Flexible electronics, also known as flexible circuits. It is a technology for mounting electronic circuits by mounting electronic devices on flexible plastic substrates, such as polyimide, PEEK or transparent conductive polyester film. In addition to a flexible circuits may be silver circuits printed in polyester. Flexible electronic assemblies may be fabricated using identical components used for rigid printed circuit boards, allowing the plate to conform to a desired shape, or flex during use. An alternative approach to flexible electronics suggests various etching techniques to thin the traditional silicon substrate to a few tens of microns for reasonable flexibility called flexible silicon (~ 5 mm radius of curvature).
Applications
Flexible circuits are often used as connectors in various applications where flexibility, space saving or production limitations limit the serviceability of rigid circuit boards or manual wiring. A common application of flexible circuits is on computer keyboards; Most keyboards use flexible circuitry for the switching matrix. In the manufacture of LCD, the glass is used as substrate. If thin plastic or metal foil is used as the substrate, the entire system may be flexible, since the film deposited on the substrate is usually very thin, on the order of a few micrometers. Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are normally used instead of a backlight for flexible displays, making a flexible organic display of light emitting diodes.
Most flexible circuits are passive wiring structures that are used to interconnect electronic components such as integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors and the like, although some are used only for interconnections between other electronic assemblies, either directly or through connectors. In the field of automotive, flexible circuits are used in instrument panels, hood controls, circuits that are hidden inside the cab roof, and in ABS systems. Flexible circuits are used in computer peripherals in the print moving head of printers, and for connecting signals to the movable arm carrying the read / write heads of disk drives. Consumer electronic devices use flexible circuits in cameras, personal entertainment devices, calculators or exercise monitors.
Flexible circuits are found in industrial and medical devices where many interconnections are required in a compact package. Cell phones are another generalized example of flexible circuits. Flexible solar cells have been developed to power satellites. These cells are lightweight, can be rolled up for launch, and are easily deployable, making them a good match for the application. They can also be sewn in backpacks or outer garments.