Abstract:
A method and apparatus for forming a circuit on an uneven two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) surface of an object is described. An amount of electrically conductive material to form a circuit between two points on the object is determined. The determined amount of electrically conductive material is deposited on a first surface of a stretchable substrate. The stretchable substrate with the deposited electrically conductive material is applied to the object to form a circuit between two points on the object.
Abstract:
An electronic module assembly and method of assembling an electronic module to a conductive fabric are provided. An electronic module assembly comprises a non-conductive fabric and a conductive fabric covering at least part of a first side of the non-conductive fabric. An electronics module is disposed on the conductive fabric, and a portion of the electronics module includes a wall defining a through hole. A fastener passing through the through hole and passing through the conductive fabric is configured to electronically couple the electronics module to the conductive fabric.
Abstract:
An RFID device assembly is fabricated by positioning an electrically conductive wire onto a fabric as a pattern that forms an antenna, and securing the wire to the fabric by stitching a non-electrically conductive thread over the wire and to the fabric. The two ends of the electrically conductive wire are positioned for coupling to antenna contact pads on an RFID device. The RFID device is attached to the fabric either before or after the electrically conductive wire is secured to the fabric by the stitched non-electrically conductive thread.
Abstract:
A stretchable wire assembly includes a metal wire coupled between two elastic substrates. The two elastic substrates are selectively coupled together, and the metal wire is attached to one or both elastic substrates at select locations. The form of the metal wire is such that when the elastic substrates are in a relaxed, or non-stretched, state the metal wire forms a tortuous path, such as a waveform, along the coupled elastic substrates. The tortuous path of the metal wire provides slack such that as the elastic substrates are stretched the slack is taken up. Once released, the elastic substrates move from the stretched position to the relaxed, non-stretched position, and slack is reintroduced into the metal wire in the form of the original tortuous path.
Abstract:
A disconnectable snap button connection for connecting electronic devices to fabrics, the disconnectable snap button connection and a method for making the same is described herein. The disconnectable snap button connection includes a component, a piece of conductive material, a piece of non-conductive material; wherein the piece of conductive material is attached to the piece of non-conductive material, a male portion of the disconnectable snap button, wherein the male portion of the disconnectable snap button is attached to the component, and a female portion of the disconnectable snap button, wherein the female portion of the disconnectable snap button is attached to the piece of conductive material. When the male portion of the disconnectable snap button is inserted into the female portion of the disconnectable snap button, a connection is made between the component and the piece of conductive material.
Abstract:
A stretchable battery and the method of manufacturing the same. The stretchable battery can be manufactured by using a printing process. The construction of the stretchable battery can comprise a first layer of an elastomer film, a first current collector layer, a layer of cathode, a separating layer, a layer of anode, and a second current collector layer. Metal traces can be used to couple with the first and/or the second current collector layers.
Abstract:
An electronics assembly includes multiple electronic components coupled to a fabric. Each of the multiple electronic components includes one or more electrical connection points, such as a bond pad or solder bump. The electronics assembly also includes one or more electrically conductive wire braids, one electrically conductive wire braid coupled to one electrical connection point on an electronic component. One of the electrically conductive wire braids interconnects two electronic components, thereby providing an electrical connection between the two electronic components. The electrically conductive wire braid can be attached to the fabric by an adhesive, a stitched thread, which can be either electrically insulated or electrically conductive, or both adhesive and stitched thread. The fabric can be a wearable fabric, such as a shirt or pants, or other form to be worn by a user, such as an armband, waistband, hat or shoes.
Abstract:
A formed graphite sheet is shaped and sized as a protective shield positioned over an electronic component coupled to a PCB. The formed graphite sheet is used to protect a body of the electronic component from heat applied during the assembly of the electronic component to the PCB, such as the heating steps used in SMT and through-hole technology.
Abstract:
A wearable electronics assembly includes one or more electronic modules coupled to a wearable electronics fabric. Each of the one or more electronic modules includes one or more metal foils, each metal foil electrically coupled at one end to an electrical connection point of the electrical module and at another end to an electrically conductive wire. The electrically conductive wire is stitched to the metal foil and to a fabric onto which the electronic module is attached. The electronic module can include one or more electronic components coupled to a printed circuit board. The metal foils can be formed from interconnects on the printed circuit board or the metal foils can be separate elements coupled to the printed circuit board.
Abstract:
An electronic module assembly and method of assembling an electronic module to a conductive fabric are provided. An electronic module assembly comprises a non-conductive fabric and a conductive fabric covering at least part of a first side of the non-conductive fabric. An electronics module is disposed on the conductive fabric, and a portion of the electronics module includes a wall defining a through hole. A fastener passing through the through hole and passing through the conductive fabric is configured to electronically couple the electronics module to the conductive fabric.