Flexible circuit having overvoltage protection

A flexible circuit having overvoltage protective comprising:

• a first flexible layer;
• a plurality of signal conductors applied to the first substrate layer;
• a voltage variable material (“VVM”) applied to the plurality of signal conductors;
• a ground conductor applied to the VVM and across the signal conductors, wherein the ground conductor extends across the signal conductors to a ground trace applied to the first flexible layer;
• a first gap filled with the VVM between each adjacent signal conductor, the first gap larger than a second gap filled with the VVM between each signal conductor and the ground conductor;
• and
• a second flexible layer covering the signal conductors, the ground conductor and the VVM.

A flexible circuit having overvoltage protection comprising:

• a first flexible layer;
• a signal conductor applied to the first flexible layer;
• a second flexible layer;
• a ground conductor applied to the second flexible layer;
• and
• a voltage variable material (“VVM”) located between the signal and ground conductors, wherein the VVM includes one of:
• (i) an insulating binder, first conductive particles with a core and a shell held in the insulating binder, and second conductive particles without a shell held in the insulating binder;
• (ii) an insulating binder, first conductive particles with a core and a shell held in the insulating binder, second conductive particles without a shell held in the insulating binder, and semi-conductive particles with a core and a shell held in the insulating binder;
• and (iii) a insulating binder and only first conductive particles with a core and shell held in the insulating binder.

A flexible circuit having overvoltage protection comprising:

• a first flexible layer;
• a plurality of signal conductors applied to the first flexible layer;
• at least one ground conductor positioned adjacent to at least one of the signal conductors;
• a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) applied to the plurality of signal conductors and the at least one ground conductor such that a first path through the VVM from any of the signal conductors to the at least one ground conductor is smaller than a second path through the VVM from any of the signal conductors to a closest adjacent signal conductor;
• and
• a second flexible layer covering the signal conductors,
• wherein the at least one ground conductor comprises a plurality of ground conductors, the VVM and each of the signal conductors in an x-y direction relationship with one of the plurality of ground conductors.

A flexible circuit having overvoltage protection comprising:

• a first flexible layer;
• a plurality of signal conductors applied to the first flexible layer;
• at least one ground conductor positioned adjacent to at least one of the signal conductors;
• a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) applied to the plurality of signal conductors and the at least one ground conductor such that a first path through the VVM from any of the signal conductors to the at least one ground conductor is smaller than a second path through the VVM from any of the signal conductors to a closest adjacent signal conductor;
• and
• a second flexible layer covering the signal conductors, wherein each of the signal conductors lies adjacent to the at least one ground conductor, separated by the VVM.