17972379. Ultraviolet-Curable Conductive Ink simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

Ultraviolet-Curable Conductive Ink

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Ken Hsuan Liao of San Jose CA (US)

Ying-Chih Wang of Sunnyvale CA (US)

Shu Yang of Sunnyvale CA (US)

Yu-Jen Fang of San Jose CA (US)

Po-Jui Chen of Cupertino CA (US)

Andrew H Moon of El Dorado Hills CA (US)

Sarah Trabia of San Jose CA (US)

Nathan K Gupta of Hillsborough CA (US)

Ultraviolet-Curable Conductive Ink - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17972379 titled 'Ultraviolet-Curable Conductive Ink

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a conductive ink that contains an ultraviolet-curable resin and high-aspect-ratio conductors, such as nanowires or carbon nanotubes, dispersed in the resin. The ink can be fully cured at room temperature in under a minute, without the need for heat, moisture, or a secondary curing step. It has a curing depth of at least 100 microns. The ink may also contain pigment and/or dyes within the resin, making it opaque at infrared wavelengths and transparent at ultraviolet wavelengths. It can be used to ground the cover glass of an electronic device display to a metal structure within the device, preventing the accumulation of charge at the cover glass.

• The conductive ink contains an ultraviolet-curable resin and high-aspect-ratio conductors.
• It can be fully cured at room temperature in under a minute.
• The curing depth of the ink is at least 100 microns.
• No heat, moisture, or secondary curing step is required.
• The ink may contain pigment and/or dyes, making it opaque at infrared wavelengths and transparent at ultraviolet wavelengths.
• It can be used to ground the cover glass of an electronic device display to a metal structure within the device.

Potential Applications

• Electronic device displays
• Printed electronics
• Flexible electronics
• Solar cells
• Touchscreens

Problems Solved

• Prevents accumulation of charge at the cover glass of electronic device displays
• Provides a conductive path between the cover glass and metal structure within the device
• Enables efficient grounding of electronic components

Benefits

• Fast and easy curing process at room temperature
• No need for heat, moisture, or secondary curing step
• High curing depth ensures effective grounding
• Opaque at infrared wavelengths and transparent at ultraviolet wavelengths, allowing for versatile applications

Original Abstract Submitted

A conductive ink may include an ultraviolet-curable resin and high-aspect-ratio conductors, such as nanowires or carbon nanotubes, dispersed in the ultraviolet-curable resin. The conductive ink may be fully curable at room temperature in under a minute with a curing depth of at least 100 microns, without heat, moisture, or a secondary curing step. The conductive ink may also have pigment and/or dyes within the ultraviolet-curable resin, and the conductive ink may be opaque at infrared wavelengths and transparent at ultraviolet wavelengths. The conductive ink may ground the cover glass of an electronic device display to a metal structure within the electronic device, such as a metal plate of the display, to prevent an accumulation of charge at the cover glass.