Hitachi Cable, Ltd. has developed and launched full-scale mass-production of a woven cable assembly for flexible thin wiring capable of reliable, high-speed signal transmission and ideal for use in a wide range of applications that require flexibility or mobility.

Electronic devices, including digital cameras and flat-screen televisions, continue to grow increasingly multifunctional, thin, and compact. The internal wiring materials in such devices must provide reliable, high-speed signal transmission and flexibility for deployment in the narrowest spaces or for applications that require flexibility or mobility.

The internal wiring materials used most often in electronic devices are flexible printed circuits (FPCs) and micro coaxial cables. However, FPCs do not readily accommodate complex movements such as twisting and turning. Additionally, they entail relatively high initial costs, since molds must be prepared to process their special circuit form. On the other hand, micro coaxial cables are constrained in how they can be flexed, since multiple cables tend to be gathered into thick bundles.

In response, Hitachi Cable has developed and launched sales of the woven cable assembly for flexible thin wiring that resolves all these issues.

The woven cable assembly is a belt-shaped harness with interwoven micro coaxial cables running along its length and polyester thread wrapped across its width. In addition to dimensions as thin as 0.3-1.0 mm, it can be processed into a wide range of shapes despite its belt-shaped form factor by adjusting the density of crosswise threads or by using loose threads not woven into the belt form. The assembly features outstanding durability against repeated flexing and twisting. Tests involving repeated bending through +/- 90° with a radius of 6 mm in an unloaded state have confirmed that a 46-AWG size *1 woven cable assembly can be flexed more than 10 million times without disconnection by metallic fatigue. These characteristics make it ideal for applications involving wiring in narrow, irregular shaped spaces or for wiring in applications requiring repeated movement.

All wires in the micro coaxial cable are shielded to achieve higher electromagnetic noise resistance than FPCs and to facilitate characteristic impedance matching. These characteristics allow the woven cable assembly to transmit signals reliably and at high speed. Additionally, it does not require the mold preparation required by FPCs, minimizing initial costs.

Hitachi Cable plans to promote sales of woven cable assemblies for use in electronic devices such as digital cameras and flat-screen televisions, targeting net sales of 300 million yen/year in fiscal 2012.

*1	AWG (American wire gauge) is a system indicating conductor size.

Exterior photo of woven cable assembly for flexible thin wiring

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