Method of manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorRobert Ghanea-Hercock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component includes using an additive manufacturing process to: a) form a non-electrically conductive substrate; b) form a non-electrically conductive perforated layer having an aperture; c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the aperture; d) deposit a conductive electrical connection to each of the elements suitable for imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements; and e) form a non-electrically conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the aperture in the perforated layer.
Claims16
A method of manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component comprising:
- using an additive manufacturing process to:
- a) form a non-electrically conductive substrate;
- b) form a non-electrically conductive perforated layer having an aperture;
- c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the aperture;
- d) deposit a conductive electrical connection to each of the elements suitable for imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements;
- e) form a non-electrically conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the aperture in the perforated layer.
An additive manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component, the apparatus comprising:
- a computer system;
- a first additive manufacturing component adapted to form non-electrically conductive three dimensional structures;
- a second additive manufacturing component adapted to form electrically conductive three dimensional structures;
- wherein the first and second additive manufacturing components are operable under control of the computer system, the computer system being adapted to control the components to:
- a) form a non-electrically conductive substrate;
- b) form a non-electrically conductive perforated layer having an aperture;
- c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the aperture;
- d) deposit a conductive electrical connection to each of the elements suitable for imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements;
- e) form a non-electrically conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the aperture in the perforated layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.