hi, i have seen very flat wires with strips running through them. what are these cables called? they are very flat just like paper and have conducting paths and are flexible. these are found on connections to cd rom motors(not on the one that ejects the tray)
-- Flat flexible cables.
One form is vapor deposited aluminum on mylar. You can't solder to these and there is a limited number of cycles before it fatigues and fails.
I have seen many flip cover cell phones that blank the screen due to cable failures.
"Flexible PCB" is one term used. "mylar ribbon cable" or "flat cable" are other terms. There are probably many others too.
You can get ones designed to be plugged into connectors (they can't be soldered), while others (specifically "flexible PCBs") actually have tinned plated through pads and can be soldered to pins and have SMD or through hole components mounted on them. Very popular in high density consumer items like cameras.
Dave :)
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