Stress relief for array-based electronic devices

Abstract

In accordance with certain embodiments, an electric device includes a flexible substrate having first and second conductive traces on a first surface thereof and separated by a gap therebetween, an electronic component spanning the gap, and a stiffener configured to substantially prevent flexing of the substrate proximate the gap during flexing of the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An electronic device comprising:
 a flexible substrate having first and second conductive traces disposed on and affixed to a first surface thereof, the first and second conductive traces being separated on the substrate by a gap therebetween; and   spanning the gap between the first and second conductive traces, a light-emitting element having first and second distinct contacts on a first surface thereof, the first and second contacts being attached to and in electrical contact with, respectively, the first and second conductive traces,   wherein:
 the light-emitting element is part of one of a plurality of light-emitting strings disposed on the first surface of the substrate and interconnected in an electric circuit, each light-emitting string comprising (i) a plurality of light-emitting elements spaced along the light-emitting string and (ii) a plurality of electrical conductors interconnecting the light-emitting elements, 
 the electric circuit comprises at least one passive component, and 
 at least one said passive component of the electric circuit is a distributed component having a selected electrical response to (i) a current passing therethrough or (ii) a voltage applied thereto, the distributed component corresponding to at least one of a portion of an electrical conductor or a portion of the substrate. 
   
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the selected electrical response is a target resistance and the distributed component is a resistor consisting essentially of a first portion of an electrical conductor having at least one of (i) a thickness different from a thickness of a second portion of the electrical conductor different from the first portion, the different thickness imparting the target resistance or (ii) a width different from a width of a second portion of the electrical conductor different from the first portion, the different width imparting the target resistance. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the selected electrical response is a target inductance and the distributed component is an inductor consisting essentially of at least a portion of an electrical conductor. 
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein at least a portion of said at least a portion of the electrical conductor has a spiral geometry. 
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein the at least portion of the electrical conductor is (i) disposed on the first surface of the substrate and (ii) electrically connected to a portion of a second electrical conductor disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein the inductor has a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the distributed component is electrically connected to a light-emitting element. 
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a second component to which the distributed component is electrically connected. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 38 , wherein the second component is a passive component. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 38 , wherein the second component is an active component. 
     
     
         41 . The electronic device of claim  1 , further comprising a second distributed component having a selected electrical response to (i) a current passing therethrough or (ii) a voltage applied thereto, the second distributed component corresponding to at least one of a portion of an electrical conductor or a portion of the substrate, wherein:
 the distributed component is disposed within a first light-emitting string,   the second distributed component is disposed within a second light-emitting string different from the first light-emitting string, and   the selected electrical response of the distributed component is different from the selected electrical response of the second distributed component.   
     
     
         42 . The electronic device of  claim 41 , wherein (i) the selected electrical response of the distributed component modifies current in the plurality of light-emitting elements in the first light-emitting string (ii) the selected electrical response of the second distributed component modifies current in the plurality of light-emitting elements in the second light-emitting string. 
     
     
         43 . The electronic device of claim  1 , wherein the first and second conductive traces comprise at least one of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, carbon, silver ink, or chromium. 
     
     
         44 . An electronic device comprising:
 a flexible substrate having first and second conductive traces disposed on and affixed to a first surface thereof, the first and second conductive traces being separated on the substrate by a gap therebetween; and   spanning the gap between the first and second conductive traces, a light-emitting element having first and second distinct contacts on a first surface thereof, the first and second contacts being attached to and in electrical contact with, respectively, the first and second conductive traces;   wherein:
 the light-emitting element is part of one of a plurality of light-emitting strings disposed on the first surface of the substrate and interconnected in an electric circuit, each light-emitting string comprising (i) a plurality of light-emitting elements spaced along the light-emitting string and (ii) a plurality of electrical conductors interconnecting the light-emitting elements, 
 the electric circuit comprises at least one passive component, and 
 at least one said passive component of the electric circuit is a distributed capacitor having a selected target capacitance, the distributed capacitor having a structure corresponding to (i) a portion of a first electrical conductor, (ii) a portion of a second electrical conductor proximate the electrical conductor, and (iii) a gap between the portion of the first electrical conductor and the portion of the second electrical conductor. 
   
     
     
         45 . The electronic device of  claim 44 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a second component to which the distributed capacitor is electrically connected. 
     
     
         46 . The electronic device of  claim 45 , wherein the second component is a passive component. 
     
     
         47 . The electronic device of  claim 45 , wherein the second component is an active component. 
     
     
         48 . The electronic device of  claim 44 , wherein the portion of the first electrical conductor is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and the portion of the second electrical conductor is disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         49 . An electronic device comprising:
 a flexible substrate having first and second conductive traces disposed on and affixed to a first surface thereof, the first and second conductive traces being separated on the substrate by a gap therebetween; and   spanning the gap between the first and second conductive traces, a light-emitting element having first and second distinct contacts on a first surface thereof, the first and second contacts being attached to and in electrical contact with, respectively, the first and second conductive traces;   wherein:
 the light-emitting element is part of one of a plurality of light-emitting strings disposed on the first surface of the substrate and interconnected in an electric circuit, each light-emitting string comprising (i) a plurality of light-emitting elements spaced along the light-emitting string and (ii) a plurality of electrical conductors interconnecting the light-emitting elements, 
 the electric circuit comprises at least one passive component, and 
 at least one said passive component of the electric circuit is a fuse having a structure corresponding to at least a portion of an electrical conductor having (i) a first portion having a first width, and (ii) a second portion, adjacent the first portion, having a second width larger than the first width.