Stackable Ribbon Cable Connectors

[knickers]

I got this idea while reading baldrik24's reply to the brushless motor controller post, so I'm fine if it isn't considered my idea.

* edit * DaveChambers also has a similar idea in the same post.

A ribbon cable with stackable, mini connectors on both sides. The connectors could have both male and female sides to fit in between two shields if needed. There could also be different sizes of cables offered because I know a 32 wire ribbon cable is pretty unwieldy, or just find a different kind of cable that is more densely packed.

This would allow any tinyshield to be remotely mounted, other shields to still be added to either side, and possibly to connect  a chain of shields together.

[DaveChambers]

This sounds cool. If I'm understanding you correctly, this would allow stacking both vertically and horizontally. The horizontal just meaning, "not on the current stack".

[knickers]

Yeah. You could even have a setup like saddle bags, two stacks connected by a ribbon.

[NOTNOTJON]

OR any cube-based geometric design for that matter. 

This idea would greatly improve the extensibility of ideas and designs for more complicated modules that need say more than one stack.  (i.e. - a few home-brewed circuits on the sides of a main controller shield stack).

[akiersky]

longer ribbon cables could be nice if components needed to be further away

[knickers]

Here is a terrible horrible rendering of what one might look like. Obviously this ribbon doesn't have enough wires for a full connector, this must be the trimmed down I2C version ;-)

[EKMallon]

I just wanted to put another positive vote in for this idea.  My project will become extremely space constrained in later versions, and having a flexible cable hanging away from the main stack, lets me attach a usb shield after the rest of the stack is bolted down tight in the housing (and wedged in between the batteries) That would make things much more convienient.

[tomcUT]

This sounds like a great idea.  Perhaps two versions would be good... 

1) On one end, the male and female stack and the other, just the conductors....  so you could connect it to a bread board or whatever else you wanted to do... (power supply, or sensors, or whatever)

2) Put the stacking cable on both ends to join two stacks.

Make both options available in different lengths.

I don't know if this is too much to ask, but in option 1, make it easy to exclude certain lines... be able to clip them or something.

[tomcUT]

One more thought in this arena...   an I2C stacking cable to connect multiple stacks together (each with its own CPU board).  Though this is similar to this post:

http://forum.tiny-circuits.com/index.php?topic=14.0

[calvinthedestroyer]

My thought was to have a plate where you can place 4 shields connected on a single plane.
Also I thought of having a right angle connector. That would be good for the new, longer boards.

We might come out with some shields like this.
Not sure if I can find a small enough ribbon cable.

[pokemon]

This idea is amazing. I also love the idea of right angle connectors. I have an idea right now on how to use them.