Electronic device with plated electrical contact
An electronic device includes an electronic component configured to receive electric current and a plated contact electrically coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the device. The plated contact includes a copper-alloy layer, a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated over the copper-alloy layer, and a gold-alloy layer plated over the PGM layer.
1. An electronic device comprising:
an electronic component wearable on human skin and configured to receive electric current; and
a mechanically contactable plated electrical contact coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the electronic device, the plated electrical contact including:
a copper-alloy layer;
a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated over the copper-alloy layer; and
a gold-alloy layer plated over the PGM layer.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PGM layer is plated directly onto the copper-alloy layer.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PGM layer includes palladium.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PGM layer is a PGM-alloy layer.
5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the PGM-alloy layer includes nickel.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the gold-alloy layer is at least thirty microinches in thickness.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the copper-alloy layer is a zinc-free bronze.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the gold-alloy layer includes cobalt.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the gold-alloy layer is plated directly onto the PGM layer.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PGM layer is a first PGM layer, the plated contact further comprising one or more additional PGM layers arranged between the first PGM layer and the gold-alloy layer.
11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein each of the additional PGM layers is arranged over an underlying gold layer.
12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein each of the additional PGM layers is plated directly onto the underlying gold layer.
13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the gold-alloy layer and each underlying gold layer is plated directly onto the PGM layer directly beneath it.
14. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein each underlying gold layer is a substantially pure gold layer.
15. A method comprising:
coupling a copper-alloy layer to an electronic component of an electronic device, the electronic component wearable on human skin and configured to receive electric current;
plating a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer over the copper-alloy layer to form a mechanically contactable plated electrical contact, the plated contact being coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the electronic device; and
plating a gold-alloy layer over the PGM layer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said plating includes electroplating.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said plating includes electroless deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and/or evaporative deposition.
18. An electronic device to be worn on human skin, the electronic device comprising:
an electronic component wearable on human skin and configured to receive electric current; and
a mechanically contactable plated electrical contact coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the electronic device, the plated electrical contact including:
a copper-alloy layer;
a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated directly onto the copper-alloy layer; and
a gold-alloy layer plated directly onto the PGM layer.
19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the copper-alloy layer includes an aluminum bronze, silicon bronze, and/or phosphor bronze, and wherein the gold-alloy layer is at least thirty microinches in thickness.