From Structure to Performance: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Differences Between Extremely Thin Coaxial Cable Assemblies and FPC/FFC

In high-speed signal transmission and precision electronic systems, the selection of wire materials often directly determines the signal integrity of the system and the performance of the equipment. With the trend of electronic devices towards high-frequency, miniaturization, and lightweighting, traditional connection methods can no longer meet both the requirements of high-speed transmission and spatial layout. In current applications, extremely fine coaxial cable harnesses (Micro Coaxial Cable Harness) and flexible printed circuits (FPC/FFC) are two types of widely used connection solutions. They each have their own focuses in structural design, signal characteristics, and applicable scenarios. Understanding the differences between the two is crucial for engineering design and product performance optimization.


 

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Structural and Design Differences

• The extremely thin coaxial cable束 consists of conductor, insulating layer, metal shielding layer, and outer sheath, with each coaxial cable individually shielded, offering excellent anti-interference performance. Its cable diameter is typically between 0.3mm and 0.5mm, capable of achieving high-density, high-speed point-to-point signal transmission, especially suitable for applications with strict requirements for EMI suppression and signal integrity.
Flexible cables are made of polyimide (PI) or polyester film as the base material, internally composed of parallel copper foil conductors. They are overall soft, can be bent multiple times, and can realize complex wiring in a limited space, often used for flexible connections between internal modules of equipment.


 

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Part Two: Signal Performance Comparison

• Extremely fine coaxial cable束 performs outstandingly in high-speed signal transmission, featuring excellent impedance control capability, which can effectively reduce crosstalk and signal attenuation, maintaining transmission integrity. It is widely used in high-speed interfaces such as MIPI, HDMI, USB4, PCIe, ensuring high-speed and stable signal transmission.

Flexible cables perform well in low and medium-speed signal transmission, but when the signal frequency rises to several GHz, due to the lack of independent shielding structures between conductors, crosstalk and attenuation are prone to occur, and the signal integrity consequently decreases. Therefore, in high-frequency applications, their performance is difficult to match that of coaxial structures.

 

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The difference in application scenarios
The extremely fine coaxial cable束 is commonly used in fields that require high signal speed and anti-interference performance, such as smartphone camera modules, medical endoscopes, vehicle image systems, and industrial testing equipment. Its high bandwidth and low latency characteristics make it an ideal solution for high-speed image and data transmission.

Flexible cables are more commonly used for low-speed signal connections within equipment, such as keyboards, touch panels, LCD display modules, and so on. These applications have no high requirements for speed, but they have higher requirements for flexibility, ease of installation, and cost sensitivity, making flexible cables more economically viable.

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Four, processing and cost considerations

The machining accuracy requirements for ultra-fine coaxial cable bundles are high, involving processes such as precision stripping, crimping, and welding, with high manufacturing difficulty, complex technology, and relatively high cost. However, its reliability and high-speed performance can meet the long-term stable needs of strict applications.

Flexible cables can be mass-produced through automated production, which is simple to process and cost-effective, making them suitable for internal connections in consumer electronic products. In situations where production costs need to be reduced, FPC/FFC is an ideal choice.



In general, ultra-fine coaxial cable assemblies and flexible cables are not mutually exclusive solutions, but rather two complementary approaches for different application needs. Ultra-fine coaxial cable assemblies excel in high-speed, anti-interference, and high-reliability performance; while flexible cables occupy an important position with advantages of low cost, easy installation, and thinness. Engineers should comprehensively consider transmission speed, spatial structure, and cost budget during the design phase to select the most suitable interconnection solution.

I amSuzhou Huichengyuan Electronic Technology, Long-term focus on the design and customization of high-speed cable harnesses and extremely thin coaxial cable harnesses, committed to providing stable and reliable high-speed interconnection solutions. If you have related needs or want to learn more, please contact:Manager Yin 18913280527 (WeChat same number)。