Flexible electronics

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An Olympus Stylus camera without the case, showing the flex circuit assembly.

Flexible electronics, also known as flex circuits, is a technology for assembling electronic circuits by mounting electronic devices on flexible plastic substrates, such as polyimide and PEEK Film. Additionally, flex circuits can be screen printed silver circuits on polyester. Flexible electronic assemblies may be manufactured using identical components used for rigid printed circuit boards, allowing the board to conform to a desired shape, or to flex during its use. Flexible substrates have several advantages in many application:

• Tightly assembled electronic packages, where electrical connections are required in 3 axes, such as cameras (static application).
• Electrical connections where the assembly is required to flex during its normal use, such as folding cell phones (dynamic application).
• Electrical connections between sub-assemblies to replace wire harnesses, which are heavier and bulkier, such as in rockets and satellites.
• Electrical connections where board thickness or space constraints are driving factors.

Applications

Flex circuits are often used as connectors in various applications where flexibility, space savings, or production constraints limit the serviceability of rigid circuit boards or hand wiring. In addition to cameras, a common application of flex circuits is in computer keyboard manufacturing; most keyboards made today use flex circuits for the switch matrix.

In LCD fabrication, glass is used as a substrate. If thin flexible plastic or metal foil is used as the substrate instead, the entire system can be flexible, as the film deposited on top of the substrate is usually very thin, on the order of a few micrometres.

OLEDs are normally used instead of a back-light for flexible displays, making a flexible organic light-emitting diode display.

Photovoltaic cells

Flexible solar cells have been developed for powering satellites. These cells are lightweight, can be rolled up for launch, and are easily deployable, making them a good match for the application.

On the other hand, Copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells are lightweight, flexible, and durable, which make them ideal for portable power (including solar jackets). CIGS is 1.5 to 2x greater in performance than comparable thin film flexible solar materials.

See also

• Amorphous silicon
• Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)
• Flexible keyboard
• Foldable electronics
• Kapton
• Polyimide Film
• Rollable
• Printed electronics
• Stretchable electronics

References