Apparatus for laying conductive pathways, method of laying conductive pathways and textile product comprising conductive pathways
AssigneeMas Innovation (Private) Limited
InventorsKosalasiri Jayasundara, Raweendra Kumara, Ranil Vitharana
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Abstract
A conductive tape formed by laying a conductive pathway on a tape layer is disclosed. Various apparatus and methods for laying conductive pathways to form conductive tape are disclosed. The conductive pathways may be laid by varying the lateral position of the conductive pathway on the tape substrate. Such patterns all stretchable conductive tape to be realized. Multiple conductive pathways may be laid in the tape and the lateral separation of the pathways in the tape may vary. In some embodiments the pathways are formed from conductive yarn or by printing or laying conductive ink.
Claims20
An apparatus for laying conductive pathways on a tape to form a conductive tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a pair of surfaces arranged to apply a bonding pressure;
- a first conductive pathway laying device configured to lay a first conductive pathway on the tape and configured to vary the lateral position of the first conductive pathway as the tape moves through the pair of surfaces;
- and
- a second conductive pathway laying device configured to lay a second conductive pathway on the tape and configured to vary the lateral position of the second conductive pathway as the tape moves through the pair of surfaces, wherein the first conductive pathway laying device and/or the second conductive pathway laying device are configured to vary a lateral separation between the first conductive pathway and the second conductive pathway.
A method of manufacturing a conductive tape, the method comprising
- laying a first conductive pathway on a first tape layer;
- laying a second conductive pathway on the first tap layer
- bonding the first conductive pathway and the second conductive pathway to the first tape layer to form the conductive tape by applying a heat and/or bonding pressure at a bonding point;
- moving the conductive tape relative to the bonding point in a longitudinal direction;
- and
- varying the lateral position of the first conductive pathway at the bonding point as the conductive tape moves in the longitudinal direction so that the lateral position of the first conductive pathway within the conductive tape forms a repeating pattern and varying a lateral separation between the first conductive pathway and the second conductive pathway so that a tangential distance between the first conductive pathway and second conductive pathway is maintained above a minimum tangential distance.
A method of laying conductive yarn on a substrate, the method comprising
- laying a first conductive yarn by varying a lateral position of the first conductive yarn on the substrate to form a first repeating pattern;
- and
- laying a second conductive yarn by varying a lateral position of the second conductive yarn on the substrate to form a second repeating pattern,
- wherein the lateral separation of the first conductive yarn and the second conductive yarn varies to maintain a minimum tangential separation of the first conductive yarn and the second conductive yarn.
A method of printing a conductive pathways on a substrate, the method comprising
- applying a first conductive pathway to the substrate by varying a lateral position of a first nozzle configured to apply conductive ink to the substrate to form a first repeating pattern;
- and
- applying a second conductive pathway to the substrate by varying a lateral position of a second nozzle configured to apply conductive ink to the substrate to form a second repeating pattern,
- wherein the lateral separation of the first nozzle and the second nozzle varies to maintain a minimum tangential separation of the first conductive pathway and the second conductive pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.