Electronic circuit, associated control module and associated control method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for an electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material, as well as an associated control method for healing defects.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for an electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material, as well as an associated control method.

[0002] Additive printing processes in the broader sense are known for the production of printed electronics in general. These involve printing conductive inks and functional materials such as semiconductors or organic polymers onto flexible or rigid substrates to form single- or multi-layer functional layers with specific properties, for example, conductive, semiconducting, dielectric, sensory, or other functional materials.

[0003] Printed electronics has established itself in a wide variety of forms and applications, including antennas such as RFID, displays and lighting devices with organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), batteries, and solar cells. In these applications, the printed electronics are typically applied to dimensionally stable or rigid substrates such as circuit boards or rigid films, and the substrate is subject to little or no deformation during intended use.

[0004] However, textiles as a substrate are neither dimensionally stable nor rigid, and during their intended use, they can be subject to significant deformation. In addition, other requirements often arise, such as flexible stretchability, washability, or resistance to numerous cycles of bending, abrasion, and folding. In textiles worn on the body, chemical reactions can also occur due to body perspiration, causing metals to be oxidized, reduced, or removed.

[0005] Overall, electronic circuits printed on textiles can regularly experience damage or defects when used as intended, so that the product lifespan of electronics printed on textiles can be significantly shorter than that of PCBs.

[0006] Damage or defects caused by microcracks—small cracks and / or fractures in the printed layers caused by mechanical deformation—can have a significant impact on the performance and reliability of the printed structure. Microcracks tend to propagate vertically and horizontally. This can lead to a self-reinforcing effect, which is a major cause of failures in printed electronics in general, and in textiles in particular.

[0007] The formation of defects such as microcracks is favored by the inhomogeneous fabric structure of textile substrates. Furthermore, the printing process does not use solid materials, but rather so-called "conductive inks" containing small conductive particles, such as metal or salts, which must bond through a process such as thermal sintering at temperatures between 50°C and 180°C. The volume fraction of conductive material in printed electronic structures often remains lower than that of corresponding solid materials, even after thermal sintering, which is why printed electronic structures inherently have a lower conductivity than corresponding solid materials.

[0008] Microcracks primarily occur in the conductor tracks for discrete and / or exposed electronic components such as sensors, actuators, and coils, as these conductor tracks are narrow and therefore have particularly low mechanical stability. In textiles worn on the body, conductor tracks often run across exposed and / or particularly stressed areas of the body and, in terms of length, constitute the majority of the electronic systems worn on the body.

[0009] In the state of the art, methods for healing defects such as microcracks in conductor tracks in the context of industrial processing of electronic components on printed circuit boards are known, for example healing by means of intense pulsed light sintering through plasmonic resonance, thermal healing or additive healing, i.e. addition of material to close defect gaps.

[0010] US8463116B2 describes a method for initiating the healing of a damaged material, preferably also of conductive inks, using at least one light source. This method uses one or more light sources to specifically illuminate parts of the damaged conductive structure. However, the process is complex because a prior examination of the damage is required, defective conductive structures are covered by insulating layers and cannot be directly exposed, and because very precise exposure is required.

[0011] DE 68919311 T2 describes a method for repairing defective circuit paths by passing a strong current through them to heat them and trigger ion transport (battery effect). This method is used for post-processing PCBs and requires high currents of up to 50 A as well as an additional gas reservoir or a galvanic-electrolytic bath.

[0012] EP0441154 A2 describes a similar process, using very high voltages in gas phase or an electrolytic environment

[0013] US11419219B2 describes a method for modifying stretched structures with tapered edges by placing the structure in a bath of polarized nanoparticles and applying and measuring an alternating voltage to cause the nanoparticles to deposit at the tapered edge. Here, too, a reservoir for supplying additive materials is required.

[0014] Overall, such processes for repairing defects in circuit paths are technically complex and only suitable in industrial environments with appropriate safety precautions. The use of such processes for the regeneration of printed electronic circuits intended for skin contact with the human body is unlikely, particularly since they are used in medical or sports facilities and / or for home use when used as intended.

[0015] Such electronic circuits with skin contact to the human body are known for several functions. A first example of such a function is electromyography (EMG), in which electrodes in the form of electrically conductive surfaces are brought into non-invasive contact with the human skin to act as sensors to measure muscle activation potentials. Electromyography is used, for example, in patient examinations during muscular rehabilitation or to support training in athletes. A second example of such a function is electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), in which electrodes in the form of electrically conductive surfaces are brought into non-invasive contact with the human skin to act as actuators to supply electrical voltage and thereby stimulate muscle activity. EMS is used, for example, to support training in athletes and to support muscular rehabilitation after sports injuries.

[0016] Electrodes functioning as sensors or actuators are not the only examples of discrete circuit elements in body-worn electronic circuits; other examples include temperature sensors, sensors for chemical substances or material changes, and even antennas. When discrete circuit elements or other electronic elements are integrated into textiles, for the reasons mentioned above, they are not connected via printed circuit boards in practice, but rather via separately routed electrical wires or electrically conductive strands woven into the textile material. However, such conventional solutions are disadvantageous in terms of manufacturing costs and user comfort.

[0017] The object of this invention is an arrangement for an electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material, which allows a simple and cost-effective regeneration of the electronic circuit with reduction or healing of damage and defects on conductor tracks, as well as an associated control module and control method for the regeneration process.

[0018] The invention solves the stated problem by the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material according to claim 1 and the associated control method according to claim 19. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments.

[0019] The invention is explained in the following description using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. - Fig. 1A is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material according to the first embodiment, Fig. 1B is a schematic representation of associated control modules, Fig. Figure 1C is a schematic diagram illustrating the concept of an exposed circuit element. - Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram of a connection of two conductor tracks under a discrete circuit element according to the first embodiment, Fig. Figure 2B shows an exemplary alternative arrangement. - Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a control module according to the first embodiment. - Fig. 4 shows functional components of a control module for regeneration operation according to the first embodiment. - Fig. 5A is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material according to the second embodiment, Fig. Figure 5B is a schematic diagram of associated control modules. - Fig. Figure 6A shows a section of a damaged circuit track. - Fig. Figure 6B shows a section of the same conductor track after application of the described regeneration method.

[0020] In a first aspect, the invention relates to an electronic circuit on a textile carrier material to be worn on the human body.

[0021] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a regeneration process for the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material and an associated control module

[0022] In a third aspect, the invention relates to a control module for the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material and an associated control method.

[0023] The electronic circuit may contain various components, including active and passive components, and is designed to be worn on the human body and perform functions as a “smart textile” that provide the wearer with more functionality or information.

[0024] The circuit according to the invention comprises in particular a discrete and / or exposed circuit element.

[0025] Discrete circuit elements are individual electronic components used in electronic circuits, each fulfilling a specific, individual function. Discrete circuit elements can include resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, electrodes, inductors, varistors, chemristors, switches, or actuators. In exceptional cases, these can even include integrated circuits, provided they are not damaged by high currents at the inputs. In the case of electronic circuits on textile carrier materials worn on the human body, the discrete circuit elements primarily serve to measure biological, environmental, or ambient variables. Suitable sensory elements for this purpose can be various types of sensors that collect information about the wearer or environmental data and, optionally, provide data or feedback loops for the actuators.The electronic circuit on a textile substrate can be used to measure body signals and activate specific parts of the body, for example, by measuring voltages and / or currents generated by the body and activating muscles by applying voltages and / or currents. The actuators can also be operated independently of the sensory elements.

[0026] For the conceptual explanation of the exposed circuit element, Fig. 1C.: In the language of the present application, a circuit element is situated in an exposed location if, apart from conductor tracks, its immediate surroundings are free of other circuit elements at a distance of its greatest extent D. In the language of the present application, an exposed location can also be a group of similar circuit elements whose immediate surroundings are free of other circuit elements, apart from conductor tracks and neighboring similar circuit elements. In the language of the present application, a circuit element is situated in a particularly exposed location if, apart from conductor tracks, its immediate surroundings are free of other circuit elements at a distance twice its greatest extent.

[0027] As explained in the introduction, in textiles worn on the body, discrete and / or exposed electronic components are of particular interest for the present invention because the associated conductive paths often run over exposed and / or particularly stressed areas of the body, form a large part of the length of the electronic systems worn on the body and are particularly susceptible to microcracks.

[0028] The discrete and / or exposed circuit element can be formed in printed electronics and has a lateral extent in the range of 1 mm to 300 mm parallel to a surface of the textile carrier material (4000) and one or more different layers stacked one above the other, each with a thickness of up to 500 µm, preferably with a thickness in the range of 1 µm to 200 µm, perpendicular to the surface of the textile carrier material (4000). In this context, the surface of the textile carrier material is to be understood as a macroscopic surface of the textile carrier material averaged over the lateral extent of the circuit element; differently oriented microscopic surfaces of individual textile fibers are not considered here. The number and height of the layers can vary, for example, to form circuit elements of different heights or specific surface textures or edge profiles.

[0029] The layer height of the stacked layers can be determined in particular by the type of fabrication and can vary as follows: -Inkjet printing / aerosol printing - layer thicknesses from a few nanometers to a few micrometers -Screen printing - layer thicknesses from a few micrometers to about 200 micrometers -Flexographic printing / roll to roll - layer thicknesses from a few micrometers to about 50 micrometers

[0030] The textile carrier material can be designed in a variety of ways and comprise natural and / or synthetic fiber types. It can be manufactured in various ways, such as by knitting, weaving, or nonwoven techniques, and can exhibit stretchability induced by the material's properties or, particularly in the case of knitting or weaving techniques, structurally determined. This stretchability can be selected differently in different directions. The textile carrier material can, for example, be designed as part of a bandage, a cuff, or a dressing that encloses an extremity of the body.The textile can also be, for example, a belt or a piece of clothing, in particular a stocking, a close-fitting underwear or a close-fitting sports clothing such as a jersey or diving suit or the like, each designed with a contact surface which, when worn on the human body, is in contact with a portion of the skin of the human body and contains at least one sensor or electrode element on the contact surface.

[0031] Sensor elements on the contact surface enable local measurements of signals picked up from the body. Local measurements are of interest when they can only be measured in specific parts of the body, such as muscle signals, or when local differences are of interest, such as temperature measurements. If the contact surface includes at least one electrically conductive sensor, this can be used to directly measure electrical currents and voltages upon contact with the body, such as those found in electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), or the electrooculogram (EOG).

[0032] Actuator elements on the contact surface serve to generate effects in the body through actuators and chemical reactions. In particular, the actuators can conduct currents in various configurations into the body to activate and stimulate nerves, blood vessels, tissue, and muscles.

[0033] The contact surface is dimensioned to approximately map the underlying biological structure or to perform a variety of measurements using an array. The size can vary from a few millimeters, as in temperature or pressure arrays, to approximately 300 mm when activating entire muscles and muscle groups.

[0034] The electronic circuit according to the present invention further comprises a contacting module as a mechanical and electrical interface of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body for a control module and allows this to be connected mechanically and electrically detachably.

[0035] The contacting module allows in particular the mechanical and electrical connection to a control module for controlling a proper functional operation of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body and to a control module for controlling a regeneration process according to the invention of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body.

[0036] Optionally, the contact module allows various control modules for functional operation and the regeneration process to be connected to the electronic circuit worn on the human body. Alternatively or additionally, the contact module also allows a common control module for both functional operation and the regeneration process to be connected to the electronic circuit worn on the human body.

[0037] The contact module must be designed in such a way that the conductivity is sufficiently high and the total resistance of the contact is low enough that the contact does not impede the intended operation of the electronic circuit worn on the human body. At the same time, the conductivity must be sufficiently high and the resistance sufficiently low so that the regeneration operation according to the invention does not lead to excessive heat generation at the contact module.

[0038] According to the invention, a discrete and / or exposed circuit element is connected to the contacting module via an electrically conductive connection. This connection comprises two or more conductor tracks that are electrically insulated circumferentially along the conductor track direction and electrically conductively connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element. On the side of the contacting module, these conductor tracks can be detachably connected to the control module separately via respective coupling elements.

[0039] The electrically conductive connection according to the invention of the two or more conductor tracks on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element creates, in simplified form, a short circuit between the conductor tracks, i.e., it is designed such that when a voltage is applied to the respective coupling elements, a current flows from one conductor track to the other, bypassing the discrete and / or exposed circuit element and / or not participating in its intended function. If the discrete and / or exposed circuit element requires two or more electrical connections for its intended operation, the electrically conductively connected two or more conductor tracks according to the invention can serve as only one of these connections.

[0040] These conductor tracks can be produced in printed electronics using conductive inks with subsequent heat treatment, so-called thermal sintering, and can optionally have a layered structure. Such conductor tracks are formed with a material in which electrically conductive components are electrically connected to one another in an electrically non-conductive carrier medium. The electrically conductive components in the ink can be in the form of nanoparticles / microparticles or in the form of "particle-free inks." Nanoparticles can be spherical spheres, or nanotubes or nanowires. Nanowires are preferably used because they network better and create a larger contact surface for greater conductivity. Microparticles can consist of flakes, as is often the case with metals, or spherical shapes, such as carbon black.The sizes vary from a few micrometers to 100 micrometers. Such a conductor track can have a thickness of up to 200 µm perpendicular to a surface of the textile carrier material, preferably a thickness in the range of 10 µm to 60 µm, and a track width in the range of 100 µm to 10 mm parallel to this surface, preferably a track width in the range of 300 µm to 5 mm, and can contain metallic components such as silver, copper, gold, platinum in combination with silicones or polymers. The thickness can depend on the manufacturing process and is approximately: - Inkjet printing / aerosol printing - layer thicknesses from a few nanometers to a few micrometers - Screen printing - layer thicknesses from a few micrometers to about 200 micrometers - Flexographic printing / roll to roll - layer thicknesses from a few micrometers to about 50 micrometers

[0041] The non-conductive part of the conductor tracks is preferably made of a polymer matrix. This can be thermoplastic, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or thermosetting, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and primarily serves to determine all mechanical properties of the conductor track. In particular, the task is to make the conductor tracks mechanically stable enough for their intended use.

[0042] In a particularly advanced embodiment of this invention, as many elements of the wearable electronic circuit as possible are manufactured using additive manufacturing processes. The focus is particularly on the conductive paths and discrete electronic components. Preferred methods for additive manufacturing are printed electronics techniques, such as screen printing, inkjet printing, or roll-to-roll printing.

[0043] According to the invention, the two or more conductor tracks are electrically insulated circumferentially along the conductor track direction. This insulation serves, on the one hand, to ensure uninterrupted operation of the electronic circuit during normal operation. Furthermore, the electrical insulation also serves for thermal insulation during the inventive regeneration process – explained further below. The electrical insulation of the conductor track can contain a foamed material to enhance the thermal insulation effect. Foamed material can be provided, for example, on the side facing the human body.

[0044] Optionally, the conductor tracks can also be insulated by additional shielding conductive or grounded surfaces to increase signal quality.

[0045] Furthermore, conductor tracks can branch out so that several discrete circuit elements can be connected.

[0046] During normal use of the electronic circuit worn on the human body, the conductive paths in a defect-free state should cause no or only negligible signal and data changes.

[0047] The electronic circuit according to the invention to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material enables a regeneration process according to the invention as follows: Voltage is applied to at least two of the two or more conductor tracks via the coupling elements, so that current flows through a first of the at least two conductor tracks from the contacting module in the direction of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) and Current flows through a second of the at least two conductor tracks in the direction from the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) to the contacting module. This results in local heating of a defect in the first and / or second conductive path by current flowing through the defect. By applying voltage and / or local heating and cooling, voltage-directed mobility and material transport can be generated at the locally heated defect, resulting in the closure of the defect. The conductive components experience a force from the electric field, allowing them to move with and within the plastic polymer matrix.

[0048] The inventive regeneration process is based on the surprising effect that, in printed electronics, even after their production using thermal sintering, the subsequent application of voltage and current flow at temperatures below the sintering temperatures used during production can lead to a reduction in electrical resistance and the regeneration of conductor tracks. The inventor is not aware of the exact physical explanation; he suspects that damaged structures in the conductor tracks are repaired by a heat-pressure process applied to locally heated microdefects, with local temperatures between 60°C and 180°C typically being applied for 2 to 120 seconds.

[0049] This effect is particularly remarkable because the inks used in the production of printed electronics often only become conductive through subsequent heat treatment, so-called thermal sintering. The resulting materials are not compact, electrically conductive solid materials, but rather materials with, in some cases, only weakly bonded proximity relationships between electrically conductive components in an electrically non-conductive carrier medium. If these are not fully sintered, the inventor suspects that certain reactions that increase or initially cause the conductivity of the inks used in printing during sintering can also occur subsequently. These include, for example, the thermal breakdown of polymer coatings on conductive particles, chemical reactions of salts, or the migration of individual metals or thermoplastic (conductive) polymers.This can be achieved in the production of printed electronics by targeted, moderate subsequent heat treatment, i.e. targeted, moderate thermal sintering, of the conductive inks used in printing.

[0050] According to the invention, the conductor tracks are formed from a material in which electrically conductive components such as metals, salts, carbon, or polymers are electrically connected to one another in a non-conductive carrier medium. For the regeneration process according to the invention, it is advantageous if the volume fraction of the carrier medium is at least 30% and at most 90% of the volume fraction of the electrically conductive components.

[0051] It is further advantageous for the regeneration process according to the invention if the carrier medium contains a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material component with a glass transition temperature below room temperature and with an amorphous weight fraction of at least 30%. The softening of the thermoplastic material component at the locally heated defect sites promotes the mobility of the electrically conductive components there. Furthermore, the locally elevated temperature there promotes the local crystallization of the amorphous weight fraction, which reduces the volume of the semi-crystalline material component in the carrier material and facilitates subsequent densification and mutual contacting of the electrically conductive components.

[0052] The carrier medium also preferably contains a thermoplastic material with a thermoelastic state at room temperature and a thermoplastic state at a temperature above 80°C, preferably already above 50°C. On the one hand, the thermoelastic state at room temperature makes it easier for the conductor tracks to follow normal movements and deformations of the textile carrier material, whereas the thermoplastic state at a temperature above 80°C, preferably above 50°C, promotes the mobility of the carrier medium and thus the regeneration process according to the invention.

[0053] In a third aspect, the invention relates to a control module for the electronic circuitry to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material and an associated control method. These are designed for the regeneration process according to the invention.

[0054] When contacting the circuit via the contacting module, the control module is connected to the two or more conductor tracks, which are electrically connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, via the corresponding coupling elements of the contacting module. This allows the implementation of the above-explained inventive regeneration process, preferably using process parameters such as, for example, the maximum current flow through the first and second conductor tracks and the time average of this current flow, the power output due to the current flow through the first and second conductor tracks and the time average thereof, the duration of the applied voltage, and time-varying voltage and current values. Such parameters can, for example, be specified as starting values ​​and adjusted depending on the state of the circuit, in particular the state of the conductor tracks to be regenerated.As a starting point, for example, the maximum current flow through the first and second conductor tracks can be limited to less than 2A and the maximum duration of voltage application can be limited to 1 to 600 seconds.

[0055] The control module can, for example, be configured to perform a diagnostic process that determines one or more resistance values ​​for the two or more conductive traces in order to derive an assessment value for the regeneration status of the conductive traces on this basis. Optionally, previously determined resistance values ​​or assessment values ​​can also be accessed.

[0056] Furthermore, information about the assessment value and the associated identity of the electronic circuit as well as optionally further details such as identity of the control module and location / time of determination of assessment values ​​can be output to the user of the circuit and / or a central data storage instance.

[0057] The identity of the electronic circuit on a textile carrier material to be worn on the human body can, for example, be determined via an electronically readable identifier.

[0058] Once the results of the diagnostic process are available, the control module can, for example, be further configured to carry out a control process in which, based on these results, one or more of the previously used process parameters are adjusted and the regeneration process is continued with the adjusted parameters. A sequence of changes can be initiated based on the determination result. By controlling this circuit with the control module, this circuit can be used to measure resistance on the one hand and can also be actively operated with a current. This arrangement thus serves to monitor and heal conductor tracks for circuits to be worn on the human body. In an advantageous embodiment, the control module determines the state, for example of the electrical resistance, of the conductor tracks and applies an adjustable current.

[0059] Alternatively, for example, the control process can determine that the regeneration process is terminated. During the repair, not all defects need to be cured; only an improvement of the defects is the goal. Frequently and regularly applied repairs aim to achieve long-term improvement and extension of the durability of the circuit paths. Furthermore, information about the assessment value and the associated identity of the electronic circuit, as well as optionally further details such as the identity of the control module and the location / time of the determination of assessment values, can be output to the user and / or a central data storage instance.

[0060] In addition to the control module designed for the regeneration process according to the invention for the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body, the latter can also be controlled via the contacting module with a control module for an operating mode according to the intended function of the circuit, which terminates the regeneration process and its subsequent processes described above and, for example, the aforementioned discrete and / or exposed circuit element can be controlled using at least one of the two or more conductor tracks according to its intended function.

[0061] As a variant, a control module can be provided for the circuit worn on the human body, which is designed both to control the circuit according to its intended function and to control the circuit for a regeneration process, and is capable of switching back and forth between these two operating modes. In one embodiment, the control module can switch between operation for healing defects and functional operation, in which control is carried out in such a way that functions of the electronic circuit worn on the human body are fulfilled, such as measuring EMG signals and / or applying voltages and currents to a contact surface. This variant is characterized by the fact that all control functions can be integrated into a single compact controller.In a particularly compact form, this arrangement is battery-operated and allows for particularly short and uncomplicated regeneration process cycles.

[0062] As a further variant, a control module can be provided for the circuit designed to be worn on the human body. This control module, in addition to functional operation (controlling the circuit according to its intended function), is also designed for diagnostic and monitoring operation (controlling the circuit for a diagnostic process). This allows status monitoring of the circuit during operation without a regeneration process. In a simple embodiment, the functional mode, for example, additionally has a measuring mode in which an indicator for damage to two or more conductor tracks is measured, such as a resistance value. Using multiplexing, additional conductor tracks of the electronic circuit on the textile carrier can be measured.Based on the indicator measurement, the control system can then issue notifications, for example a defect message to the user along with blocking the circuit, a durability estimate, announcement / initiation of the regeneration process, an estimate of the time and energy required for this and comparison with the battery level, a color classification of the value or other actions.

[0063] Fig. 1A is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material 4000 according to the first exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, a contact surface 40, when worn on the human body, is in contact with a portion of the skin of the human body and contains, as a discrete and / or exposed circuit element of the electronic circuit, an electrode element 10 with an electrically conductive layer on the contact surface. In the exemplary embodiment, the circuit serves the intended function of electromyography (EMG), in which electrodes in the form of electrically conductive surfaces are brought into non-invasive contact with the human skin in order to measure muscle activation potentials as sensors.

[0064] The electronic circuit further comprises a contacting module 30 for connecting the circuit on the carrier material to a control module 6000 without contact with the skin of the human body. The contacting module 30 is designed for the detachable mechanical and electrical connection of the electronic circuit to a control module. As shown in Fig. As schematically illustrated in Figure 1B, two control modules 6000F and 6000R are provided in the present embodiment, which can be used alternatively and alternately. One control module 6000F serves as a function control module for controlling the electronic circuit in an operating mode according to its intended function (in this case, electromyography). The other control module 6000R enables an operating mode for regenerating the electronic circuit according to the invention and thus serves as a regeneration control module.

[0065] With the electronic circuit on the textile carrier material, the function control module must also be worn on the human body, therefore a mobile power supply (battery operation) is advantageous for functional operation. If the regeneration control module is provided separately—as in the present embodiment—it can be used alternately for several circuits, each of which is used independently of one another with its own associated function control module. For this purpose, it can also be supplied with power in a stationary manner, for example.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the circuit comprises two discrete electrode elements 10 and 20 as the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, each provided with an electrically conductive layer on the contact surface for contacting human skin. The following description explains the invention with reference to the discrete electrode element designated by reference numeral 10.

[0067] The electrode element 10 (as the discrete and / or exposed circuit element) is electrically conductively connected to the contacting module 30, wherein the electrically conductive connection is made according to the invention via two (or more) conductor tracks 1010, 1020. For the sake of simplicity, these conductor tracks 1010, 1020 are shown as straight and parallel to one another, but neither a straight nor a parallel course is required for the invention.

[0068] According to the invention, the two (or more) conductor tracks 1010, 1020 on the side of the electrode element 10 are electrically conductively connected to one another and can be detachably connected to the control module 30 separately via respective coupling elements 1015, 1025.

[0069] This arrangement according to the first embodiment enables a regeneration process according to the invention. Connecting the two conductor tracks 1010, 1020 on the side of the electrode element 10 as the discrete and / or exposed circuit element ensures that there is no excessive heating of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, which often has a significantly lower conductivity than the conductor tracks or may even be insulating. This ensures that lower currents occur within the discrete electronics. The current is then distributed as follows: IConductor track / IDiscreteElectronics=RDiscreteElectronics / RConductor track.

[0070] The connection can be made in front of, above, behind or below the discrete electronics, perpendicular to the textile surface. Fig. Figure 2A shows a schematic representation, specifically as a vertical exploded view, in which the electrode element 10 is shown at a distance above the two conductor tracks 1010, 1020. In the exemplary embodiment, the two conductor tracks 1010, 1020 have direct contact with the underside of the electrode element 10 and are connected to one another below the electrode element 10 via the connection 1090. An arrangement of the connection 1090 below the electrode element is not essential to the invention; it can be arranged in front of, behind, or next to the discrete electronics in the vertical view of the surface of the textile carrier material. As an example, Fig. 2B shows an alternative arrangement in which a connection 1090a between the conductive tracks 1010a, 1020b is arranged next to the electrode element 10a in its immediate vicinity.

[0071] Furthermore, it is important to ensure that during the regeneration process, the circuit on the contact module side does not heat up excessively due to current flow, especially since the coupling elements are arranged spatially much more densely than the electrode elements. Therefore, it is advantageous that the electrical resistances through the contact module, in particular the electrical resistances of the coupling elements (1015, 1025), are lower than the electrical resistances of the associated conductor tracks (1010, 1020). It is particularly advantageous that the electrical resistances of the coupling elements (1015, 1025) are less than 50% of the electrical resistances of the associated conductor tracks (1010, 1020).

[0072] The Fig. The electrode element 20 shown in Figure 1A of the present embodiment is also detachably connected to the control module 30 via the conductor tracks 2010, 2020 and coupling elements 2015, 2025 and is also regenerated according to the invention. In the simplified illustration, the conductor tracks 2010, 2020 are shown to be the same length and shape as the conductor tracks 1010, 1020. However, this is not required for the invention and is generally not the case with circuits on textile carriers worn on the body.

[0073] Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the control of the regeneration processes for the conductor tracks to the circuit elements 10 and 20 differs from one another with regard to the selection of process parameters and their permissible value limits, that the diagnostic processes and control processes for the conductor tracks to the circuit elements 10 and 20 are also controlled separately, and that information about assessment values ​​and / or results of the control processes for the conductor tracks to the circuit elements 10 and 20 is output separately and linked to information about the identity of the electronic circuit and the identity of the circuit elements affected in each case.

[0074] In the present embodiment, two control modules 6000F and 6000R are provided, which can be used alternatively and alternately, namely a function control module 6000F for controlling the electronic circuit in an operating mode according to its intended function and a regeneration control module for controlling the electronic circuit in an operating mode for the inventive regeneration of the electronic circuit.

[0075] The function control module 6000F controls the electronic circuit in an operating mode according to its intended function, in this case electromyography, and uses one of the two or more conductor tracks (1010, 1020) for the electrically conductive connection between the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, in this case electrode element 10, and the contacting module.

[0076] With the electronic circuit on the textile carrier material, the function control module must also be worn on the human body, therefore a mobile power supply (battery operation) is advantageous for functional operation. If the regeneration control module is provided separately—as in the present embodiment—it can serve to regenerate one or more other electronic circuits in parallel and simultaneously, independent of the ongoing functional operation of the electronic circuit for electromyography, and for this purpose, it can also be supplied with power in a stationary manner, for example.

[0077] Fig. Figure 3 shows a simplified schematic block diagram of the control module 6000R according to the current embodiment and shows, as its external interfaces, the electronic circuit 4000 to be controlled, a user interface device 7000 such as an operator's mobile phone, and a data management module (8000). Communication with the data management module occurs either directly or indirectly via the UI device. The control module contains, as further blocks, the ROM and RAM memories, the central control unit, and the power supply module.

[0078] Due to the focus on miniaturization, the controller's functionality is severely limited. In this example, the device ID and compiled programs are stored in ROM, program parameters and user management data are stored in RAM, and usage data, including usage and regeneration histories, are stored in the external data management module.

[0079] Application areas for electronic circuits on textile substrates, such as electromyography mentioned in this example, fall into the field of medical technology. This field places high technical demands on process, product, and documentation reliability.

[0080] Fig. Figure 4 shows a simplified overview of the main technical functions of the 6000R control module with regard to the regeneration of circuits on textile substrates.

[0081] The second embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment in many aspects, features, and technical effects. Corresponding features are designated by the same reference numerals, and repetition of identical descriptions is omitted.

[0082] Fig. Figure 5A is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material according to the second embodiment. This differs from the first embodiment only in that the electrically conductive connection between the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) and the contacting module (30) comprises three or more conductor tracks (1010, 1020, 1030) that are electrically insulated circumferentially along the conductor track direction and electrically conductively connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, and can be detachably connected to the control module separately via respective coupling elements (1015, 1025, 1035) on the side of the contacting module.

[0083] If the resistances of the conductor tracks 1010, 1020, 1030 are designated R101, R102 and R103, the presence of three conductor tracks instead of only two allows the separate determination of the individual resistances for each conductor track, for example by the following measurements: - Measurement of R101 + R102 in series - Measurement of R101 + R103 in series - Measurement of R102 + R103 in series - R101 + (R102 / / R103) in series - (R101 / / R102) + R103 in series - R102 + (R101 / / R103) in series

[0084] In the first embodiment, the regeneration of the conductor tracks to different electrode elements 10 and 20 (as the discrete and / or exposed circuit elements) is controlled, diagnosed and regulated in a differentiated manner, and correspondingly differentiated information about the assessment value and / or the result of the control process is output in a correspondingly differentiated manner linked to information about the identity of the electronic circuit and the identity of the respective circuit elements concerned.

[0085] In the present second exemplary embodiment, the resistances R101, R102, and R103, and thus the states of the individual conductor tracks 1010, 1020, 1030, are determined in a differentiated manner for each electrode element (as the discrete and / or exposed circuit element), so that their regeneration processes can also differ from one another, for example, with regard to the selection of process parameters. Maximum values, and that the regeneration processes and / or diagnostic processes or control processes for different conductor tracks are controlled in a differentiated manner, and correspondingly differentiated information about the assessment value and / or the result of the control process is linked in a correspondingly differentiated manner with information about the identity of the electronic circuit and the identity of the respective affected conductor tracks and output.

[0086] As a further advantage, the arrangement according to the second embodiment allows for more uniform regeneration, since among three tracks, the two with the highest resistance (most defects) can always be treated in pairs during the regeneration process. And if one track is completely destroyed, the circuit can continue to operate with the two undamaged tracks.

[0087] Compared to the state of the art, the method and arrangement are characterized by the fact that no additional chemical baths, electrolytes or similar are required, so that regeneration can take place, especially with insulated conductor tracks and at low currents and temperatures.

[0088] Such a regeneration is demonstrated in a demonstration example in Fig. 6, here for clarification for a curved conductor track without insulation. Fig. Figure 6A shows a section of the conductor track after significant stretching of the textile carrier material and the conductor track—horizontally in the image. Clearly visible microcracks have formed, and the conductivity has decreased to less than 5% of the initial value. Fig. Figure 6B shows the same section of the conductor track after performing the regeneration process according to the invention. The textile carrier material (95% polyester, 5% elastane) is intact, but the microcracks have disappeared and the conductivity has been restored to its original value.

[0089] The process has a self-regulating and self-limiting effect, as areas with numerous defects and microcracks have higher resistance. This results in increased heating and faster healing. Accordingly, areas with numerous defects and microcracks are initially heated more intensely and thus healed until the resistance is approximately equivalent to the next most severely affected area, which in principle allows a homogeneous conductor path to be achieved again.

[0090] In contrast to existing technologies, this invention offers a practical solution for monitoring conductive structures in vulnerable printed electronics during use. This is achieved through a control module that initiates immediate repair at room temperature upon detection of defects or microcracks. What makes this technology unique is that it does not require additional chemical reservoirs or external tools and operates at low voltages of just a few volts and a current range of less than 1 ampere. The repair is performed in closed circuit systems. QUOTES FROM THE DESCRIPTION

[0091] Cited patent literature - US8463116B2

[10] - DE 68919311 T2

[11] - EP0441154 A2

[12] - EP0441154 A2

[13] - US11419219B2

[14] QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 8463116B2 [0010, 0091] DE 68919311 T [0011, 0091] EP 0441154 A [0012, 0091] US 11419219B [0013, 0091]

Claims

[1] An electronic circuit to be worn on the human body on a textile carrier material (4000), comprising a contacting module (30) for detachably mechanically and electrically connecting the electronic circuit on the textile carrier material to a control module (6000) without contact with the skin of the human body, and a discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) which has a lateral extent in the range of 1 mm to 300 mm parallel to a surface of the textile carrier material (4000) and one or more different layers stacked one above the other, each with a thickness of up to 500 µm, preferably a thickness in the range of 1 µm to 200 µm, perpendicular to the surface of the textile carrier material (4000), and which is connected to the contacting module via an electrically conductive connection; characterized bythat the electrically conductive connection between the discrete and / or exposed circuit element and the contacting module comprises two or more conductor tracks (1010, 1020) which are electrically insulated all the way around along the conductor track direction and are electrically conductively connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (1090) and can be detachably connected to the control module separately via respective coupling elements (1015, 1025) on the side of the contacting module. [2] Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the electrical resistances of the coupling elements (1015, 1025) are lower than the electrical resistances of the associated conductor tracks (1010, 1020). [3] Circuit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive connection between the discrete and / or exposed circuit element and the contacting module comprises three or more conductor tracks (1010, 1020, 1030) which are electrically insulated circumferentially along the conductor track direction and are electrically conductively connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element and can be detachably connected to the control module separately via respective coupling elements (1015, 1025, 1035) on the side of the contacting module. [4] Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conductor tracks (1010, 1020) have a respective track width in the range of 100 µm to 10 mm, preferably in the range of 300 µm to 5 mm, and a respective thickness of up to 200 µm, preferably a respective thickness in the range of 4 µm to 60 µm, and wherein the conductor tracks are formed with a material in which electrically conductive components are electrically conductively connected to one another in an electrically non-conductive carrier medium. [5] Circuit according to claim 4, wherein the volume fraction of the material of the conductor track comprises an electrically conductive component between 5% and 40%. [6] A circuit according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the carrier medium comprises a thermoplastic material having a thermoelastic state at room temperature and a thermoplastic state at a temperature from and above 80°C, preferably from and above 60°C. [7] Circuit according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the carrier medium contains a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with a glass transition temperature below room temperature and with an amorphous weight fraction of at least 30%. [8] Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the circumferential electronic insulation of the conductor tracks (1010, 1020) on the side facing the human body comprises a material layer with a thermal conductivity of not more than 0.2 W / (mK). [9] Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conductor tracks are partially superimposed. [10] A circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a contact surface (40) which, when worn on the human body, is in contact with a portion of the skin of the human body and which includes, as the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10), a sensor or electrode element having an electrically conductive layer on the contact surface. [11] Control module (6000R) for controlling the circuit according to one of claims 1 to 10, designed to in order to be connected, when contacting the circuit by the contacting module (30), to the two or more conductor tracks which are electrically connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, via the coupling elements of the contacting module corresponding to them; and further trained to control a regeneration process with the following steps: • Applying voltage to at least two of the two or more conductor tracks such that current flows through a first of the at least two conductor tracks from the contacting module in the direction of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) and current flows through a second of the at least two conductor tracks in the direction from the discrete and / or exposed circuit element (10) to the contacting module; • Local heating of a defect in the first and / or second conductor track by current flow through the defect; and • Regeneration of the first and / or second conductor track at the defect site by stimulating material transport at the locally heated defect site and closing the defect site by applying voltage and / or local heating and cooling. [12] Control module (6000R) according to claim 11, designed to control the regeneration process using one or more of the following process parameters: • maximum current flow and time average of the current flow through the first and second conductor track • Power output by current flow through the first and second conductor track and time average thereof • Duration of voltage application • Level and time average of the applied voltage • time-varying voltage and current values • Direction of current flow • Pulse height, pulse length and frequency, pulse profile, change of direction [13] Control module (6000R) according to claim 12, wherein: • the maximum current flow through the first and second conductor tracks is limited to less than 2A, and / or • the maximum duration of voltage application is 1 to 600 seconds, and / or • the power output per conductor is limited to 0.1W to 10W. [14] Control module (6000R) according to claim 12 or claim 13, further configured to control a diagnostic process comprising the steps of: • Determination of one or more resistance values ​​for the two or more conductor tracks; • Determination of an assessment value for the regeneration status of the conductor tracks based on • the resistance values ​​determined for these conductors, and • (optional) of predetermined resistance values ​​or rating values ​​for these conductors; and • (optional) Output of information about the assessment value and the identity of the electronic circuit (4000), [15] Control module (6000R) according to claim 14, further configured to control a control process comprising one of the steps: • Adjusting at least one of the process parameters according to claim 12 or the maximum values ​​according to claim 13 based on a result of the diagnostic process and continuing the regeneration process. • Completion of the regeneration process • (optional) Output of information about the assessment value and / or the result of the control process and about the identity of the electronic circuit (4000). [16] Control module (6000) according to one of claims 11 to 15, further designed for • Termination of the regeneration process according to claim 11, 12 or 13; and / or • Termination of the diagnostic process according to claim 14; and / or • Termination of the control process according to claim 15; and • Control of a functional process in which the discrete and / or exposed circuit element is controlled according to its intended function and using at least one of the two or more conductor tracks. [17] Control module (6000) according to one of claims 11 to 15, further designed for • designed to control a functional process in which the circuit is controlled according to its intended function. • designed to switch between an operating state with control of the functional process and an operating state with control of one of the processes according to one of claims 11 to 15. [18] Control module (6000) according to one of claims 11 to 17 for controlling the circuit according to one of claims 1 to 10 and having the features of claim 3, designed for that the process parameter(s) according to claim 12 and / or the maximum value(s) according to claim 13 can be different for different conductor tracks, that a regeneration process according to claim 11 and / or a diagnostic process according to claim 14 and / or a control process according to claim 15 can be controlled differently for one or more conductor tracks; and (optional) the output of information about the assessment value and / or the result of the control process and about the identity of the electronic circuit (4000) is linked to information about the identity of the respective conductor track concerned. [19] Control module (6000) for controlling the circuit according to one of claims 1 to 10, designed to in order to be connected, when contacting the circuit by the contacting module (30), to the two or more conductor tracks which are electrically connected to one another on the side of the discrete and / or exposed circuit element, via the coupling elements of the contacting module corresponding to them; trained to carry out a diagnostic process with the following steps: • Determination of one or more resistance values ​​for the two or more conductor tracks; • Determination of an assessment value for the regeneration status of the conductor tracks based on • the resistance values ​​determined for these conductors, and • (optional) of predetermined resistance values ​​or rating values ​​for these conductors; and • (optional) outputting information about the assessment value and about the identity of the electronic circuit (4000); and designed to carry out a functional process in which the circuit is controlled according to its intended function. [20] A control method for a controller according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of the processes according to any one of claims 11 to 19.

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