In the fields of consumer electronics, medical equipment, automotive electronics, and industrial control, the choice of internal wiring materials directly affects the performance and reliability of the entire machine. With devices developing towards being thinner, faster, and more integrated, the selection between the three commonly used wire materials—Coax, FPC, and FFC—has become particularly important. This article will systematically analyze ultra-fine coaxial cables, FPC wires, and FFC wires from three dimensions: structural characteristics, performance differences, and typical applications, to help you make the correct selection judgment quickly in actual projects.
What are ultra-fine coaxial cables, FPC lines, and FFC lines?
Micro coaxial cable
The ultra-fine coaxial structure is similar to traditional coaxial cables but with a smaller size, consisting of an inner conductor, insulation layer, shielding layer, and outer sheath. With its excellent shielding effect and anti-interference capability, it can achieve high-speed and stable transmission in limited spaces, making it an ideal solution for high-density applications such as smartphone camera modules, medical endoscopes, and vehicle display modules.
FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) Flexible Circuit Board
FPC is a flexible printed circuit formed by etching copper foil on a flexible material, which is lightweight and highly flexible, allowing for free shape design according to the mechanical structure. It can also directly support electronic components and is commonly used in situations requiring flexible wiring, such as internal wiring in mobile phones, hinge areas of laptops, wearable devices, and automotive modules.
• FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) Flexible Flat Cable
FFC is a cost-effective ribbon cable consisting of multiple parallel flat conductors with insulating layers. Its structure is simple and easy to install, and it is widely used in connection tasks with fixed structures, low-speed requirements, such as televisions, printers, household appliances, etc.
Where do their performance and characteristics differ?
Extremely thin coaxial cable (Micro Coax)
High-speed performance strong, up to Gbps level
Excellent shielding structure, anti-interference stable
Adaptable to complex routing, excellent flexibility
• Most suitable for high frequency, high speed and space compact environments
FPC line
Lightweight and flexible, can be bent and folded repeatedly
Integrable electronic components (resistors, capacitors, chips, etc.)
Suitable for medium and low-speed signals
It is a conventional choice for high-integrated electronic devices.
FFC line
Simple structure, low cost
Line is clear, convenient for processing and installation.
Interference resistance and high-speed performance are relatively weak.
Applicable to fixed structures and low-speed transmission scenarios
How to choose in different application scenarios?
High frequency, high speed, strong anti-interference, and extremely small space
Camera module, endoscope, drone transmission
Select: ultra-fine coaxial cable
Lightweight, flexible, bendable multiple times, medium and low-speed transmission
Mainboard wiring, wearable devices, in-vehicle modules
Select: FPC line
Fixed structure, low rate requirements, cost-sensitive
Printer, home appliance, display device internal connections
Select: FFC line
Choosing the appropriate internal wiring material can not only enhance product performance but also significantly reduce overall BOM cost and maintenance risk.
• When the core requirement of the project is high speed and anti-interference, extremely fine coaxial cables are irreplaceable.
If pursuing slimness, flexibility, and bendability, FPC has more advantages.
For cost-sensitive and structurally simple products, FFC is the most economical solution.
Understanding the structural differences and application boundaries will help you complete product design more efficiently, ensuring the best balance between performance, cost, and reliability.
We have been focusing on the design and customization of high-speed signal cable harnesses and ultra-fine coaxial cable harnesses for a long time, committed to providing stable and reliable high-speed interconnect solutions. If you have any related needs or want to learn more, please contact: Manager Yin.
18913280527 (WeChat number)。
