Application of FPC in Smart Phone
Apple is a staunch supporter of Flexible PCB. As many as 16 pieces of FPC are used in its iPhone. It is the largest purchaser of flexible printed circuit board in the world. Apple is the main customer of the top six Flex PCB manufacturers in the world. Samsung, Huawei, OPPO and other manufacturers are also increasing the use of FPC in their smartphones under Apple's demonstration.
As the main driving force of FPC's growth, smartphones benefit from Apple and its demonstration effect. The rapid penetration of FPC has maintained a high growth rate every year since 2009. In 2017, as the only bright spot of PCB industry, FPC has become the only category to achieve positive growth.
FPC circuit board manufacturing industry appeared in the 1960s. The United States and other countries with advanced electronic technology first applied FPC to aerospace and military applications of high-end electronic products. After the end of the Cold War, FPC began to be used for civil products. At the beginning of the 21st century, the vigorous development of consumer electronics industry has pushed FPC industry into a period of rapid development. However, with the continuous improvement of production costs in European and American countries, the focus of FPC production has gradually shifted to Asia, forming the first wave of industrial transfer of FPC, and promoting the rapid growth of FPC industry in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other countries and regions with good manufacturing foundation and production experience.
In recent years, production costs in Japan, Korea and Taiwan have continued to rise, and FPC industry has begun a new round of industrial transfer. FPC manufacturers in developed countries have invested in setting up factories in China. As a major recipient of FPC industry, China has benefited from the new wave of industrial transfer. At present, the total output value of FPC in China is in the leading position in the world.
Production Process of FPC Circuit Board
At present, the production process of flexible circuit boards mainly includes cutting, punching, black hole, copper plating, sticking film, exposure, development, etching, dedrying film, decontamination and cleaning, sticking protective film, lamination, pure tin, gold plating, silk printing, punching, electrical testing, bonding of reinforcing film, functional testing and so on.
Definition and Application of FPC
Flexible Printed Circuit, also known as flexible circuit board, flexible printed circuit board, referred to as flexible board or FPC, has the characteristics of high wiring density, light weight and thin thickness.
Development Trend of FPC
Based on the vast market of FPC in China, large enterprises in Japan, the United States, Taiwan and other countries and regions have set up factories in China. By 2016, flexible circuit boards, like rigid circuit boards, have made great progress. However, if a new product according to the "start-development-climax-decline-elimination" rule, FPC is now in the area between the climax and decline, before there is no product to replace the flexible board, flexible board to continue to occupy market share, we must innovate, only innovation can let it out of this strange circle.
The future direction of FPC innovation:
Thickness. The thickness of FPC must be more flexible and thinner.
Flexural resistance. Bending is the inherent characteristic of FPC. In the future, the flexibility of FPC must be stronger. It must be more than 10,000 times. Of course, better substrates are needed.
Price. At present, the price of FPC is much higher than that of PCB. If the price of FPC comes down, the market will be much wider.
Technological level. In order to meet various requirements, the FPC process must be upgraded, and the minimum aperture and line width/line spacing must meet higher requirements.
