Method of making flexible electronic circuitry
First Claim
1. A method of creating an electric circuit on a textile, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing at least one electrical component comprising;
i. an electronic element comprising a plurality of terminals;
ii. connected to each terminal, a flexible conductive fiber lead for establishing electrical connection to the terminal, the leads having lengths; and
iii. a package surrounding at least a portion of the element and a portion of the lengths of the leads;
b. conductively joining the leads to the textile in a pattern affording insulation space between the leads; and
c. joining conductive traces between at least some of the stitched leads so as to form an electrical circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stitchable electrical components have flexible, conductive leads and are encased, at least partially, in sealed packages. Conductive threads, yarns, or fiber bundles are patterned onto a flexible substrate (e.g., a textile panel). To form a circuit, the component leads are conductively stitched, spot welded, or otherwise joined to a textile panel so as to form connections between at least some of the stitched leads so as to form an electrical circuit. Alternatively, leads stitched into or otherwise joined to a textile pattern may be welded or otherwise permanently joined to flexible or non-flexible component leads to form a circuit. Multiple panels of circuitry so formed may then be physically and electrically joined at various locations by a combination of stitching, welding, and/or other joining means, preferably with interposed insulating layers, to form a multilayer flexible circuit.
113 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of creating an electric circuit on a textile, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing at least one electrical component comprising;
i. an electronic element comprising a plurality of terminals;
ii. connected to each terminal, a flexible conductive fiber lead for establishing electrical connection to the terminal, the leads having lengths; and
iii. a package surrounding at least a portion of the element and a portion of the lengths of the leads;
b. conductively joining the leads to the textile in a pattern affording insulation space between the leads; and
c. joining conductive traces between at least some of the stitched leads so as to form an electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
a. providing an integrated circuit having a plurality of bond-out pads;
b. disposing the integrated circuit on a leadframe comprising a plurality of stubs;
c. connecting each bond-out pad to a leadframe stub;
d. connecting each of the leads to a bond-out pad connected to a leadframe stub; and
e. hermetically encapsulating the leadframe within a polymeric carrier.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein the leads are welded to the bond-out pads.
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11. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out on a first textile panel, and further comprising the steps of:
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a. creating a second circuit on a second textile panel, the circuit comprising stitched conductive traces;
b. bringing the panels into alignment;
c. disposing a nonconductive sheet between the panels; and
d. establishing electrical connections between the traces of the first panel and the traces of the second panel at selected points of overlap therebetween by conductively stitching the traces together at said points.
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12. The method of claim 1 wherein the traces are stitched with conductive thread comprising an insulating coating thereon, at least some of the traces crossing other traces without electrical communication therebetween.
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13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the electrical components are processors, the traces linking the processors together as a computer network.
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14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering the electrical elements using current generated by triboelectric charging.
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15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering the electrical elements by means of a battery removably connected to the circuit.
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16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering the electrical elements by means of a sealed battery connected to the circuit.
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17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering the electrical elements by means of current transmitted from a power source through a wearer'"'"'s body to the circuit.
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18. The method of claim 1 wherein the traces are stitched and the leads are stitched to the traces.
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19. The method of claim 1 wherein the traces are stitched and the leads are welded to the traces.
Specification