Additive manufacturing techniques for producing a network of conductive pathways on a substrate
AssigneeYazaki Corporation
InventorSatyabrata Raychaudhuri
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Abstract
The disclosed embodiments include an automobile panel that can include a polymer substrate, a network of conductive pathways, and connectors coupled to ends of the network of conductive pathways. The network of conductive pathways can include conductive material disposed in cavities forming a network of channels in the polymer substrate. The conductive material at least partially encapsulates by the polymer substrate. The connectors are connectable to automotive electronic devices thereby forming electrical circuits that include the network of conductive pathways and the automotive electronics.
Claims25
An automobile panel comprising:
- a molded polymer substrate that forms a surface of the automobile panel;
- a network of additively manufactured conductive pathways including electrically conductive material integrated in a plurality of cavities forming a network of channels on the surface of the automobile panel,
- wherein the electrically conductive material is at least partially encapsulated on the surface of the automobile panel;
- and
- a plurality of connectors coupled to ends of the network of additively manufactured conductive pathways,
- wherein the plurality of connectors are connectable to a plurality of automotive electronic devices thereby forming a plurality of electrical circuits that include the network of additively manufactured conductive pathways and the plurality of automotive electronics.
A connectivity panel comprising:
- a molded substrate composed of an electrically insulating material that forms a surface of the connectivity panel;
- an additively manufactured electrically conductive pathway including electrically conductive material integrated in a cavity on the surface of the connectivity panel,
- wherein the cavity is formed on a surface of the molded substrate as a channel that at least partially encapsulates the electrically conductive material on the surface of the connectivity panel;
- and
- a connectable end for the additively manufactured electrically conductive pathway,
- wherein the connectable end is configured to connect the additively manufactured electrically conductive pathway to an electronic component thereby forming an electrical circuit that includes the additively manufactured electrically conductive pathway and the electronic component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.