US 12,285,083 B2Granted

Method of adhering a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device to a flexible fabric substrate

AssigneeUniversity of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.

InventorsCindy K. Harnett, Jasmin Beharic, Canisha Barbara Ternival, Sushmita Challa, Mohammad Shafquatul Islam

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Abstract

Radial-armed thin-film bilayers are designed and fabricated from a metal and an oxide to produce grippers that interact with the yarns or fibers of the fabric and form a mechanical tangle attachment to the fabric. MEMs devices attached to the grippers enable the MEMs devices to be adhered to a flexible and/or extensible fabric. Fabrics comprise conventional textile, smart textiles, functional fibers or other smart materials. The fabrics thus incorporate wearable sensors, medical devices, and other functional MEMs for commercial, biomedical, industrial and scientific applications.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method of adhering a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device to a flexible fabric substrate, comprising the steps of:

fabricating a plurality of microgrippers, each microgripper having an array of radial arms having a concave face and a convex face;
attaching the MEMS device to the convex or concave faces of the plurality of microgrippers;
placing the MEMS device on a desired location on the flexible fabric substrate such that the concave faces of the plurality of microgrippers are in contact with the flexible fabric substrate;
allowing the concave faces of plurality of microgrippers to engage with a plurality of yarns within the flexible fabric substrate;
and
forming mechanical tangles between the gripper arms and the yarns that hold the plurality of microgrippers and attached MEMs devices in place.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/983,405Filed 3 Aug 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Aug 2019
Published: US 2021/0353010 A118 Nov 2021
Granted: 29 Apr 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A44B 13/0005
Hook or eye fasteners: characterised by their material
A41D 1/002
Garments: adapted to accommodate electronic equipment
B81B 1/006
Devices without movable or flexible elements, e.g. microcapillary devices: microdevices formed as a single homogeneous piece, i.e. wherein the…
B81B 2201/13
Specific applications of microelectromechanical systems: mechanical connectors, i.e. not functioning as an electrical connector