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Flat Flex, Ribbon Jumper Cables

Flat Flex cables (FFCs) and Ribbon Jumper cables (RJC) are both flexible and engaging interconnect cables that provide an efficient, cost effective pathway for electrical signals between multiple printed circuit boards (PCBs). They are popularly used in today’s communication, medical, consumer electronic, industrial automation and many other markets. While FFCs and RJC are similar in their theoretical construct and application field, they differ in their degree of complexity, features, and capabilities. This article will focus on this type of cabling and its relative applications and how they work.

Flat Flex Cables

Flat Flex cables are flat but slightly angled cables that contain multiple electrical conductors. The design of these cables can range from very simple (single-sided) to highly complex (multi-layer) depending on the application. However, the basic aim of flat flex cable (FFC) technology is to save space by eliminating bulky conductors. An FFC cable typically contains a single, flat line of conductors, with multiple circuits running along the length of the cable, often bundled in a chevroned or stacked arrangement.

FFCs can be either unshielded (no EMI protection) or shielded (EMI protection). Unshielded FFCs are generally suitable for low speed applications such as consumer electronics, automotive, or medical appliances. However, shielded FFCs are more suitable for higher speeds such as communication and industrial automation.

Ribbon Jumper Cables

Ribbon Jumper cables are slightly more complicated than FFC cables. They are made up of individual flexible conductor traces that are bundled together in a single wire. A wide variety of possible configurations exist for RJC cables, with some cables having two flat strands of wires and others having four strands of wires wraped around a single substrate. Compared to FFCs, the conductor traces in a RJC have higher density and are much more tightly bundled.

RJC cables are shielded or unshielded and are usually preferred for higher speed and more complex applications such as industrial automation, communication, and medical applications. The typical operating voltage for RJC is 5V and a few models can support up to 20V.

Working Principle

Both FFC and RJC cables transfer electrical signals from one point on the printed circuit board (PCB) to another one. The cable is connected between the two points on the PCB and electrical signals are sent through the copper conductors in the ribbon or flex cable.

To prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI), the cables can be shielded, which encases the copper conductors in a conductive material such as aluminum foil. This conductive material helps to prevent interference from external sources. In addition to providing EMI protection, shielding also helps to Increase the electrical resistance of the cable, making it less susceptible to accidental electrical shorts.

For FFCs, the electrical signal is transmitted through flat copper conductors located between the cable layers. This is done by creating an electrical field between two or more conductors, which causes a charge to flow. On the other hand, RJC cables transmit the signal by utilizing the difference in electrical potential between the adjacent conductors.

Conclusion

Flat Flex and Ribbon Jumper cables are both flexible and engaging interconnect cables that provide an efficient, cost effective pathway for electrical signals from one printed circuit board (PCB) to another. While their theoretical construct and application fields are similar, they differ in their degree of complexity, features, and capabilities. Accurate selection of one or the other depends on the specific application they are intended for and the desired performance.

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