Abstract: An electronic circuit device having a circuit stack, such as an electronic display device with a display stack, includes a protective backing having multiple layers or with a graded layer that protects the electronic circuits from both low velocity impacts and high velocity impacts. The protective backing may have an elastic layer and a viscoelastic layer or have a graded layer with a graded structure that gradually transitions between an elastic region on a first side and a viscoelastic region on a second side. The elastic first layer or region protects the display stack from low velocity impacts while the viscoelastic layer or region protects the display stack from high velocity impacts. The elastic layer or region may be arranged such that it does not add substantial stiffness to the overall circuit stack when it is flexed relatively slowly under normal use.

Abstract: An article includes a flexible electronic component and a flexible support coupled to the flexible electronic component. The flexible support is configured to support the flexible electronic component but also limit local bending of the flexible component. The flexible support defines a plurality of hinge points configured to facilitate movement of the article. The plurality of hinge points are positioned such that the article has a desired bending range.

Abstract: A touch interface includes a plurality of emitters arranged along a first edge of a flexible electronics component to emit light that propagates across a surface of the flexible electronics component and a plurality of receivers arranged along a second edge of the flexible electronics component to detect light. The touch interface further includes a touch controller coupled to the plurality of emitters and the plurality of receivers. The touch controller is configured to cause one or more of the plurality of emitters to emit light, receive one or more signals indicative of detected light at the plurality of receivers, and determine at least one of a user interaction with the flexible electronics component or a current state of flexing of the flexible electronics component.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device having a circuit stack, such as an electronic display device with a display stack, includes a protective backing having multiple layers or with a graded layer that protects the electronic circuits from both low velocity impacts and high velocity impacts. The protective backing may have an elastic layer and a viscoelastic layer or have a graded layer with a graded structure that gradually transitions between an elastic region on a first side and a viscoelastic region on a second side. The elastic first layer or region protects the display stack from low velocity impacts while the viscoelastic layer or region protects the display stack from high velocity impacts. The elastic layer or region may be arranged such that it does not add substantial stiffness to the overall circuit stack when it is flexed relatively slowly under normal use.

Abstract: A method for mounting a flexible electronics component to a support structure includes bending the flexible electronics component to be aligned with a curved contour. The curved contour is determined based on a flexibility requirement of a product in which the flexible electronics component is to be integrated and one or more flexibility constraints of the flexible electronics component. The method also includes bending the support structure to be aligned with the curved contour, and adhering the bent flexible electronics component to the bent support structure to produce a flexible electronics assembly.

Abstract: An attachable article includes a flexible electronic display disposed thereon in a manner so that the display is bendable or conformable to a user's wrist or other curved surface thus enabling various images to be displayed on the electronic display in a manner that makes these images easily viewable to the user. The attachable article includes an adjustable band that can be fit to different sized wrists, for example, and includes a band orientation detection and calibration routine that enables messages or display screens to be placed at particular locations on the band with respect to a user's wrist. For example, the routine may be used to determine the portions or positions of the display that are at the top of the user's wrist and at the bottom of the user's wrist, and may thereafter calibrate the display to center display screens on the display at these particular locations.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device that includes a plurality of electrical circuits disposed on a support substrate, such as an electronic display device, includes one or more primary electrodes that extend along a trace on the support substrate, wherein the primary electrodes form one or more primary electrical pathways of or to one or more of the electrical circuits. One or more secondary electrodes are disposed along and in electrical contact with the primary electrodes. The secondary electrodes extend along the trace substantially parallel with the primary electrodes and form secondary electrical pathways adjacent the primary electrical pathways. The secondary electrodes are formed of a secondary conductor that is electrically conductive and has a higher strain limit than the primary electrodes.

Abstract: A dynamically flexible article or device, such as a wristband, an armband, a rollable e-reader, or a belt, includes a flexible electronic component (e.g., a flexible display) and a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component. The support structure is configured to limit bending of the flexible electronic component to a range within a bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component.

Abstract: A display device includes a housing, a screen connected to the housing and being configured to display data in grey-scale on a first portion of the screen, and at least one light source connected to the housing. The light source is configured to project color content on a second portion of the screen. The screen may be flexible and/or rollable on a roller included in the housing. The screen may be electrophoretic and/or reflective. The display device may also include optics or a light guide-to-guide light from the light source to the screen. Further, optics may be provided to detect light reflected from the screen and direct more light to portions of the screen having reduced illumination.

Abstract: A dynamically flexible article or device, such as an armband, includes a flexible electronic component, such as a flexible electronic display, and a flexible support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, wherein the flexible support and the flexible electronic component are flexible along two dimensions to thereby be able to conform to a complex curved surface. The flexible support includes bending limiting structure that constrains bending of the flexible electronic component to prevent undesirable bending.

Abstract: An article includes a flexible electronic component and a flexible support coupled to the flexible electronic component. The flexible support is configured to support the flexible electronic component but also limit local bending of the flexible component. The flexible support defines a plurality of hinge points configured to facilitate movement of the article. The plurality of hinge points are positioned such that the article has a desired bending range.

Abstract: An attachable article or device, such as a wristband, includes a flexible electronic display disposed thereon in a manner that is bendable or conformable to a user's wrist or other curved surface, and that enables various images to be displayed on the electronic display in a manner that is easily viewable to the user. The article further includes a connection mechanism that releasably connects the two ends of the article together. The article can, in some cases, include two different sized tail segments. As the shorter tail segment of the article tends to be subjected to more stress over time, the article can be structured in a manner that mitigates the amount of stress to which the shorter tail segment is subjected to over time, while at the same time maintaining a maximum, viewable display area on the shorter tail and longer tail segments of the article, particularly when the shorter tail segment is curved to a greater degree (e.g., when curved around a user's wrist).

Abstract: An attachable article, e.g., a wristband or armband, includes a dynamically flexible electronic display disposed on a flexible substrate that is bendable or conformable to a user's wrist or other curved surface, and that enables images to be displayed in a manner that makes these images easily viewable to the user. The flexible substrate is supported to limit the bending motion of the flexible electronic display within the display's tolerance limits. Additionally, the flexible substrate may be incorporated into a flexible support having any of various clasping mechanisms and sensors capable of detecting movement, orientation, forces, acceleration, and other user movements so that user manipulation of the article causes a change in the presentation of content on the flexible display and/or may serve as a user input to cause the attachable article to perform one or more actions.

Abstract: A dynamically flexible, attachable article, such as a wristband or an armband, includes a flexible electronic component coupled to a flexible support in a manner that is bendable or conformable to a user's wrist or other curved surface in a manner that makes the flexible electronic component easily viewable to the user. The attachable article also includes a connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of first and second ends of the attachable article to connect two different portions of the article together.

Abstract: An article with automatic detection capabilities includes a dynamically flexible display and one or more detection elements. Based on signals generated by the detection elements, the article automatically detects/determines conditions associated with the article, and performs actions based on the conditions. Automatically detectable conditions may include a flex state or degree of flex of the display, an identity of an object supporting the article, a contextual environment and/or contextual location in which the article is situated, an orientation of the article, and/or other conditions. Resulting actions may include adapting an image content presented on the display, launching and/or closing applications, changing an operational mode of the article, and/or other actions that may be performed by optoelectronic elements of the flexible display and/or by other electronic elements of the article.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing the display area of an electronic display of an article include maximizing the contiguous area of the display, on one or more surfaces of the article, on which text or images may be presented to a user, and/or to minimize the area of a border of the display that is viewable to the user. Optimization techniques may include bending portions of the display, and/or minimizing the footprint of the display border by particularly configuring the electrical connections to the display elements. These optimization techniques may be applied to rigid electronic displays, to statically-flexed displays, or to dynamically flexible displays, as well as to other rigid, statically-flexed, or dynamically flexible electronic sheets of individual electronic elements, such as lighting arrays, solar cell arrays, sensor arrays, etc.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric component disclosed. A first electrically conducting layer including a first electrode of the electric component is formed on a substrate. An interlayer of a dielectric material is formed on the first electrically conducting layer, the dielectric material including an electrically insulating material. A further layer of a dielectric material is deposited on the interlayer of dielectric material, the further layer including a photo-patternable electrically insulating material. Both the further layer and said interlayer are structured, wherein the further layer of the dielectric material is used as a mask for the interlayer. A second electrically conducting layer including a second electrode of the electric component is then formed.