Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to an electrical connector interfacing a solid conductor and a liquid conductor. One example provides a connector for connecting to a liquid metal circuit element, the connector having a body defining a channel configured to contain a liquid metal, the body being configured to interface mechanically with the liquid metal circuit element, and a conductive path disposed within the channel and exposed to an interior of the channel to form a first electrical interface configured to interface with the liquid metal circuit element, the conductive path also comprising a second electrical interface.

Abstract: An example magnetic actuator includes first and second flexible magnetic layers and a control circuit. The first flexible magnetic layer is configured to support a first magnetic dipole. Arranged in slidable contact with the first flexible magnetic layer, the second flexible magnetic layer is configured to support a second magnetic dipole. The control circuit is configured to controllably form at least the first magnetic dipole and thereby modify a force of interaction between the first and second flexible magnetic layers.

Abstract: An electronic assembly comprises a flexible polymer membrane having a surface with one or more electrically conductive traces arranged on the surface, a light-emissive semiconductor die having first and second electrical contacts bonded to the one or more electrically conductive traces via a cured electrically conductive adhesive, and a flexible cover layer arranged over the surface of the polymer membrane and the semiconductor die.

Abstract: Embroidered sensor assemblies are described that are formed on a flexible substrate, such as a suitable fabric material. The embroidered sensors can be configured as a pattern of wires that enable measurement of strain based on positional relationships between nodes formed by the pattern of wires. As a pipe or other object flexes, the positional relationships are altered and can be detected to facilitate computation of strain. Strain can be deduced at each individual node, which can then be used to create a strain profile or map for the object.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to using optical fibers in a textile to channel light from a light source to various exit locations within the textile. One example provides an optical device, comprising a light source, an optical fiber extending from the light source, the optical fiber configured to conduct light received from the light source via internal reflection, and a plurality of individually controllable light-emitting locations disposed along the optical fiber.

Abstract: Embroidered sensor assemblies are described that are formed on a flexible substrate, such as a suitable fabric material. Conductive patterns are embroidered into the flexible substrate to form an array of sensors that can be configured in various ways and used in many different applications. A sensor assembly can implement touch sensitive sensors arranged to recognize input by measuring capacitance. The sensor assembly can also implement pressure and/or force sensitive controls for an input device, such as a keyboard. Other types of sensing are also contemplated such as detection of proximity, motion, flow, gestures, and/or strain. A conductive pattern can be formed in a single layer of material and/or via a single continuous run of conductive material. The embroidered sensor assembly is flexible and therefore can be shaped to conform to various different kinds of objects and form “smart” surfaces for those objects.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to flexible electrical interconnects in electronic devices. One example provides a device including a flexible substrate, a conductive trace disposed on the flexible substrate, an electronic component mounted to the flexible substrate, a liquid metal interconnect bridging between a pad on the component and the trace on the flexible substrate, and an encapsulant covering the interconnect.

Abstract: One disclosed example comprises an ink formulated for printing an electrically conductive trace on a flexible fabric substrate. The ink includes an elastomer and a liquid vehicle capable of swelling the elastomer, the liquid vehicle having a boiling point of 150° C. or greater at one atmosphere. A plurality of non-spherical, electrically conductive particles are suspended in the liquid vehicle to impart electrical conductivity to the ink.

Abstract: Examples of force sensors that may be incorporated into a number of devices or other objects are disclosed. In one example, a sensor includes a substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap, and a compliant material with plural conductive pathways disposed over the gap and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the compliant material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the compliant material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to screen printing liquid metal materials. One example provides a method to deposit a metal pattern onto a substrate. The method includes placing a textile over the substrate, the textile having a plurality of pores wettable by a liquid metal. The method further includes forcing the liquid metal through the pores of the textile and onto the substrate, and separating the substrate and textile.

Abstract: Described herein is an electrostatic slide clutch comprising a first electrode, a second electrode oriented parallel to first electrode, an electrically insulating structure disposed on the first electrode on a face of the first electrode opposing the second electrode, and a controller electrically coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode and configured to apply a variable voltage between the first and second electrodes, to influence a normal force between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Described herein is a sensor including a sensing electrode structure and a motion-responsive structure in capacitive communication with the sensing electrode structure, the sensing electrode structure and the motion-responsive structure being separated by a first dielectric layer, the motion-responsive structure comprising a liquid metal mass within a matrix in which the liquid metal mass is movable based upon movement of the sensor, and the sensing electrode structure comprising a first electrode, and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode to form a capacitor.

Abstract: One example provides a circuit structure comprising a liquid metal conductive path enclosed in an encapsulant, a polymer circuit support comprising a polymer having a functional species available for a condensation reaction, and a cross-linking agent covalently bonding the encapsulant to the polymer circuit support via the functional species.

Abstract: Examples are provided for a flexible circuit element including a flexible insulating support structure, a solid metal trace extending at least partially between a first connector and a second connector on the flexible insulating support structure, and a liquid metal conductor disposed in contact with the solid metal trace in a region of the trace configured to repeatedly flex when installed in a device.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to magnetically aligned switching circuits. One disclosed example provides an electronic component comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a deformable host material arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal. Aligned magnetically within the host material is an ensemble of particles each comprising a ferromagnetic material, each particle having greater electrical conductivity than the host material. The ensemble of particles is configured to form at least one complete conduction path from the first terminal to the second terminal.

Abstract: Various examples of deformable sensors are disclosed. In one example, a deformable sensor comprises a ground electrode comprising a plurality of spatially separated lines, and a set of individually-indexed signal channels interdigitated with the spatially separated lines, each individually-indexed signal channel comprising a stretchable conductive path encapsulated in an elastomeric material.

Abstract: One example provides a flexible electrical interconnect comprising a substrate, a liquid conductive pathway supported by the substrate, and a conductively anisotropic, magnetic particle-embedded encapsulant that interfaces with the liquid conductive pathway for connecting to another circuit element.

Abstract: Examples for force-sensing elements are disclosed. An example method for forming a force sensor includes printing a suspension of a hollow-sphere conductive polymer in a liquid carrier over an electrode pair on a substrate, evaporating the liquid carrier, and encapsulating the electrode pair and hollow-sphere conductive polymer to form a force sensor.

Abstract: Examples are provided for a flexible circuit element including a flexible insulating support structure, a solid metal trace extending at least partially between a first connector and a second connector on the flexible insulating support structure, and a liquid metal conductor disposed in contact with the solid metal trace in a region of the trace configured to repeatedly flex when installed in a device.

Abstract: Examples for force-sensing elements are disclosed. An example method for forming a force sensor includes printing a suspension of a hollow-sphere conductive polymer in a liquid carrier over an electrode pair on a substrate, evaporating the liquid carrier, and encapsulating the electrode pair and hollow-sphere conductive polymer to form a force sensor.