Strain relief structures for stretchable interconnects
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first conductive stretchable interconnect having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a first bypass portion, the first bypass portion having a curved shape, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus;
a second conductive stretchable interconnect having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a second bypass portion, the second bypass portion, having a curved shape substantially the same as the curved shape of the first bypass portion, the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus such that the first and second stretchable interconnects overlap at an intersection region of the apparatus; and
an intersection structure having a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned between the top and middle layers and the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned between the middle and bottom layers, such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the first and second bypass portions, the intersection structure being configured to redistribute a mechanical strain on the first bypass portion and the second bypass portion away from the intersection region of the apparatus.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first conductive stretchable interconnect having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a first bypass portion, the first bypass portion having a curved shape, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus; a second conductive stretchable interconnect having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a second bypass portion, the second bypass portion, having a curved shape substantially the same as the curved shape of the first bypass portion, the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus such that the first and second stretchable interconnects overlap at an intersection region of the apparatus; and an intersection structure having a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned between the top and middle layers and the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned between the middle and bottom layers, such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the first and second bypass portions, the intersection structure being configured to redistribute a mechanical strain on the first bypass portion and the second bypass portion away from the intersection region of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device comprising:
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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 having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a first bypass portion, the first bypass portion having a closed curved shape, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus; 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 having a first portion electrically coupled to a second portion via a second bypass portion, the second bypass portion having a closed curved shape substantially the same as the curved shape of the first bypass portion, the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus such that the first and second stretchable interconnects overlap at an intersection region of the apparatus; and an intersection structure having a top layer, middle layer, and a bottom layer, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned between the top and middle layers and the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned encompasses at least a portion of the first and second bypass portions, the intersection structure being configured to redistribute a mechanical strain on the first bypass portion and the second bypass portion away from the intersection region of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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a first conductive stretchable interconnect including a first bypass portion having a first central axis, the first conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus; a second conductive stretchable interconnect having a second bypass portion having a second central axis, the second conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus such the second central axis is coincident with the first central axis and the first and second stretchable interconnects intersect at an intersection region of the apparatus; and an intersection structure encompassing at least a portion of the first and second bypass portions and being configured to redistribute a mechanical strain on the first bypass region and the second bypass region away from the intersection region of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification