Flexible Wiring Structure With Slit Substrate For Stretchable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible electronic devices face challenges in conforming to non-planar surfaces and maintaining signal transmission integrity when stretched, as traditional designs lack sufficient anti-stretching capabilities and adaptability to complex three-dimensional shapes.
Innovation Solution
A flexible electronic device design featuring a substrate with slits that divide into connecting portions and wiring regions, where the wiring structure includes circumferential and radial portions with varying anti-stretching abilities, allowing the device to conformally cover curved surfaces and maintain signal transmission across expanded states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wiring structures are used on flexible substrates, then the device can be made flexible, but the wiring breaks when stretched
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple units with slits between them, allowing independent deformation of each unit while maintaining overall structural integrity. The wiring is segmented to follow the contour of each unit, preventing breakage during stretching
Solution Approach 2:
The wiring structure transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional contour-following path that wraps around the curved surface of each unit, accommodating radial and circumferential directions simultaneously
2Ease of manufacture
If the device is designed for planar surfaces, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot conform to non-planar surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple identical or similar units with slits between them, allowing the same planar manufacturing process to be repeated while the assembled structure conforms to curved surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
Each unit is designed with a curved contour that can wrap around non-planar surfaces, and the plurality of units collectively form a surface that conforms to complex three-dimensional shapes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through repetition
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform wiring structure is used across all regions, then manufacturing is consistent, but signal transmission degrades when stretched
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring structure varies by region with different densities and configurations optimized for local requirements - higher density in critical signal areas, adjusted patterns in regions subject to different stress levels during stretching
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a flexible electronic device may include a unit structure including a substrate unit and a wiring structure. The substrate unit has slits to divide connecting portions between respective ends of two slits and wiring regions arranged outwardly from at least one unit center sequentially. The wiring structure is disposed on the substrate unit and includes wirings distributed in the wiring regions. Each wiring includes circumferential portions and radial portions connected between the circumferential portions. The radial portion connected to a first end of each circumferential portion extends toward the unit center from the first end. Each circumferential portion includes a first section and a second section. The first section is closer to the first end and has greater anti-stretching ability than the second section.