Glossary

Acc ess ho le Conductor width
A hole in the cover layer of a circuit that allows electrical accessto a flex circuit’s conductor pads and through-holes. The width of a conductor measured across its base. ConductorWidthAdhesivePo Access Ho l e l yimide Co ve r
Insulator material laminated to an etched element. Covers canbe located on the inner or outer layers. Internal cover layers are found in the unbonded regions of a circuit. Annu la r rin g
The ring of exposed copper or solder that surrounds a flex circuit’s through-holes. Dyn a mic a pp l ic a tion
The use of a flex circuit in an environment that requires flexingin use. Annu l arRing F le x circuit
Flexible printed circuits made from etched foil conductorstrands. The conductor strands are laminated between insulat- ing layers. Flex circuits can vary in complexity from the simplest single-layer circuit to a complex multilayer. Artwor k
The original pattern of conductor strands for a flexible circuit. F le x-Coi l ™ Ch e mic all y mi lle d di e ( CMD )
Flex circuits with internal or attached wire-wound coils. A tool used in a punch press with blades formed by a chemicalmilling process, and mounted on a 1" (2.54cm) thick aluminum base. Ho l d-down t abs
An extension of foil on a conductor pad that aids the pad ingripping to the substrate insulation. Hold-down tabs are also referred to as “anchoring spurs.” Conductor
The path that carries electrical current from one point to another. Minco’s flex circuit conductors are commonly found in the form of copper strands. Conductor Ho l d-Down T ab I- bea m e ff e ct
The tendency of a flex circuit to have reduced flexibility andfracture conductor strands if the conductor strands are layered directly over each other, instead of being staggered from layer to layer. Conductor s p a cin g
The width of space between conductor strands. A certain mini-mum conductor spacing must exist in order to prevent conduc- tors from shorting together. ConductorSpacingAdhesivePo l yimide 28