# US 9,520,921 B2 · Network of electronic devices assembled on a flexible support and communication method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,921 B2 - Document ID: US9520921B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/905,342 - Filed: 2013-05-30 - Published: 2013-12-05 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-31 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Inventors: Alberto Pagani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520921B2 ## CPC - H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop - H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings - H01Q 1/2225: {used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal} - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - H01Q 1/526: {Electromagnetic shields} - H02J 50/005: {Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices} - H02J 50/12: of the resonant type - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - H02J 50/402: {the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas} - H02J 50/70: involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields - H04B 5/24: Inductive coupling - H04B 5/26: using coils - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H05K 1/038: {Textiles (used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366)} - H05K 1/165: {incorporating printed inductors} - H10W 44/20: at high-frequency [HF] or radio frequency [RF] - H10W 44/501: {Inductive arrangements (H10W44/20 takes precedence)} - H10W 70/611: {for connecting multiple chips together} - H10W 70/688: {Flexible insulating substrates} - H10W 90/00: Package configurations - A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes} - A61B 2562/164: the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 2105/46: Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices - H04B 5/45: Transponders - H05K 2201/10098: Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas - H10W 44/248: {for antennas} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An embodiment of a network of electronic devices is formed on a flexible substrate by a plurality of electronic devices assembled on the flexible substrate. The electronic devices have an embedded antenna for mutual coupling of a wireless type. Each electronic device is formed by a chip or a complex system integrating a transceiver circuit coupled to the embedded antenna and a functional part coupled to the transceiver circuit and including at least one element chosen in the group comprising: a sensor, an actuator, an interface, an electrode, a memory, a control unit, a power-supply unit, a converter, an adapter, a digital circuit, an analog circuit, an RF circuit, a microelectromechanical system, an electrode, a well, a cell, a container for liquids. The flexible support may be a substrate of plastic material that incorporates the electronic devices or a garment having smart buttons that house the electronic devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a flexible first layer; and first circuits fixed to the flexible first layer, wherein the first circuits are configured to communicate with each other using a mutual coupling without contact, wherein the mutual coupling without contact comprises magnetic coupling circuitry comprising: an antenna for each of the first circuits; a magnetic generator; and a passive line made of a pair of parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material that extend in or on the flexible first layer and is magnetically coupled to the antenna for each of the first circuits; wherein the pair of parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material for said passive line are coupled to the magnetic generator to form a closed magnetic loop circuit; wherein the magnetic generator applies an AC signal at a first frequency to the pair of parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material to supply power to the first circuits, the first circuits communicating with each other using a second frequency different from the first frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible first layer includes a polymeric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible first layer includes at least a portion of a piece of a wearable article. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first circuits are at least partially disposed on the first flexible layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first circuits are at least partially disposed within the first flexible layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conductor secured to the flexible first layer and configured to couple at least one of the first circuits to at least one other of the first circuits. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conductor secured to the flexible first layer and configured to provide power to each of the first circuits. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conductor secured to the flexible first layer, and wherein the antenna for each of the first circuits is configured to communicate magnetically with the conductor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna for each of the first circuits is disposed around at least a portion of a strip of the parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna for each of the first circuits is configured to be magnetically coupled to at least one of the parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a housing that is configured to be coupled to the flexible first layer; and wherein at least one of the first circuits is disposed within the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a housing forming at least a portion of button configured to be coupled to at least a portion of the flexible first layer; and wherein at least one of the first circuits is disposed within the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a housing forming at least a portion of a snap configured to be coupled to at least a portion of the flexible first layer; and wherein at least one of the first circuits is disposed within the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a flexible second layer secured to the flexible first layer; and second circuits for the second layer, each of the second circuits configured to communicate with at least one of the other second circuits using said passive line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a flexible second layer secured to the flexible first layer; and second circuits for the second layer, each of the second circuits configured to communicate with at least one of the first circuits using said passive line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said pair of parallel extending strips of ferromagnetic material comprises a first strip of ferromagnetic material having a first end and a second end and a second strip of ferromagnetic material having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end of the first strip of ferromagnetic material is coupled to a second end of the second strip of ferromagnetic material, and wherein a second end of the first strip of ferromagnetic material is coupled to a first end of the second strip of ferromagnetic material by the magnetic generator to form said closed magnetic loop circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a housing wherein at least one of the first circuits is disposed within the housing; and at least one other circuit disposed outside of the housing and configured to communicate magnetically with the first circuit disposed within the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the housing forms at least a portion of a clothing button. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the housing forms at least a portion of a clothing snap. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a flexible first layer; and first circuits fixed to the flexible first layer, wherein the first circuits are configured to communicate with each other using a mutual coupling without contact, wherein the mutual coupling without contact comprises magnetic coupling circuitry comprising: an antenna for each of the first circuits; a first line of ferromagnetic material having a first end and a second end, the first line of ferromagnetic material extending in or on the flexible first layer and being magnetically coupled to the antenna for each of the first circuits; and a second line of ferromagnetic material having a first end and a second end, the second line of ferromagnetic material extending in or on the flexible first layer; wherein the first end of the first line is magnetically coupled to the second end of the second line, and wherein the second end of the first line is magnetically coupled to the first end of the second line to form a closed magnetic loop circuit; a magnetic generator coupled between the second end of the first line and the first end of the second line, wherein said magnetic generator applies an AC signal at a first frequency to the first and second lines to supply power to the first circuits, said first circuits communicating with each other of the first and second lines using a second frequency different from the first frequency. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a magnetic generator coupled between the second end of the first line and the first end of the first line. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second lines extend parallel to each other and pass over the first circuits. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said antenna is a coil antenna oriented parallel to a plane of the first line. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said antenna is a coil antenna oriented perpendicular to a plane of the first line. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the first line includes a projection of ferromagnetic material extending from the first line, said projection being magnetically coupled to the antenna for the first circuit.