Deformable conductors and related sensors, antennas and multiplexed systems
AssigneeLiquid Wire Inc.
InventorMark Ronay
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Abstract
A conducting shear thinning gel composition and methods of making such a composition are disclosed. The conducting shear thinning gel composition includes a mixture of a eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide, wherein the mixture of eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide has a weight percentage (wt %) of between about 59.9% and about 99.9% eutectic gallium alloy, and a wt % of between about 0.1% and about 2.0% gallium oxide. Also disclosed are articles of manufacture, comprising the shear thinning gel composition, and methods of making article of manufacture having a shear thinning gel composition. Also disclosed are sensors and multiplexed systems utilizing deformable conductors.
Claims20
An electronic system, comprising:
- a flexible stretchable substrate;
- and
- a stretchable conductor disposed on the stretchable substrate, the stretchable conductor comprising a metal gel composition, wherein the metal gel composition:
- (a) has an electrical property having a substantially linear response proportional over a predetermined range to the metal gel being stretched,
- (b) comprises a eutectic gallium alloy;
- and an amount of gallium oxide distributed within the bulk of the gallium alloy, wherein the bulk mixture of eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide has a weight percentage (wt %) of between about 59.9% and about 99.9% eutectic gallium alloy,
- (c) the metal gel is stabilized by gallium oxide microstructures, and
- (d) the metal gel thins upon application of high shear,
- an encapsulant configured to encapsulate the stretchable conductor with the flexible stretchable substrate.
A method of making an electronic system, comprising:
- disposing stretchable conductor on a flexible stretchable substrate, the stretchable conductor comprising a metal gel composition, wherein the metal gel composition:
- (a) has an electrical property having a substantially linear response proportional over a predetermined range to the metal gel being stretched,
- (b) comprises a eutectic gallium alloy;
- and an amount of gallium oxide distributed within the bulk of the gallium alloy, wherein the bulk mixture of eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide has a weight percentage (wt %) of between about 59.9% and about 99.9% eutectic gallium alloy,
- (c) the metal gel is stabilized by gallium oxide microstructures;
- and
- (d) the metal gel thins upon application of high shear,
- applying an encapsulant to encapsulate the stretchable conductor with the flexible stretchable substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.