ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS INCORPORATING SAME

• US 20110120750A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Gouch, David William, Webberley, Philip Lawrence, Dunleavy, Michael, Rew, Jason Karl, Haq, Sajad, Hucker, Martyn John
• Granted Patent: US 8,796,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/126.2
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/10 characterised by the structure of fibrous reinforcements , e.g. hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/882 partly or totally electrically conductive, e.g. for EMI shielding conductive floors or floor coverings H05F3/025; EMI shielding in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/885 with incorporated metallic wires, nets, films or plates as lost heating elements B29C35/0272, B29C61/0625
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0016 of aircraft wings or blades
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0083 by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/14 comprising conductive layers or films on insulating-supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons

Abstract

Composite structural components are disclosed that include electrically conducting fibres providing multiple signal or paths to electrical components disposed on or adjacent the material. The signal paths may therefore be embedded in the structural component as an intrinsic reinforcing element. Also disclosed are materials for making up the structure and fabrics and methods for the production thereof.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit assembly comprising:

spaced electrical components; and

two or more conducting paths for electrically coupling the components, each path including an electrically conducting fibre which forms part of a fibre reinforced composite material having a plurality of reinforcing fibres and a matrix material wherein substantially all of said electrically conducting fibres and substantially all of said reinforcing fibres are in at least partial surface bonding contact with said matrix material, whereby said conducting fibres also serve as reinforcing fibres.

2. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein each conducting fibre has an electrically conducting surface.

3. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 2, wherein each conducting fibre is hollow, and said electrically conducting surface comprises an electrically conducting coating, core or layer on the interior of said fibre.

4. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting coating, core or layer comprises an electroless plated layer and/or an electroplated layer on each fibre.

5. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the or each fibre is made of an electrically conducting material.

6. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 1, comprising:

means for selectively modulating one or more electrical properties of the reinforcing fibres.

7. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 6, comprising:

a first group of electrically conducting fibres defining a conducting core is spaced from a second group of electrically conducting fibres defining an electrical screen, by a third group of electrically insulating fibres, at least some of the fibres of the third group being hollow to allow an electrical property modulating material to be selectively introduced into and withdrawn from said fibres of the third group.

8. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 7, wherein said electrical modulating material is effective to adjust the dielectric constant of the third group of fibres.

9. A structural component incorporating an electrical circuit assembly according to claim 1.

10. A structural component formed according to claim 9, comprising:

at least one electrical sensor or transducer connected to one or more of said conducting paths.

11. A fibre composite material comprising:

a plurality of fibres in a matrix material, in which one or more of said fibres is electrically conducting to provide discrete electrical conductors electrically isolated from each other, and wherein an outer diameter of said fibres is less than 100 μ

m.

12. A hollow fibre for an electrically conducting fibre in a fibre composite material, said fibre comprising:

an internal coating, core or layer of electrically conducting material; and

an outer diameter of less than 100 μ

m.

13. A method of making an electrically conducting fibre, the method comprising:

selecting a hollow fibre having an outer diameter of less than 100 μ

m; and

depositing, on an interior thereof, a coating, core or layer of metal material.

14. A method according claim 13, wherein said depositing comprises:

electroless plating.

15. A method according claim 13, wherein said depositing comprises:

electroplating.