Wearable electronic devices

• US 10,379,576 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vorbeck Materials Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vorbeck Materials Corp.
• Inventors: Lettow, John S
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US16/107,658
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0006 made of several layers of material
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/02 Layered materials characterised by special function or use A41D31/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/145 Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to flexible wearable electronic devices and associate methods of fabrication. In one embodiment, a general flexible wearable electronic device comprises a flexible article of apparel. A first plurality of components are in communication with the flexible article of apparel and each configured to comprise a radius of curvature of no more than 5 cm when folded. The first plurality of components comprises a display(s) and an input device(s). The first plurality of components are printed on to the flexible apparel using an electrically conductive ink that comprises a polymeric binder and single sheets of graphene comprising a thickness of up to 1 nm. A second plurality of components are in communication with the flexible article of apparel and communicatively coupled to the first plurality of components. The second plurality of components comprises a microprocessor(s) and an electronic device(s) configured for wireless communication.

Claims

1. A flexible wearable electronic device comprising:

a flexible article of apparel;

a first plurality of components in communication with the flexible article of apparel and configured to comprise a radius of curvature of no more than 5 cm when folded, the first plurality of components comprising a display and an input device, the first plurality of components printed on to a surface of the flexible apparel using an electrically conductive ink, the electrically conductive ink comprising a polymeric binder and single sheets of graphene comprising a thickness of up to 1 nm; and

a second plurality of components in communication with the flexible article of apparel and communicatively coupled to the first plurality of components, the second plurality of components comprising a microprocessor and an electronic device configured for wireless communication.

2. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible article of apparel is configured to be worn on an appendage.

3. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of components comprises a resistor.

4. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of components comprise a transistor.

5. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of components comprise an antenna.

6. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive ink comprises a conductivity of at least 10⁻

8 S/m.

7. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive ink comprises a surface resistivity of no more than 10,000,000 Ω

/square/mil.

8. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of components comprise a sensor configured to detect one or more of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen.

9. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the single sheets of graphene each comprises a heteroatom incorporated into its lattice.

10. The flexible wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the single sheets of graphene each comprises a functional group attached to its lattice.

11. A method to fabricate a flexible wearable electronic device, comprising:

combining a polymeric binder and single sheets of graphene thereby producing an electrically conductive ink, the single sheets of graphene comprising a thickness of up to 1 nm;

printing a first plurality of components on to a surface of a flexible article of apparel utilizing the electrically conductive ink, each of the first plurality of components comprising a radius of curvature of no more than 5 cm when folded, the first plurality of components comprising a display and an input device; and

positioning a second plurality of components to be in communication with the flexible article of apparel, the second plurality of components comprising a microprocessor and an electronic device configured for wireless communication;

communicatively coupling the second plurality of components to the first plurality of components.

12. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, comprising forming the single sheets of graphene from graphite.

13. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 12, wherein forming the single sheets of graphene from graphite results in the single sheets of graphene each comprising a heteroatom incorporated therein.

14. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 12, wherein forming the single sheets of graphene from graphite results in the single sheets of graphene each comprising a functional group attached thereon.

15. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein producing the electrically conductive ink comprises producing the electrically conductive ink to comprise a conductivity of at least 10⁶ S/m.

16. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein producing the electrically conductive ink comprises producing the electrically conductive ink to comprise a surface resistivity of no more than 0.001 Ω

/square/mil.

17. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein printing the first plurality of components comprises screen printing.

18. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein printing the first plurality of components comprises electrohydrodynamic printing.

19. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, comprising printing a component of the first plurality of components on a surface of a substrate and affixing the substrate to the surface of the flexible article.

20. The method to fabricate the flexible wearable electronic device of claim 11, comprises curing at least one of the printed first plurality of components.