Flex-Circuits replace hardboards and wiring in aircraft instruments

Product: Flex Circuit 
Market: Aerospace
Application: Interconnect components 

An aerospace company replaced three hard circuit boards and several wires with one Minco flexible circuit in their aircraft instruments. These panel-mounted meters display altitude, temperatures, and other parameters. Inside the cylindrical case of each instrument, they used to have three hardboards forming the sides of a box. The space between the boards was so jammed with components and connecting wires that the boards were actually bowed outward.

The Minco circuit has two conductor layers, and three stiffeners where the hardboards were. The stiffeners have silk-screened markings to aid component insertion. After the components are in place, the circuit is folded between stiffeners, the meter movement is connected to the end of it, and the assembly is inserted into the case. After switching to the flex-circuit, the instruments weigh less, are more reliable, and are much easier to assemble.