STRAIN RELIEF STRUCTURES FOR STRETACHBLE INTERCONNECTS

• US 20140022746A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medidata Solutions Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: MC10, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Yung-Yu
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/750
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0271 Arrangements for reducing stress or warp in rigid printed circuit boards, e.g. caused by loads, vibrations or differences in thermal expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0283 Stretchable printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09245 Crossing layout

Abstract

Intersection structures are provided to reduce a strain in a conformable electronic system that includes multi-level arrangements of stretchable interconnect structures. Bypass regions are formed in areas of the stretchable interconnect structures that may ordinarily cross or pass each other. The bypass regions of the stretchable interconnects are disposed relative to each other such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the bypass regions of each stretchable interconnect structure. The intersection structure has elastic properties that relieve a mechanical strain on the bypass regions during stretching at least one of the stretchable interconnect structures.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first conductive stretchable interconnect comprising a first bypass region;

a second conductive stretchable interconnect comprising a second bypass region; and

an intersection structure, wherein;

the second conductive stretchable interconnect is disposed in relation to the first conductive stretchable interconnect such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the first bypass region and the second bypass region; and

the intersection structure has elastic properties that relieve a mechanical strain on the first bypass region and the second bypass region during stretching of the first conductive stretchable interconnect and/or the second conductive stretchable interconnect.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bypass region or the second bypass region is embedded in the intersection structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bypass region or the second bypass region is disposed on a portion of the intersection structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect or the second conductive stretchable interconnect is embedded in a polymer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intersection structure comprises a polymer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect or the second conductive stretchable interconnect comprises gold, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, silver, a doped semiconductor, a conductive polymer, or any combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect and the second conductive stretchable interconnect are encapsulated by an encapsulant.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the encapsulant is an elastomer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intersection structure comprises at least one rounded segment, and wherein the first bypass region and the second bypass region are rounded in shape.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intersection structure comprises at least one closed curve region.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first conductive stretchable interconnect is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second conductive stretchable interconnect.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect and/or the second conductive stretchable interconnect has a zig-zag conformation, a serpentine configuration, or a rippled configuration.

15. A device comprising:

a flexible substrate

at least two device components disposed over the flexible substrate;

a first conductive stretchable interconnect in electrical communication with at least one of the at least two device components, the first conductive stretchable interconnect comprising a first bypass region;

a second conductive stretchable interconnect in electrical communication with at least one other of the at least two device components, the second conductive stretchable interconnect comprising a second bypass region; and

an intersection structure, wherein;

the second conductive stretchable interconnect is disposed in relation to the first conductive stretchable interconnect such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the first bypass region and the second bypass region; and

the intersection structure has elastic properties that relieve a mechanical strain on the first bypass region and the second bypass region during stretching of the first conductive stretchable interconnect and/or the second conductive stretchable interconnect.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the at least two device components is an electronic device, an optical device, an opto-electronic device, a mechanical device, a microelectromechanical device, a nanoelectromechanical device, a microfluidic device and a thermal device.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first bypass region or the second bypass region is embedded in the intersection structure.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect or the second conductive stretchable interconnect is embedded in a polymer.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the polymer is a polyimide or an elastomer.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the intersection structure comprises a polymer.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the polymer is a polyimide or an elastomer.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect or the second conductive stretchable interconnect comprises gold, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, silver, a doped semiconductor, a conductive polymer, or any combination thereof.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least two device components, the first stretchable interconnect, and the second stretchable interconnect are encapsulated by an encapsulant.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the encapsulant is an elastomer.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein the intersection structure comprises at least one rounded segment, and wherein the first bypass region and the second bypass region are rounded in shape.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the intersection structure is comprises at least one closed curve region.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first conductive stretchable interconnect is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second conductive stretchable interconnect.

28. The device of claim 15, wherein the first conductive stretchable interconnect and/or the second conductive stretchable interconnect has a zig-zag conformation, a serpentine configuration, or a rippled configuration.