Stretchable conductor design and methods of making

摘要

A stretchable interconnect includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces formed as a complex pattern on an elastic substrate. The form of the electrically conductive traces is such that when the elastic substrate is in a relaxed, or non-stretched, state each of the electrically conductive traces forms a tortuous path, such as a waveform, along the elastic substrate. The tortuous path of the electrically conductive traces provides slack such that as the elastic substrate is stretched the slack is taken up. Once released, the elastic substrate moves from the stretched position to the relaxed, non-stretched position, and slack is reintroduced into the electrically conductive traces in the form of the original tortuous path.

主权项

1. A stretchable interconnect comprising:
a. an elastic substrate having a relaxed, non-stretched state, wherein the elastic substrate has an exterior planar surface and is configured to be stretched along any direction within a plane of the exterior planar surface when a stretching force is applied along the plane, and to return to the non-stretched state when the stretching force is removed; and b. a plurality of electrically conductive traces printed on the exterior planar surface of the elastic substrate, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive traces are electrically isolated from each other, each electrically conductive trace has a tortuous path relative to any direction along the exterior planar surface when the elastic substrate is in the non-stretched state, further wherein the tortuous path comprises a series of connected floral patterns, each floral pattern having multiple connected petal shapes, each petal shape having a first portion that extends away from a longitudinal axis of the exterior planar surface, a circular portion connected to the first portion, and a second portion connected to the circular portion that returns toward the longitudinal axis, thereby enabling bending of each of the electrically conductive traces in any direction along the exterior planar surface upon application and removal of the stretching force.