Conformal electronics including nested serpentine interconnects
An example stretchable device is described that includes electrical contacts and an interconnect coupling the electrical contacts. The interconnect has a meander-shaped configuration that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. The interconnect can be conductive or non-conductive. The meander-shaped configuration can be a serpentine structure, providing a serpentine-in-serpentine configuration.
1. A stretchable electrical device, comprising:
two electrical contacts; and
an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the two electrical contacts;
wherein the electrical interconnect has a meander-shaped base configuration comprising a plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features arranged along the electrical interconnect such that each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features is at least partially nested within an adjacent one of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features, the meander-shaped base configuration having a base amplitude and a base wavelength, each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features having (i) a nested amplitude that is different than the base amplitude, and (ii) a nested wavelength that is different than the base wavelength.
2. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect comprises a single length of conductive material and couples only the two electrical contacts.
3. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the nested amplitude is greater than the base amplitude and the nested wavelength is greater than the base wavelength.
4. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the nested amplitude is less than the base amplitude and the nested wavelength is less than the base wavelength.
5. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one device component in communication with at least one of the two electrical contacts, and wherein the at least one device component is an electronic device component, an optical device component, an optoelectronic device component, a mechanical device component, a microelectromechanical device component, a nanoelectromechanical device component, a microfluidic device component or a thermal device.
6. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect is connected to and extends from a first one of the two electrical contacts generally in a first direction.
7. The stretchable electrical device of claim 6 , wherein the electrical interconnect includes a plurality of repeated, connected, and alternating loops, each of the plurality of loops has a curved tip and a length extending from the curved tip in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
8. The stretchable electrical device of claim 7 , wherein each of the nested serpentine-shaped features projects from one of the plurality of lengths in the first direction.
9. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the two electrical contacts are disposed on an elastomeric substrate.
10. The stretchable device of claim 9 , wherein the two electrical contacts are in physical communication with the elastomeric substrate, and wherein the electrical interconnect is not in physical communication with the substrate.
11. The stretchable electrical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two electrical contacts is in communication with a semiconductor circuit.
12. A stretchable device, comprising:
a stretchable substrate; and
a stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable substrate, the stretchable electronic circuit including
a first discrete operative device;
a second discrete operative device; and
an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the first discrete operative device and the second discrete operative device, the electrical interconnect having a meander-shaped base configuration with a plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features arranged along the electrical interconnect such that each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features is at least partially nested within an adjacent one of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features, the meander-shaped base configuration having a base amplitude and a base wavelength, each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features having (i) a nested amplitude that is different than the base amplitude, and (ii) a nested wavelength that is different than the base wavelength.
13. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the electrical interconnect is made of a single length of conductive material and couples only the first discrete operative device and the second discrete operative device.
14. The stretchable electrical device of claim 12 , wherein the nested amplitude is greater than the base amplitude and the nested wavelength is greater than the base wavelength.
15. The stretchable electrical device of claim 12 , wherein the nested amplitude is less than the base amplitude and the nested wavelength is less than the base wavelength.
16. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the first discrete operative device or the second discrete operative device includes one or more of a photodetector, a photodiode array, a display, a light-emitting device, a photovoltaic device, a sensor array, a light-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, an optical imaging system, a transistor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or any combination of thereof.
17. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the electrical interconnect is connected to and extends from the first discrete operative device generally in a first direction.
18. The stretchable device of claim 17 , wherein the electrical interconnect includes a plurality of repeated, connected, and alternating loops, each of the plurality of loops having a curved tip and a length extending from the curved tip in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
19. The stretchable device of claim 18 , wherein each of the nested serpentine-shaped features projects from one of the plurality of lengths in the first direction.
20. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the first discrete operative device, the second discrete operative device, and the stretchable electrical interconnect include the same material.
21. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the first discrete operative device is formed from a first semiconductor material and the stretchable electrical interconnect is made from a second semiconductor material that is different from the first semiconductor material.
22. The stretchable device of claim 12 , wherein the first discrete operative device and the second discrete operative device are in physical communication with the surface of the stretchable substrate and the stretchable electrical interconnect is not in physical communication with the surface.
23. A stretchable electrical device, comprising:
a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact; and
an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the electrical interconnect being connected to the first electrical contact and extending from the first electrical contact generally in a first direction;
wherein the electrical interconnect has a meander-shaped base configuration comprising a plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features arranged along the electrical interconnect such that each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features is at least partially nested within an adjacent one of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features, the electrical interconnect including a plurality of repeated, connected, and alternating loops, each of the plurality of loops having a curved tip and a length extending from the curved tip in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
24. The stretchable electrical device of claim 23 , wherein each of the nested serpentine-shaped features projects from one of the plurality of lengths in the first direction.
25. A stretchable device, comprising:
a stretchable substrate; and
a stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable substrate, the stretchable electronic circuit including
a first discrete operative device;
a second discrete operative device; and
an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the first discrete operative device and the second discrete operative device, the electrical interconnect being connected to the first discrete operative device and extending from the first discrete operative device generally in a first direction;
wherein the electrical interconnect having a meander-shaped base configuration with a plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features arranged along the electrical interconnect such that each of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features is at least partially nested within an adjacent one of the plurality of nested serpentine-shaped features, the electrical interconnect including a plurality of repeated, connected, and alternating loops, each of the plurality of loops having a curved tip and a length extending from the curved tip in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
26. The stretchable device of claim 25 , wherein each of the nested serpentine-shaped features projects from one of the plurality of lengths in the first direction.