Flat Flex Jumpers, Cables (FFC, FPC)

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	16-002-182D Aries Electronics, Inc.	PIN-STAKED FLEX JUMPER 16POS	0
	05-005.5-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 5POS .100 JUMPER 5 INCH	0
	12-004.5-171 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 12POS .100 JUMPER 4.5 INCH	0
	13-005-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 13POS .100 JUMPER 5 INCH	0
	37-009-171 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 37POS .100 JUMPER 9 INCH	0
	04-004-181B Aries Electronics, Inc.	PIN-STAKED FLEX JUMPER 4POS	0
	07-007-171 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 7POS .100 JUMPER 7 INCH	0
	24-003-171 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 24POS .100 JUMPER 3 INCH	0
	10-008-173 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 10POS .100 JUMPER 8 INCH	0
	40-006-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 40POS .100 JUMPER 6 INCH	0
	07-005-171P Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 7POS .100 JUMPER 5 INCH	0
	09-007-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 9POS .100 JUMPER 7 INCH	0
	06-004-173 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 6POS .100 JUMPER 4 INCH	0
	10-015-173 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 10POS .100 JUMPER 15 INCH	0
	24-006-173 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 24POS .100 JUMPER 6 INCH	0
	26-006-171 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 26POS .100 JUMPER 6 INCH	0
	15-006.5-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 15POS .100 JUMPER 6.5 INCH	0
	13-004.7-173 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 13POS .100 JUMPER 4.7 INCH	0
	16-016-172P Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 16POS .100 JUMPER 16 INCH	0
	11-006-172 Aries Electronics, Inc.	CABLE 11POS .100 JUMPER 6 INCH	0

Flat Flex Jumpers, Cables (FFC, FPC)

1. Overview

Flat Flex Jumpers and Cables, including Flexible Flat Cables (FFC) and Flexible Printed Circuits (FPC), are essential components in modern electronics. These thin, lightweight interconnect solutions enable high-density electrical connections while maintaining flexibility for compact and dynamic designs. FFCs are typically made of flat copper conductors embedded in insulating polyester or polyimide films, while FPCs are printed circuits built on flexible substrates. Their importance lies in enabling miniaturization, reducing weight, and supporting complex device architectures in applications ranging from consumer electronics to industrial automation.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
FFC (Flexible Flat Cable)	Uniform conductor spacing, low profile, cost-effective	Laptop hinges, printer head connections
FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit)	Customizable circuit patterns, multilayer designs, high durability	Smartphone cameras, medical sensors
Ribbon FFC	Parallel conductor arrangement, simple termination	Hard drive data cables
High-Speed FPC	Controlled impedance, EMI shielding	5G base station modules

3. Structure and Composition

A typical FFC/FPC assembly consists of:

Conductive Layer: Annealed copper (0.01 0.25mm thickness) for flexibility and conductivity
Dielectric Substrate: Polyimide (PI) or polyester (PET) films (0.05 0.2mm) for insulation
Adhesive Layer: Acrylic or epoxy-based bonding agents for layer integration
Reinforcement: Stainless steel or FR4 stiffeners at termination zones
Surface Finish: Gold plating (0.03 0.2 m) for contact reliability

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance	Typical Range
Conductor Pitch	Determines circuit density	0.3mm 2.54mm
Flex Life	Operational durability cycles	10,000 1,000,000 cycles
Dielectric Withstand Voltage	Electrical safety margin	500V 3000V AC
Operating Temperature	Thermal stability	-40 C to +125 C
Insertion Force	Connector mating effort	0.5N 5.0N/contact

5. Application Fields

Key industries and equipment:

Consumer Electronics: Foldable smartphones, tablets, wearable devices
Automotive: Dashboard displays, ADAS camera systems
Medical: Portable diagnostic devices, endoscopic imaging systems
Industrial: Robotics, CNC machine sensors
Telecommunications: Server backplanes, 5G phased arrays

Case Example: In automotive infotainment systems, FPCs enable bendable connections between rotating touchscreens and main PCBs, achieving 200,000+ operational cycles without signal degradation.

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
Molex	SlimStack FPC Connectors	0.4mm pitch, 30Gbps data rate
TE Connectivity	Micro Speed FFC	1.27mm pitch, 105 C rating
Hirose Electric	FH12 Series FPC	0.5mm pitch, ZIF termination
Samtec	FFC2040 Series	20-position, 0.8mm pitch

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Application Requirements: Determine static vs dynamic flexing needs
Environmental Conditions: Temperature range, chemical exposure
Electrical Performance: Signal integrity for high-speed applications
Cost Constraints: FFC typically 30-50% cheaper than FPC
Manufacturing Compatibility: Match termination method (ZIF, solder, press-fit)

8. Industry Trends

Key development directions:

Miniaturization: Sub-0.3mm pitch technologies under development
High-Speed Capabilities: Differential pair FPCs supporting 25Gbps+ rates
3D Integration: Molded FPCs for complex spatial configurations
Material Innovation: LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) substrates for mmWave applications
Automated Manufacturing: AI-driven inspection systems achieving 99.98% defect detection rates