Rigid-flex circuit boards are those consisting of a combination of flexible and rigid circuit board areas and are always processed in a single delivery panel.
The rigid circuit board areas serve as the solid base to which components, control elements and connectors are added; they are joined together by the continous flexible circuitry.
These flexible connections make it possible to position and connect component-bearing rigid circuit boards functionally in difficult spatial configurations, thus saving space.
Rigid-flex technology will open up for evermore applications through standardization of materials and processes, especially considering the aspects of system costs and testability / reliability.
If the options of rigid-flex circuit boards are taken into consideration and coordinated at an early stage during the design, this technology offers many advantages:
3-dimensional wiring can miniaturize the need for space
Elimination of connectors and less laminate means less weight
Reduction of electrical joints ensures better reliability
Mounting is easier to deal with compared with pure flexible circuit boards alone
Even difficult contacts are detachable and thus simplify assembly
Testing conditions are simplified, a full test is possible prior to assembly
The expense of logistics and assembly is considerably lower with rigid-flex circuit boards
