Disposable electronic devices with deconstructable construction and method

• US 7,148,424 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Technologies (Canada) Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Technologies (Canada) Corp.
• Inventors: Volpe, Lee S., Altschul, Randice-Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Vigushin, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,547
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 361/739, 361748-752, 361/757, 361777-779, 361/805, 174/250, 174254-259, 174/261, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 337/297
• US Class Current: 174/250
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0284 Paper, e.g. as reinforcement paper sheet substrates H05K1/0386
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/175 Configurations of connections suitable for easy deletion, e.g. modifiable circuits or temporary conductors for electroplating; Processes for deleting connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/178 Demolishing, e.g. recycling, reverse engineering, destroying for security purposes; Using biodegradable materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A disposable electronic device has a body constructed of juxtaposed lengths of an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material secured together to establish a multiple-layered self-sustaining structure, and circuitry formed on the substrate. At least a portion of the circuitry is constructed of a deconstructable material which is deconstructed to render the device inoperative by at least one of the following: interrupting a securement of juxtaposed lengths of the substrate, exposing the deconstructable material to at least one of ambient conditions including ambient air, ambient light and ambient moisture, and reaching a predetermined accumulated amount of time during which the circuitry is operated. At least a portion of the substrate is constructed of deconstructable material which is deconstructed by exposure to at least one of the ambient conditions to render the device ready for disposal.

Claims

1. An improvement in a disposable electronic device having a body constructed of juxtaposed lengths of an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material secured together to establish a multiple-layered self-sustaining structure, and circuitry formed on the substrate, the improvement comprising:

at least a portion of the circuitry being constructed of a deconstructable material which deconstructs to render the device inoperative in response to reaching a predetermined accumulated amount of time during which the circuitry is operated.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises paper.

3. An improvement in a disposable electronic device having a body constructed of juxtaposed lengths of an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material secured together to establish a multiple-layered self-sustaining structure, and circuitry formed on the substrate, the improvement comprising:

at least a portion of the circuitry being constructed of a deconstructable material which deconstructs to render the device inoperative in response to reaching a predetermined accumulated amount of time during which the circuitry is operated, the portion of the circuitry including at least one link constructed of a deconstructable material initially electrically conductive and rendered non-conductive in response to a prescribed current flow through the link over a predetermined accumulated amount of time, whereby the circuitry is deconstructed and the device is rendered inoperative upon reaching the predetermined accumulated amount of time.

4. An improvement in a disposable electronic device having a body constructed of juxtaposed lengths of an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material secured together to establish a multiple-layered self-sustaining structure, and circuitry formed on the substrate, the improvement comprising:

at least a portion of one of the substrate and the circuitry being constructed of a deconstructable material which deconstructs in response to exposure of the deconstructable material to at least one of ambient conditions including ambient air, ambient light and ambient moisture; and

a sheath surrounding the multi-layered self-sustaining structure, the sheath being constructed of a material impervious to at least a corresponding one of ambient air, ambient light and ambient moisture.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the sheath includes a selectively opened portion for selective exposure of the deconstructable material to the ambient conditions.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the substrate comprises paper.