Conductive electrical element and antenna with ink additive technology
AssigneeSonoco Development, Inc.
InventorsScott W. Huffer, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, James Lowry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printing process is provided in which a conductive ink is printed over a printed pattern formed by a coating having an additive that lowers surface tension. Printed electrical elements and antennae (including RFID antennae) are formed using this process. The coating with the surface tension lowering additive is printed on a substrate in a predetermined pattern. A conductive ink is then applied over the coating and, because of the difference in surface tension between the coating and the substrate, the ink flows away from the coating. The conductive ink dries between the printed coating pattern and forms the conductive element.
Claims22
A process for making a conductive element comprising the steps of:
- providing a conductive ink;
- providing a coating;
- adding a surface tension lowering additive to the coating;
- pattern printing the coating onto a target zone on a substrate, the target zone having coating printed areas and non-printed areas, the non-printed areas forming a shape for the conductive element;
- applying the ink over the target zone;
- and
- allowing the ink to flow from the coating printed areas to the non-printed areas until the ink forms in the shape of the antenna.
A conductive element comprising:
- a coating having a surface tension lowering additive;
- a conductive ink;
- and
- a substrate having a target zone, the target zone having the coating and conductive ink printed thereon;
- the target zone having coating printed areas and ink printed areas, the coating printed areas forming a shape for the conductive element, the ink printed areas forming a pattern between the coating printed areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.