Abstract:
A method for exposing a microwire from it glass coating in a glass coated microwire. The method for exposing the microwire is facilitated by way of sufficiently bending the glass coated microwire to break the glass coating while maintaining the embedded microwire intact.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/084,577, filed Nov. 26, 2014, entitled “METHOD OF EXPOSING A GLASS-COATED MICROWIRE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to glass-coated microwires and uses thereof, and in particular to a method for exposing segments of the microwire from its glass coating in a controllable manner, therein enabling its use in electronic circuits, devices and systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Glass coating of microwires have been known in the art since as early as 1928, when Taylor was granted U.S. Pat. No. 1,793,529 entitled “Process and apparatus for making filaments”. Applications for microwires include heating elements, infrared (IR) emitters, security tags, and the like. 
         [0004]    Industry use of glass-coated microwire has been limited, however, in part due to the difficulties associated with working with glass-coating microwires, primarily due to its delicate nature. In order to employ and/or integrate a microwire in an electrical circuit, the glass coating must be selectively removed about at least at two segments of the glass-coated microwire in order to remove the glass coating and to expose the expose the microwire itself. 
         [0005]    Typically, the glass coating is removed manually, for example by striking the microwire gently with a hammer by a skilled worker until a portion of microwire is exposed. Such a process is labor-intensive and prone to human error. 
         [0006]    It would therefore prove advantageous to provide a method to efficiently expose portions of a glass-coated microwire and increase industry use thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, a method for selectively and efficiently exposing a microwire filament core along a specific segment and/or portion of a glass coated microwire, without compromising the overall function of a glass coated microwire. 
         [0008]    The present invention overcomes these deficiencies of the background by providing a system and method for controllably exposing the microwire from its glass coating therein enabling its integration within electronic circuits, devices and systems, in an efficient manner. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for controllably exposing a segment of a glass-coated microwire such that a selected segment of microwire is exposed by way of removing its glass coating. The method comprises controllably bending the glass-coated microwire along a segment to be exposed therein breaking the glass coating only the selected segment to be exposed, this is accomplished while maintaining the underlying microwire intact. The method comprising, determining a first threshold bending radius, respective of the glass coating of the glass-coated microwire and determining a second threshold bending radius, respective of the embedded microwire core. The glass-coated microwire is selectively bent at selected location with a peg and/or apparatus configured to have a radius that is below (smaller) then the glass coating threshold bending radius, so as to break the glass coating at the selected exposure site. 
         [0010]    Optionally and preferably bending may be performed around a tool and/or peg having a radius configured to selectively expose the microwire by breaking the surrounding coating only in the vicinity of the peg. 
         [0011]    The glass-coated microwire may be bent around a peg having a radius smaller than the glass threshold bending radius. Most preferably during the bending process the microwire core remains intact as the peg&#39;s bending radius is selected so as to not affect and/or damage the underlying core microwire filament. 
         [0012]    Most preferably, the microwire core portion of the glass coated microwire, has a threshold bending radius that is smaller than that of the glass coating threshold bending radius. Therefore the bending tool and/or peg is utilized to selectively bend the glass-coated microwire along a selected portion of the microwire to exposed the microwire core where the glass coating has broken at the bending position. Preferably the bending radius is selected to be below the glass coating threshold bending radius and above the microwire core bending radius. 
         [0013]    In embodiments the exposed segment of the microwire may be coupled to electronic components, circuits, devices and or systems. 
         [0014]    In embodiments, the bending peg and/or tool utilized to controllably bend the glass coated microwire may be utilized to facilitate coupling the exposed microwire portion to electronic components, circuits, devices and/or systems. Optionally the bending peg and/or tool may be provided from electromagnetically conducting materials. 
         [0015]    Optionally the bending peg and/or tool may be fit with coupling medium, for example including but not limited to soldering materials, so as to allow for timely coupling the exposed microwire portion to electronic components, circuits, devices, and/or systems. Optionally at portion of the bending peg and/or tool may be directly associated with the exposed microwire portion, for example by the application of a coupling medium for example including but not limited to solder that becomes coupled with the application of heat. 
         [0016]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. 
           [0018]    In the drawings: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block illustrative diagram of a glass coated microwire that may be bent according embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic flowchart of a method for controllably exposing a portion of a microwire according to embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A-B  are a schematic illustrative diagram of an exemplary a glass coated microwire that are bent according to embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrative diagram of an exemplary glass coated microwire that is bent according to embodiments of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. The following figure reference labels are used throughout the description to refer to similarly functioning components are used throughout the specification hereinbelow. 
         [0024]      100 ,  200 ,  400  glass coated microwire; 
         [0025]      110  glass coating; 
         [0026]      110   a,b  glass coating portions; 
         [0027]      120  microwire core; 
         [0028]      125  exposed microwire portion; 
         [0029]      130  bend radius; 
         [0030]      132  glass coating threshold bending radius/first threshold radius; 
         [0031]      134  microwire core threshold bending radius/second threshold radius; 
         [0032]      140  bending apparatus/peg; 
         [0033]      142  bending radius; 
         [0034]      150  bending region; 
         [0035]      410 , 420  bending peg arrangement; 
         [0036]      430  bending peg stage/base; 
         [0037]      450  exposed microwire portions; 
         [0038]      500  electronics 
         [0039]    An apparatus includes a glass coated microwire, wherein the microwire is exposed. The method for exposing a glass-coated microwire includes determining a first bend radius, respective of the glass coat of the glass-coated microwire. The glass-coated microwire is bent at a radius below the glass coat first bend radius, so as to break the glass coat. The glass-coated microwire may be bent around a peg. The peg may have a radius smaller than the first bend radius. The microwire remains intact, as it has a second bend radius, smaller than that of the first bend radius. Thus, a portion of the microwire is exposed where the glass coat has broken at the bend. In certain embodiments, the peg may include soldering material. Thus, after the microwire is exposed, heat may be applied to solder the exposed microwire and the peg together. 
         [0040]    Now referring to  FIG. 1  showing a schematic block diagram of a glass coated microwire  100  having a glass coating  110  around a microwire core  120 . The glass coated microwire  100  may be selectively bent around a given bending zone and/or area  150  so as to selectively and safely break the glass coating  110  in the bending zone  150  and to expose the microwire core  120 , forming an exposed microwire portion  125 . 
         [0041]    Most preferably exposed microwire core  125  may then be functionally coupled to electronics  500 . Electronics  500  may be realized in optional forms for example including but not limited to electronic components, circuits, devices and/or systems, the like, or any combination thereof. 
         [0042]    Most preferably glass coated microwire  100  is bent about a bending apparatus and/or tool  140  having a bending radius  142 . Bending apparatus  140  and/or tool may for example be provided in the form of a peg, for example as shown. 
         [0043]    Most preferably the bending apparatus  140  and in particular the bending radius  142  is configured according to at least one parameter and/or property of the glass coated microwire  100 . Preferably the glass coated microwire parameter utilized to determine the bending radius  142  is the threshold bending radius  132  of the glass coating  110 . Preferably bending radius  142  is selected to be smaller than the threshold bending radius  132  associated with the glass coating  110  of the glass coated microwire  100 . 
         [0044]    Optionally a second glass-coated microwire  100  parameter is utilized to determine bending radius  142 . Preferably the second parameter utilized is the threshold bending radius  134  associated with the microwire core  120 . Optionally the bending radius  142  is selected based on at least two glass coated microwire  100  parameters comprising the glass coating ( 110 ) threshold bending radius  132  and the microwire core ( 120 ) threshold bending radius  134 . Optionally the bending radius  142  may therefore be selected so as to be smaller than glass coating ( 110 ) threshold bending radius  132  and larger than the microwire core ( 120 ) threshold bending radius  134 . Utilizing both parameters provides for selectively and controllably breaking glass coating  110  at bending region  150  to safely expose microwire core  120  at microwire core exposure point  125  without compromising the functionally of the microwire core  120 . 
         [0045]    Once exposure point  125  is generated according to the method of the present invention glass coated microwire  100  may be functionally coupled to electronics  500  for example by way of soldering, or the like electronic coupling techniques. 
         [0046]    The threshold bending radius is a measure of the inside curvature of the minimum radius that a pipe, tube, sheet, cable, hose and the like can be bent without breaking. The smaller the bending radius, the greater the material flexibility. Accordingly the threshold bending radius may be individually determined for the glass coating  110 , microwire core  120  and the glass coated microwire  100 . Optionally each of these parameter may be utilized to determine the bending radius  142  that may be utilized with a particular glass-coated microwire  100 . 
         [0047]    Microwire core  120  may be an amorphous metal, also known as metallic glass. Glass coating  110  may be a composite material of and is typically a borosilicate composite, however may be provided in optional forms. 
         [0048]    Core microwire  120  has a different threshold bending radius  134  that is smaller than the glass coating threshold bending radius  132 . Accordingly, the glass-coated microwire  100  may be bent at a radius smaller than the glass coating threshold radius  132  of the glass coat  110  but larger than the microwire core threshold bending radius  134  of microwire core  120 , it is possible to expose a portion  125  of the microwire core  120  at a controllable bending region  150 , without damaging the glass coat  110  in other portions of microwire  100 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 2  is a non-limiting exemplary flowchart  300  of a method for exposing a portion  125  of microwire core  120  of a glass-coated microwire  100  at a bending region  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention. First in stage S 310  a first threshold bend radius  132 , respective of the glass coat of a glass-coated microwire is determined. The bend radius is a measure of the inside curvature of the minimum radius that a pipe, tube, sheet, cable, hose and the like can be bent without breaking. The smaller the bending radius, the greater the material flexibility. For example, for a five millimeter glass-coated microwire  100 , the bend radius may be fifty-five micrometers. Typically, the bend radius of the glass coating  110  is higher than the bend radius of the microwire core  120 . In an optional embodiment, a second threshold bend radius  134  may be determined respective of the microwire core  120 . 
         [0050]    Next in stage S 320  the glass-coated microwire  100  is bent at a radius  142  that is configured to be smaller than the first threshold bend radius  132  of the glass coating  110 , so as to break the glass coating  110  in the bending region  150 . The microwire core  120  remains intact, as it has a second threshold bending radius  134 , that is most preferably smaller than that of the first threshold bend radius  132  of the glass coating  110 . Thus, a portion of the microwire core  120  is exposed  125  where the glass coating has broken, along the bending portion  150 . 
         [0051]    Next in stage S 330  a check is performed to determine if the glass-coated microwire  100  should exposed at additional portions  150 . If so, execution continues at stage S 320 , otherwise execution ends. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments, the glass-coated microwire  100  may be bent with a bending device and/or apparatus  140 , for example a solid peg  140  as shown. Bending apparatus and/or peg  140  is configured to have a radius  142  that is smaller than the first threshold bend radius  132  of the glass coat  110 , but larger than the second threshold bend radius  134  of the metallic microwire core  120 . 
         [0053]    In some embodiments, the bending apparatus  140  for example in the form of a peg may have a cross-section of any geometric shape for example including but not limited to a circle, a polygon, a polygon of n sides wherein n is bigger than three, the like or any combination thereof. 
         [0054]    In certain embodiments, the bending apparatus and/or device  140 , for example in the form of a peg, may include an electronic coupling medium, for example including but not limited to a soldering coat and/or deposit so as to facilitate coupling the exposed microwire portion  125  to electronics  500 . For example, after microwire  100  is exposed at point  125  along segment  150 , heat may be applied to solder the exposed microwire  125  and the peg  140  together. Optionally thereafter peg  140  may be coupled to electronics  500  for example including but not limited to components, circuits, devices, systems, the like or any combination thereof. Optionally a network of bending pegs  140  may be distributed on a stage and/or base to allow bending and coupling the glass-coated microwire  100  to option electronic units  500 , for example a will be described in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 3A-B  show schematic illustration of glass coated microwire  100  that may be bent according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 3A  provides an illustrative depiction of the glass coated microwire depicted in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3A  further shows microwire core  120  having a glass coating  110 , that is to be bent over a region  150  to expose the microwire core preferably for coupling to electronics  500 . Glass coating  110  of the has a first threshold bending radius  132  corresponding to the radius of circle  130 . The microwire core  120  may be an amorphous metal, also known as metallic glass. The glass coating  110  is typically a borosilicate composite. The microwire  120  has a second bend radius, which is smaller than the first bend radius of the glass coat. Thus, if the glass-coated microwire is bent at a radius smaller than the first radius of the glass coat  110  but larger than the second bend radius of the microwire 120 , it is possible to expose a portion of the microwire  120  at the bend point, without damaging the glass coat  110  in other portions. 
         [0056]    FIG. 3 B shows a non-limiting exemplary schematic illustration of an exposed a glass-coated microwire  200  with exposed portion  125  along segment  150  that was exposed according to the method of the present invention. The glass coated microwire is bent around a peg  140 . Peg  140  having a radius  142  configured according to at least a first parameter, glass coating threshold bending radius  132  and optionally according to an additional second parameter, microwire core threshold bending radius  134 . Preferably radius  142  is therefore configured to be smaller than the first threshold bend radius  132  of the glass coat  110  but larger than the second threshold bending radius  134  of the microwire core  120 . By bending around peg  140  having radius  142  the glass coating  110  is broken at bending segment  150  into a first portion  110 a and a second portion  110 b, exposing a portion  125  of microwire core therebetween. 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  is a non-limiting exemplary schematic illustration of a glass-coated microwire  100 , for example in the form of an emitter  400 . Optionally emitter  400  includes a first plurality of pegs  410 - 1  through  410 -N and a second plurality of pegs  420 - 1  through  420 -N, all arranged on a stage and/or base  430 , where N is a natural number greater than 1. 
         [0058]    In this exemplary illustration showing how the method of the present invention may be utilized to couple a glass coated microwire  100 ,  200  to optional electronic units  500 . Stage  430  includes first pegs  410  and second pegs  420  that are arranged in a pattern corresponding to antinodes of a wave. 
         [0059]    In other embodiments, bending pegs  140  may be arranged along a stage  430 , in any manner such that the first plurality of pegs  410  is positioned across from the second plurality of pegs. A glass-coated microwire  440 ,  100  is wound around the system of peg  410 , 420 , such that the glass-coated microwire  440 ,  100  is wound from right to left on peg  410 - 1 , then left to right on peg  420 - 1 , then right to left one peg  410 - 2  and so on. The radius  142  of pegs  410  and pegs  420  are configured to be smaller than the first threshold bending radius  132  of the glass coat  110 , but larger than the second threshold bending radius  134 , of the microwire core  120 , such that when the glass-coated microwire  440 , 100  is bent on each peg, the glass coating  110  selectively breaks at bending region  150  to exposing a portion  125  of the microwire core  120 . The exposed microwire core portions  125  may then by soldered and/or otherwise functionally coupled to the bending pegs  410 - 1  and  420 - 1 , and thereafter may further connect and/or functionally couple pegs  410 - 1  and  420 - 1  to an optional electronics unit  500 , for example in the form of a circuit (not shown). Optionally electronics  500  may for example include a power source, that may for example provide for producing various device incorporating the microwire for example including but not limited to an emitter. For example, the glass coat  110  may be a borosilicate composition, which has a refractive index allowing infrared (IR) radiation to pass through. Thus, a glass-coated microwire connected to a power source may be used as an IR emitter. A plurality of glass-coated microwire portions may be created between each set of pegs  410 - i  and  420 - i,  where i is a natural number from 1 to N. Each glass-coated microwire portion produced may be further connected to a circuit. 
         [0060]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles disclosed herein and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. 
         [0061]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiment, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0062]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not described to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0063]    Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims. 
         [0064]    It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements. 
         [0065]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0066]    Citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the invention. 
         [0067]    Section headings are used herein to ease understanding of the specification and should not be construed as necessarily limiting. 
         [0068]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.