Signal trace patterns for flexible substrates
First Claim
1. Apparatus, comprising:
- a flexible substrate layer having a bend;
conductive traces on the flexible substrate layer that overlap the bend, wherein each conductive trace is formed from a chain of interconnected segments, each segment enclosing an opening having first and second opposing ends, wherein each conductive trace has a first portion formed in a first layer of metal and a second portion formed in a second layer of metal, wherein the first portion and the second portion have meandering shapes that intersect at the first and second opposing ends of each opening; and
a plurality of metal vias that interconnect the first portion and the second portion, wherein the plurality of metal vias includes first and second metal vias that couple the first portion and the second portion at the first and second opposing ends of each opening.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible substrate may have one or more bends. A bend in a flexible substrate may be made along a bend axis. Conductive traces in the flexible substrate may have elongated shapes. Each conductive trace may extend along a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the bend axis. Metal or other conductive materials may form the conductive traces. The traces may be formed from a chain of linked segments. Each segment may have patterned trace portions that surround one, two, or more than two openings. Traces may also be formed that have multiple layers of metal or other conductive material interconnected using vias. A polymer layer may cover the traces to align a neutral stress plane with the traces and to serve as a moisture barrier layer.
166 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus, comprising:
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a flexible substrate layer having a bend; conductive traces on the flexible substrate layer that overlap the bend, wherein each conductive trace is formed from a chain of interconnected segments, each segment enclosing an opening having first and second opposing ends, wherein each conductive trace has a first portion formed in a first layer of metal and a second portion formed in a second layer of metal, wherein the first portion and the second portion have meandering shapes that intersect at the first and second opposing ends of each opening; and a plurality of metal vias that interconnect the first portion and the second portion, wherein the plurality of metal vias includes first and second metal vias that couple the first portion and the second portion at the first and second opposing ends of each opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a flexible polymer substrate having a bend; and conductive traces on the flexible polymer substrate that overlap the bend, wherein each conductive trace has a chain of interconnected sections, each section having a pattern of traces that encloses at least two openings, wherein each pattern of traces comprises first and second trace portions separated by a gap in which the at least two openings are enclosed, and a third trace portion that extends across the gap from the first trace portion to the second trace portion to separate the at least two openings from each other. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A flexible structure that overlaps a bend axis, comprising:
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a flexible substrate layer that bends at the bend axis; conductive traces on the flexible substrate layer that overlap the bend axis, wherein each conductive trace has a chain of linked metal trace segments, wherein each metal trace segment includes a first trace portion and a second trace portion that extends away from the first trace portion, wherein the first and second trace portions meet at opposing ends of the metal trace segment to form an opening that is enclosed by the first and second trace portions, and wherein each metal trace segment further includes a third trace portion that extends across the opening from the first trace portion to the second trace portion; and a dielectric coating over the conductive traces. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification