Conductive patterning
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of a method, coating and system for conductive patterning are disclosed.
1. A method comprising:
irradiating portions of a non-conductive coating having conductive elements, a binder to join the conductive elements, and a material to propagate absorption of radiation from a light source to induce the portions to an electrical conducting state, wherein irradiating the portions liquefies the binder to create the electrical conducting state at the portions, wherein irradiating the portions liquefies the binder at the portions to allow the conductive elements to move into electrically conductive positions relative to one another.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiating is performed with a laser at a power of less than or equal to 50 milliwatts.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser has a wavelength of less than about 800 nanometers.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising altering a color of the portions irradiated.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive elements include a metal salt having metal elements and wherein irradiating the portions substantially reduces the metal salt to metal particles.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portions include multiple lines spaced less than or equal to 25 microns.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material in the portions is substantially vaporized during irradiation of the portions.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is a laser sensitive dye.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the coating includes by mass between about 6% and about 18% of the dye.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portions, after being irradiated, have a sheet resistivity of less than or equal to about 10 ohms/square.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein non-irradiated portions have a sheet resistivity of at least about 100 ohms/square.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portions form an antenna for a radio frequency identification tag.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an electric field between the portion and another conductive surface opposite the portion.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an electric field between the portion and another conductive surface opposite the portion to excite an electroluminescent material within the field.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting a cartridge including a laser to a carriage of a printer.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating is configured to change color upon being irradiated by a laser.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a dye of sufficient quantity such that the coating has a sheet of resistivity of at least about 100 ohms/square.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating overlies a transparent substrate, a transparent conductor layer and an electroluminescent material layer between the transparent conductor layer and the coating.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a dielectric layer extends between the electroluminescent material layer and the coating.
20. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electroluminescent material comprises a phosphor.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein a translucent layer extends over the substrate.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portions form an antennae that is connected to an integrated circuit configured to transmit signals via the antenna.