Method of patterning electrically-conductive film on flexible substrates
AssigneeKent State University
InventorsJohn L. West, Da-Wei Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of patterning an electrically-conductive film is performed by providing a flexible substrate that carries the electrically-conductive film thereon to form a combined layer. The combined layer is then bent about a radius of curvature, so as to impart a stress on the brittle conductive film along the axis of curvature of the curved surface. The application of the stress to the conductive film results in the formation of crack lines that are substantially perpendicular to the direction to which the substrate and conductive film are bent. The crack lines serve to define and electrically isolate conductive sections therebetween that can be utilized as electrodes and address lines in electronic devices.
Claims20
A method of patterning a conductive film comprising:
- providing a flexible substrate having an electrically-conductive film disposed thereon to form a combined layer;
- bending said combined layer by a radius of curvature;
- and
- moving one end of said combined layer relative to another end of said combined layer about said radius of curvature, so that a section of said combined layer is continuously moved through said radius of curvature to form a plurality of crack lines in said conductive film of said section, wherein each pair of said plurality of crack lines defines and electrically isolates a conductive section therebetween.
A method of patterning a conductive film comprising:
- providing a flexible substrate having an electrically-conductive film disposed thereon, so as to form an elongated combined layer;
- providing first and second substantially parallel plates that are spaced apart by a gap;
- attaching a portion of said substrate to each said first and second plate, such that said combined layer is bent across said gap with a radius of curvature;
- and
- moving one of said first and second plates relative to the other said plate about said radius of curvature, so that a section of said combined layer is continuously moved through said gap and said radius of curvature, so as to form a plurality of crack lines in said conductive film, whereby each pair of said plurality of crack lines defines and electrically isolates a conductive section therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.