Abstract: Flexible electrical connectors are provided to electrically connect electronic devices. The flexible electrical connector includes a removable adhesive tape strip having an adhesive surface thereof and an electrically conductive trace disposed on the adhesive tape strip. The flexible electrical connector engages an electronic device to form an electrical contact where the adhesive tape strip has an adhesive surface removably adhesively bonded to the substrate of the electronic device to at least partially cover the electrical contact.

Abstract: A method includes placing an electronic device on a pliable mating surface on a major surface of a mold such that at least one contact pad on the electronic device presses against the pliable mating surface. The pliable mating surface is on a microstructure in an arrangement of microstructures on the major surface of the mold. A liquid encapsulant material is applied over the electronic device and the major surface of the mold, and then hardened to form a carrier for the electronic device. The mold and the carrier are separated such that the microstructures on the mold form a corresponding arrangement of microchannels in the carrier, and at least one contact pad on the electronic device is exposed in a microchannel in the arrangement of microchannels. A conductive particle-containing liquid is deposited in the microchannel, which directly contacts the contact pad exposed in the microchannel.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a sensor device having an integrated circuit and a monitoring loop coupled to the integrated circuit. The monitoring loop includes a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace, each having a first end electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and a second end. The monitoring loop includes a sterilant-responsive switch electrically coupling the second ends of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. The sterilant-responsive switch has a first impedance state and a second impedance state. The sterilant-responsive switch modifies an electrical connection between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace based on exposure to an adequate environmental condition in an adequate sterilization process. The sensor device also includes an antenna coupled to the integrated circuit forming an antenna loop that is distinct from the monitoring loop.

Abstract: A bonded abrasive wheel is disclosed comprising a plurality of abrasive particles disposed in a binder, a first grinding surface, a second surface opposing the first grinding surface, and an outer circumference. The wheel comprises a rotational axis extending through a central hub and a circuit configured as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) unit coupled to the abrasive wheel. The circuit comprises an antenna configured to communicate with one or more external devices and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein antenna has a radius of curvature about an axis along at least a portion thereof such that the first end is disposed adjacent to but is spaced from the second end, and an integrated circuit (IC) operably coupled to the antenna and configured to store at least a first data.

Abstract: A composite article includes a conductive layer with nanowires on at least a portion of a flexible substrate, wherein the conductive layer has a conductive surface. A patterned layer of a low surface energy material is on a first region of the conductive surface. An overcoat layer free of conductive particulates is on a first portion of a second region of the conductive surface unoccupied by the patterned layer. A via is in a second portion of the second region of the conductive surface between an edge of the patterned layer of the low surface energy material and the overcoat layer. A conductive material is in the via to provide an electrical connection to the conductive surface.

Abstract: Methods of passivating an adhesive via printing an ink onto a release liner, and adhesive articles or products made by the same are provided. An ink pattern is printed onto a release liner to form a pattern of features. The features are at least partially embedded in an adhesive layer such that when the release liner is peeled from the adhesive layer, the passivation features remain with the layer of adhesive to form selected areas having adjusted adhesive functionality. Articles including the passivated adhesive on a release liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device includes providing a substrate with a first major surface having a microchannel, wherein the microchannel has a first end and a second end; dispensing a conductive liquid in the microchannel to cause the conductive liquid to move, primarily by capillary pressure, in a first direction toward the first end of the microchannel and in a second direction toward the second end of the microchannel; and solidifying the conductive liquid to form an electrically conductive trace electrically connecting a first electronic device at the first end of the microchannel to a second electronic device at the second end of the microchannel.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for printing an ink pattern on a moving web via die cutting are provided. A die roll including an inked pattern of die blades contacts a substrate to cut or cleave the substrate surface. While the die blades withdraw from the substrate, at least some of the ink transfers from the die blades to the cut substrate to form an ink pattern.

Abstract: An article includes a solid circuit die on a first major surface of a substrate, wherein the solid circuit die includes an arrangement of contact pads, and wherein at least a portion of the contact pads in the arrangement of contact pads are at least partially exposed on the first major surface of the substrate to provide an arrangement of exposed contact pads; a guide layer including an arrangement of microchannels, wherein the guide layer contacts the first major surface of the substrate such that at least some microchannels in the arrangement of microchannels overlie the at least some exposed contact pads in the arrangement of exposed contact pads; and a conductive particle-containing liquid in at least some of the microchannels. Other articles and methods of manufacturing the articles are described.

Abstract: A bonded abrasive wheel is disclosed comprising a plurality of abrasive particles disposed in a binder, a first grinding surface, a second surface opposing the first grinding surface, and an outer circumference. The wheel comprises a rotational axis extending through a central hub and a circuit configured as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) unit coupled to the abrasive wheel. The circuit comprises an antenna configured to communicate with one or more external devices and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein antenna has a radius of curvature about an axis along at least a portion thereof such that the first end is disposed adjacent to but is spaced from the second end, and an integrated circuit (IC) operably coupled to the antenna and configured to store at least a first data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for applying coatings (9) on a moving web (3) are provided. A slot die (20) and a back-up roll (11) engage with each other. The back-up roll has a deformable inner layer (12) with a surface thereof covered by a deformable outer layer (14). The slot die and the flexible web at a contacting area are impressed into the back-up roll with an engagement depth D, which enables formation of a coating having a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: A printing system is provided. The printing system (300) includes a printing roll (310) having a rigid printing pattern (312) on a surface thereof configured to receive an ink material (330); and an inking roll (320) positioned adjacent to the printing roll. The inking roll includes an elastically deformable surface and a number of cells (324) disposed on the elastically deformable surface. A method of printing is also provided. The method includes (a) inking at least a portion of a rigid printing pattern (312) on a surface of a printing roll (310) by contacting the rigid printing pattern with an inking roll (320); and (b) contacting the rigid printing pattern with a substrate (350), transferring the ink material from the rigid printing pattern to a surface of the substrate. Printing systems and methods can achieve higher printing feature resolutions than typically achievable via flexographic printing.

Abstract: Ultrathin and flexible electrical devices including circuit dies such as, for example, a capacitor chip, a resistor chip, and/or an inductor chip, and methods of making and using the same are provided. Circuit dies are attached to a major surface of a flexible substrate having channels Electrically conductive traces are formed in the channels, self-aligned with the circuit dies, and in direct contact with the bottom surface of the circuit dies.

Abstract: A system for monitoring one or more of an abrading tool, a consumable abrasive product and a workpiece, the system can optionally comprise: a data storage device; a sensor; a communication unit; a consumable abrasive product that is attachable to and detachable from the abrading tool and configured to abrade the workpiece; a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured to: receive a first data from the communication unit regarding the sensor, the first data indicative of at least one operating parameter of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece; identify if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range; and if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range, store a second data based upon the first data in the data storage device.

Abstract: A stretchable conductor includes a substrate with a first major surface, wherein the substrate is an elastomeric material. An elongate wire is on the first major surface of the substrate; the wire includes a first end and a second end, and further includes at least one arcuate region between the first end and the second end. At least one portion of the arcuate region of the wire in the region has a first surface area portion embedded in the surface of the substrate and a second surface area portion unembedded on the substrate and exposed in an amount sufficient to render at least an area of the substrate in the region electrically conductive. The unembedded second surface portion of the arcuate region may lie above or below a plane of the substrate. Composite articles including a stretchable conductor in durable electrical contact with a conductive fabric are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electronic devices including a layer of polymeric material and solid semiconductor dies partially embedded in the layer are provided. The dies have first ends projecting away from the first major surface of the layer. The electronic devices can be formed by sinking the first ends of the dies into a major surface of a liner. A flowable polymeric material is filled into the space between the dies and solidified to form the layer of polymeric material. The first ends of the dies are exposed by delaminating the liner from the first ends of the dies. Electrical conductors are provided on the layer to connect the first ends of the dies.

Abstract: A process for applying a coating material onto a substrate as a non-uniform discontinuous pattern of coating material, the method including the present disclosure describes a method of applying a coating material onto a substrate, including providing a first distribution manifold having a cavity and a multiplicity of first dispensing outlets in fluid communication with the cavity, creating relative motion between a substrate and the dispensing outlets in a first direction; dispensing a first coating material from the dispensing outlets while maintaining the relative motion and translating the multiplicity of dispensing outlets in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction, and varying a rate of dispensing of the first coating material in a predetermined fashion to form a discontinuous pattern of the first coating material on a major surface of the substrate. Useful non-uniformly patterned coated articles can be prepared using the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to micro-optical assemblies containing at least one optical element adhered to a receptor substrate, e.g. a transparent receptor substrate, the receptor substrate contains at least one graphics layer. The micro-optical assemblies include both functional micro-optical structures that can alter, for example, incident light, and a graphic layer, which includes at least one graphic, e.g. a graphic design, which may include color, patterns, imagery, indicia and the like. The combination of the micro-optical elements with the graphic of the graphics layer can provide unique light altering assemblies that have graphic designs that may be functional, e.g. to display a message, and/or have aesthetic value. The micro-optical assemblies of the present disclosure are useful in a variety of applications which include, but are not limited to, display and graphics applications and architectural glass applications.

Abstract: Processes of making an electrical jumper (120) for electrical devices are provided. A micro-replication stamp (300) is used to press a layer of curable material (124) on a circuit substrate (102) to make patterned features. A conductive liquid (230) is disposed into the patterned features to make electrically conductive traces (126) that pass over a circuitry (110) and connect electrical contacts (122A, 122B). In some cases, the stamp (300) has a standoff (310).

Abstract: Flexible devices including conductive traces with enhanced stretchability, and methods of making and using the same are provided. The circuit die is disposed on a flexible substrate. Electrically conductive traces are formed in channels on the flexible substrate to electrically contact with contact pads of the circuit die. A first polymer liquid flows in the channels to cover a free surface of the traces. The circuit die can also be surrounded by a curing product of a second polymer liquid.