Stretchable Device Dummy End Portions Stabilize Electrical Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stretchable devices experience unstable electrical coupling between coupling terminals due to the movement of anisotropic conductive resin into recessed spaces between end portions, leading to unreliable connections.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable device design featuring a first resin layer with dummy end portions around the actual end portions, preventing the anisotropic conductive resin from moving into these recesses and stabilizing the electrical coupling between first and second coupling terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the end portions of the resin base member are separated to provide spaces between them, then the structure allows for flexibility and stretchability, but the anisotropic conductive resin moves into these recesses causing unstable electrical coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming protrusions on the end portions of the resin base member before the anisotropic conductive resin is applied. These protrusions pre-occupy the spaces where the conductive resin would otherwise move, preventing the resin and its conductive particles from migrating into the recesses between end portions during the bonding process, thereby ensuring stable electrical coupling from the outset
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions act as an intermediary structure between the end portions and the anisotropic conductive resin. By introducing this intermediate geometric feature, the patent prevents direct contact between the conductive resin and the recessed spaces, thereby mediating the interaction to maintain reliable electrical connections while preserving the stretchable structure's flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The introduction of dummy end portions effectively reduces the number of conductive particles moving into the recesses, thereby stabilizing the electrical coupling between the coupling terminals, enhancing the reliability of the connection.
Implementation Method 1
An anisotropic conductive resin layer electrically coupling the first coupling terminals to the second coupling terminals is provided between the first coupling terminals and the second coupling terminals
Implementation Method 2
The stretchable substrate includes an array layer including the electrical circuit, a resin base member serving as a base member for the array layer, and two resin layers that sandwich the electrical circuit and the resin base member. The resin base member includes bodies arrayed in a matrix (row-column configuration) and hinges that couple the bodies to each other. When a tensile load acts on the stretchable substrate, the hinges are elongated in the tensile direction, and the stretchable substrate is stretched.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, a stretchable device includes: a stretchable substrate comprising a first resin layer, a resin base member, an array layer, and a second resin layer stacked in the order as listed; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically coupled to an electrical circuit included in the array layer. The resin base member includes end portions separated from each other. The electrical circuit comprises a plurality of first coupling terminals disposed on the end portions. The flexible printed circuit board comprises second coupling terminals facing the first coupling terminals. An anisotropic conductive resin layer electrically coupling the first coupling terminals to the second coupling terminals is provided between the first coupling terminals and the second coupling terminals. The first resin layer has: a first surface provided with the resin base member; and a dummy end portion provided to the first surface and disposed around the end portions.