Apparatus and method for creating flexible circuits

A system for producing an electronic component on a substrate, the system comprising:

• a programmable computer system;
• a first dispenser coupled to the computer system, the first dispenser having a first fluid that, upon curing, forms a substantially conductive and substantially solid material;
• and
• a positioning mechanism coupled to the computer system, wherein the positioning mechanism holds the substrate and moves the substrate and the first dispenser relative to one another in a series of different relative positions as controlled by the computer system;
• wherein the computer system further controls a dispensing rate of the first dispenser to dispense a controlled amount of the first fluid in a predetermined pattern on the substrate defined by the series of different relative positions.

A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for causing a suitably programmed system to perform a method for producing an electronic component, the method comprising:

• providing a source of a first fluid in a first dispenser, wherein, upon curing, the first fluid forms a substantially conductive and substantially solid material;
• holding a substrate in a position relative to the first dispenser;
• dispensing a controlled amount of the first fluid in a predetermined pattern on the substrate by moving the substrate relative to the first dispenser in a series of different relative positions;
• and
• curing the first fluid.

An electronic component having a substrate and a pattern of conducting paths, the component made by a method comprising:

• providing a source of a first fluid in a first dispenser, wherein, upon curing, the first fluid forms a substantially conductive and substantially solid material;
• holding a substrate in a position relative to the first dispenser;
• dispensing a controlled amount of the first fluid in a predetermined pattern on the substrate by moving the substrate relative to the first dispenser in a series of different relative positions;
• and
• curing the first fluid.

An electronic component comprising:

• a flexible substrate;
• a first pattern of a substantially conductive and substantially solid material formed on the substrate by curing a pattern of a first fluid;
• and
• a second pattern of a substantially insulating and substantially solid material formed on the substrate and on the pattern of substantially conductive by curing a pattern of a second fluid;
• wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern.