Flat cables are very flexible and
efficient. They are in high demand for smaller and thinner electronic devices in
a variety of industries including aerospace, telecommunications, medicine, IT
and robotics. They are even used in
household equipment.
The flat cable was developed in the late 1950s. Engineers
figured out how to use a new material, silicone rubber, to mold a flat cable
containing multiple conductors of the same size. Its invention greatly improved
product performance, reliability, packaging, and manufacturing in various
applications.
Flexible
and Light
Flat cables have high flexibility, making them
extremely useful for applications that require frequent motion. Unlike in round
cables, the bent radius in flat cables is minimal. Flat cables are protected
individually, and are much lighter in weight than round cables, where the wire
is wrapped several times with different materials. These qualities make flat cables very useful for
various applications like computers printers, medical equipment, etc.
Reliable
Flat cables have consistent electrical
characteristics. The geometry of a flat cable is constant, which eliminates
several common sources of wiring error and malfunction. Its conductor spacing
is also fixed, making proper contact assignment as good as automatic.
Space
Efficient
Flat cables take less than half the space of
round ones. They can be easily stacked or layered because they are flat.
Convenient
Flat cables greatly reduce assembly and
maintenance needs. Unlike round cables, they can be easily folded or bent. Installing
them is also much easier because they can be fastened, taped, or installed by
using adhesives or clamps. They can also reduce the number of separate
conductors for power and signal that need to be managed, as they can be put together
in a single flat cable.
Reduced
Skewing Effects
A flat cable has continuous and consistent
dielectric and its conductors have the same physical and electrical length,
thus allowing signals to pass through smoothly. There are fewer delays between
signals with the flat cable.