Deposition of electronic circuits on fibers and other materials

• US 7,845,022 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Surve, Swatee N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUROMOTO JR, ROBERT H
• Application Number:
  US10/077,548
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 290/5, 361/212, 139/1.R, 139/425.R, 428/98, 428/99, 428/100, 428/101, 428/102, 442/31, 442/208, 442/209, 442/210, 442/902, 442/212, 442/214, 200/302, 439/67, 439/78, 439/86, 439/284, 439/285, 439/291, 439/620
• US Class Current: 2/272
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/08 by application of heat or pressure and heat C23C24/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 4/04 characterised by the coating material
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/00 Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for for producing crimped or curled yarns D02G1/00
• 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: D06M 10/005 Laser beam treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/06 Inorganic compounds or elements
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/24 Viscose
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/02 Wool
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/04 Silk
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/022 polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/18 including electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/042 Headwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/12 : the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0657 : characterised by the shape of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/7317 : Bipolar thin film transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 : Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/00 : Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 : Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 : incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/029 : Woven fibrous reinforcement or textile textile substrates H05K1/038
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/905 : Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 : Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 : Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 : Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]

Abstract

Fibers, such as textile fibers, having electrical components deposited thereon. More particularly, one or more electrical components are formed directly onto the surface of at least one fiber. The fiber having the electrical component formed thereon may then be interlaced with other fibers for form a larger piece of fabric, which can be employed to produce an article of clothing. A group of transistors and piezoelectric components forming an accelerometer may be woven onto one or more natural or synthetic fibers. The fibers may then be employed as the warp, weft, or both, of a woven piece of fabric, or used to form a knitted piece of fabric. The fabric piece can then be cut and sewn to form a wearable item, such as a shirt, a pair of pants, a hat, or the upper piece of a shoe that includes the accelerometer.

Claims

1. A method of forming an article of wear, comprising:

forming at least a first electronic component and a second electronic component on a surface of a single fiber;

forming a connection line on the surface of the single fiber to connect the first electronic component and the second electronic component;

forming a protective layer over the first and second electronic components, wherein the protective layer is a layer of shield material;

interlacing the single fiber with other fibers to form a piece of fabric; and

forming an article of wear with the fabric.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

forming a substrate over a portion of a circumference of the surface of the single fiber, wherein the first and second electronic components are formed on a surface of the substrate.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second electronic components is a transistor completely formed on the surface of the single fiber.

2. A method of forming an article of wear, comprising:

forming at least a first electronic component, a second electronic component, and a third electronic component on a surface of a single fiber;

forming a first connection line on the surface of the single fiber to connect the first electronic component and the second electronic component;

forming a second connection line on the surface of the single fiber to connect the second electronic component and the third electronic component;

forming a shield layer over the first, second, and third electronic components;

interlacing the single fiber with other fibers to form a piece of fabric; and

forming an article of wear with the fabric.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

forming a substrate over a portion of a circumference of the surface of the single fiber, wherein the first, second, and third electronic components are formed on a surface of the substrate.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third electronic components is a transistor completely formed on the surface of the single fiber.

3. An article of wear, comprising:

a piece of clothing material;

at least a first electronic component and a second electronic component formed over a surface of a single fiber in the piece of clothing material, wherein the surface of the single fiber further includes a connection line connecting the first and second electronic components; and

a protective layer formed over the first and second electronic components, wherein the protective layer is a layer of shield material.

9. An article of wear according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the single fiber further includes a substrate formed over a portion of a circumference of the surface of the single fiber, wherein the first and second electronic components are formed on a surface of the substrate.

10. An article of wear according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second electronic components is a transistor completely formed on the surface of the single fiber.

4. An article of wear, comprising:

a piece of clothing material;

at least a first electronic component, a second electronic component, and a third electronic component formed over a surface of a single fiber in the piece of clothing material, wherein the surface of the single fiber further includes a first connection line connecting the first and second electronic components and a second connection line connecting the second and third electronic components; and

a shield layer formed over the first, second, and third electronic components.

11. An article of wear according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the single fiber further includes a substrate formed over a portion of a circumference of the surface of the single fiber, wherein the first and second electronic components are formed on a surface of the substrate.

12. An article of wear according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second electronic components is a transistor completely formed on the surface of the single fiber.