Apparatus comprising electronic and/or optoelectronic circuitry and method for realizing said circuitry

• US 6,856,715 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
• Original Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
• Inventors: Nordal, Per-Erik, Ebbesen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US09/720,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/2, 385/9, 385/12, 385/15, 385/31, 385/39, 385/129, 385/130, 385/131, 385/8, 385/27, 385/40
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/25 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/267 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/292 Conjugate, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/46 Flat yarns, e.g. tapes or films
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 27/00 Woven pile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 9/00 Open-work fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/16 synthetic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/16 incorporating synthetic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/06 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3608 Fibre wiring boards, i.e. where fibres are embedded or attached in a pattern on or to a substrate, e.g. flexible sheets optical ribbon cables in support members G02B6/4401
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3628 for mounting fibres to supporting carriers G02B6/3608, G02B6/3616 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/065 : the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 : Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 : characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0281 : Conductive fibers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 : Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00

Abstract

An apparatus/method for producing fabric-like electronic circuit patterns created by methodically joining electronic elements using textile fabrication-like methods in a predetermined arrangement.

Claims

1. A web of circuitry comprising:

at least two circuit elements, each having ends;

at least one physical intersection of said elements, where the intersection does not occur at the ends of said elements; and

a predetermined circuit pattern, wherein said elements are arranged in multiple-dimensions according to said pattern, where the intersection is a point of communication between elements, where the intersections and varying properties of the elements form active regions, where the active regions are associated with circuitry in the pattern, where at least one element is a transmission line or an isolator and

wherein said elements are arranged in said predetermined circuit pattern by integrating said elements using weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or stitching.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is a two-dimensional fabric-like structure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is a three-dimensional fabric-like structure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elements are arranged such that the positions of the ends of the elements define a spatial grid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some elements are twisted pair transmission lines.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some elements are transmission lines that are coaxial cables.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some elements are stripline transmission lines.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some elements are optical fibre transmission lines.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elements have active regions that are defined by exposing portions of the elements to the encompassing environment.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said element has an active region that is extended lengthwise therein.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said element has an active region that corresponds to an end thereof.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some of the elements are provided with a protective shielding or cladding, the active regions in these elements being provided by removing the shielding or cladding at selected portions thereof.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active regions of the elements are provided in selected portions of the elements exposed in the surface of the fabric-like structure or protruding therefrom at selected locations thereof.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active regions of the elements are defined by exposing portions thereof to spatially selective physical or chemical influences.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, having at least two transmission lines wherein at least one transmission line is a conductor embedded in an exterior cladding composed of an organic semiconducting material, where active regions are defined by contact between transmission lines, and where semiconducting junctions are formed at the contact points of said intersections.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the semiconducting junctions are formed spontaneously upon contact.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one semiconducting junction is a diode junction.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the organic semiconducting material is a semiconducting polymer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some of the elements, having characteristic lengths, are shielded over a portion of the lengths against exchange of energy between elements or the exterior surroundings, where one or more unshielded portions are adapted to enable exchange of energy through the unshielded portions.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the unshielded portions of the elements are located at the intersections thereof.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is a two- or three-dimensional optoelectronic display where the unshielded portions emit light at predetermined intensities, frequencies, and locations.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the elements is a signal transmission line that carries the predetermined intensities and frequencies to predetermined locations in the pattern.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the display is a two-dimensional display, wherein the elements form a two-dimensional array of equally spaced elements.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the intersections are adapted for absorption or emission of electrical or optical energy.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a portion of at least one element in an intersection is a pixel of the display.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the display is a three-dimensional display, wherein the elements are provided in a three-dimensional array of equally spaced elements.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the elements intersect in a spatial regular pattern or grid, where some elements in the pattern are adapted for emitting or absorbing electrical or optical energy.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a portion of at least one element in an intersection is a pixel of the display.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein active regions of the elements are provided in selected portions of the element exposed in the surface of the fabric-like structure or protruding therefrom at selected locations thereof, where the active regions are pixels in the display, said active regions being either a loop-like portion of an element or an end.

30. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the pattern contains elements that are discrete electronic, optoelectronic or optical devices or combinations thereof.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein one or more of the discrete devices are physical or chemical sensors connected to at least one of the elements.

32. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein one or more of the elements are a physical or chemical sensors.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one intersection and associated elements form an active region where the physical properties of the elements result in the absorption or emission of energy in the region.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the intersection absorbs electrical or optical energy.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the intersection absorbs chemical or mechanical energy.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one intersection allows electronic communication between the elements associated with the intersection.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one element is composed of a transparent material.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one element is composed of a conducting material.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one element is composed of a semi-conducting material.