Flexible electrical devices comprising electrode layers on softening polymers and methods of manufacturing such devices, including lift-off processes for forming electrodes on softening polymers, processes for forming devices with a patterned double softening polymer layer, and solder reflow processes for forming electrical contacts on softening polymers.

A PCB page blank includes a flexible substrate, a curable adhesive, a conductive layer, and a conductive layer support. The flexible substrate receives an opaque negative circuit pattern thereon. Portions of the curable adhesive not obscured by the circuit pattern may bond to portions of the conductive layer when exposed to light. The bonded portions of the conductive layer shear or tear from non-bonded portions of the conductive layer such that the bonded portions remain with the flexible substrate and the non-bonded portions remain with the conductive layer support when the flexible substrate and the conductive layer support are separated. The flexible substrate and the bonded portions of the conductive layer thus form a PCB prototype with the bonded portions of the conductive layer forming circuit traces of the circuit pattern.

A method for forming a transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. The method comprises depositing a plurality of metal nanowires on a surface of a substrate, the metal nanowires being dispersed in a liquid; and forming a metal nanowire network layer on the substrate by allowing the liquid to dry.

A PCB page blank includes a flexible substrate, a curable adhesive, a conductive layer, and a conductive layer support. The flexible substrate receives an opaque negative circuit pattern thereon. Portions of the curable adhesive not obscured by the circuit pattern may bond to portions of the conductive layer when exposed to light. The bonded portions of the conductive layer shear or tear from non-bonded portions of the conductive layer such that the bonded portions remain with the flexible substrate and the non-bonded portions remain with the conductive layer support when the flexible substrate and the conductive layer support are separated. The flexible substrate and the bonded portions of the conductive layer thus form a PCB prototype with the bonded portions of the conductive layer forming circuit traces of the circuit pattern.

A PCB page blank includes a flexible substrate, a curable adhesive, a conductive layer, and a conductive layer support. The flexible substrate receives an opaque negative circuit pattern thereon. Portions of the curable adhesive not obscured by the circuit pattern may bond to portions of the conductive layer when exposed to light. The bonded portions of the conductive layer shear or tear from non-bonded portions of the conductive layer such that the bonded portions remain with the flexible substrate and the non-bonded portions remain with the conductive layer support when the flexible substrate and the conductive layer support are separated. The flexible substrate and the bonded portions of the conductive layer thus form a PCB prototype with the bonded portions of the conductive layer forming circuit traces of the circuit pattern.

Methods of achieving precision registration in a roll to roll process for making patterned substrates by depositing first and second inks in a predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern having fiducial marks and main pattern marks. One of these inks prints the fiducial marks onto a substrate while another ink prints main pattern marks on the same substrate such that the predetermined pattern bears a predictable spatial relationship to the pattern of fiducial marks. Consequently, even if the ink forming the predetermined pattern is invisible, or has such low contrast with the substrate that it is effectively invisible, or even has been dissolved away in a subsequent processing step, it is still possible to know where the predetermined pattern is by referring to the pattern of fiducial marks. Touch screen displays including patterned substrates prepared of the methods are also disclosed.

A substrate structure includes a dielectric layer, a metal foil, a patterned metal layer, a first patterned solder-resist layer, a release layer and a second patterned solder-resist layer. The dielectric layer includes a first surface having a plurality of recesses and a second surface. The metal foil is disposed on the second surface. The patterned metal layer is disposed on the first surface, the patterned metal layer has a plurality of openings, and the openings are respectively corresponding to and expose the recesses. The first patterned solder-resist layer is filled in each of the recesses and corresponding to each of the openings. A top surface of the first patterned solder-resist layer is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the patterned metal layer. The second patterned solder-resist layer is disposed on the first patterned solder-resist layer and in the openings, and covers a portion of the patterned metal layer.

A substrate structure includes a dielectric layer, a metal foil, a patterned metal layer, a first patterned solder-resist layer, a release layer and a second patterned solder-resist layer. The dielectric layer includes a first surface having a plurality of recesses and a second surface. The metal foil is disposed on the second surface. The patterned metal layer is disposed on the first surface, the patterned metal layer has a plurality of openings, and the openings are respectively corresponding to and expose the recesses. The first patterned solder-resist layer is filled in each of the recesses and corresponding to each of the openings. A top surface of the first patterned solder-resist layer is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the patterned metal layer. The second patterned solder-resist layer is disposed on the first patterned solder-resist layer and in the openings, and covers a portion of the patterned metal layer.

A PCB page blank includes a flexible substrate, a curable adhesive, a conductive layer, and a conductive layer support. The flexible substrate receives an opaque negative circuit pattern thereon. Portions of the curable adhesive not obscured by the circuit pattern may bond to portions of the conductive layer when exposed to light. The bonded portions of the conductive layer shear or tear from non-bonded portions of the conductive layer such that the bonded portions remain with the flexible substrate and the non-bonded portions remain with the conductive layer support when the flexible substrate and the conductive layer support are separated. The flexible substrate and the bonded portions of the conductive layer thus form a PCB prototype with the bonded portions of the conductive layer forming circuit traces of the circuit pattern.

Electrically conductive patterns formed on a substrate are provided with a reduced visibility. A region of a major surface of the substrate is selectively roughened to form a roughened pattern on the major surface of the substrate. Electrically conductive traces are directly formed on the roughened region and are conformal with the roughened pattern on the major surface of the substrate.