an edge of the flexible circuit that is beyond the contact pads, by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the slots overlap the contact pads. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the slots are rectangular. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the contact pads do not extend all the way to an edge of the flex circuit that is beyond the contact pads, with the contact pads beyond offset from the edge by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the conductive traces are made of conductive ink. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.