Patent Publication Number: US-10334724-B2

Title: Conformal electronics including nested serpentine interconnects

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/276,413, filed May 13, 2014, now allowed, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/823,357, filed May 14, 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     High quality medical sensing and imaging data has become increasingly beneficial in the diagnoses and treatment of a variety of medical conditions. The conditions can be associated with the digestive system, the cardio-circulatory system, and can include injuries to the nervous system, cancer, and the like. To date, most electronic systems that could be used to gather such sensing or imaging data have been rigid and inflexible. These rigid electronics are not ideal for many applications, such as in biomedical devices. Most of biological tissue is soft and curved. The skin and organs are delicate and far from two-dimensional. Other potential applications of electronics systems, such as for gathering data in non-medical systems, also can be hampered by rigid electronics. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various examples described herein are directed generally to methods, apparatus, and systems that include interconnects that provide for greater stretchability and flexibility. 
     Example methods, apparatus, and systems provide stretchable electrical devices that include two electrical contacts and an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the two electrical contacts. 
     According to an aspect, the example electrical interconnect can have a meander-shaped configuration that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
     In an example implementation according to the first aspect, the meander-shaped configuration can be a serpentine structure, a zig-zag structure, a boustrophedonic structure, a rippled structure, a corrugated structure, or a helical structure. 
     According to an aspect, the example electrical interconnect can have a serpentine-in-serpentine configuration that includes a serpentine-shaped structure including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
     The example two electrical contacts can be disposed on an elastomeric substrate. 
     In an example implementation, the stretchable electrical device can be configured such that two electrical contacts is in physical communication with the elastomeric substrate, and the electrical interconnect is not in physical communication with the substrate. 
     In an example, at least one of the two electrical contacts can be in communication with a semiconductor circuit. 
     The example electrical contacts can be metal contacts. 
     In an example, the stretchable electrical device can include at least one device component in communication with at least one of the two electrical contacts. The at least one device component can be an electronic device component, an optical device component, an optoelectronic device component, a mechanical device component, a microelectromechanical device component, a nanoelectromechanical device component, a microfluidic device component or a thermal device. 
     Example methods, apparatus, and systems provide stretchable devices that include a stretchable substrate and a stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable substrate. The stretchable electronic circuit includes first and second discrete operative devices and a stretchable interconnect coupling the first discrete operative device to the second discrete operative device. The stretchable interconnect can have a meander-shaped configuration that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
     According to different aspects, the meander-shaped configuration can be a serpentine structure, a zig-zag structure, a boustrophedonic structure, a rippled structure, a corrugated structure, or a helical structure. 
     According to an aspect, the example stretchable interconnect can have a serpentine-in-serpentine configuration. 
     In an example, the first discrete operative device or the second discrete operative device can include a metal contact. 
     In an example, the first discrete operative device or the second discrete operative device is a semiconductor device. 
     The first and second discrete operative devices and the stretchable interconnect can be fabricated from the same material. 
     In an example, the same material can be a semiconductor material. 
     In an example, the stretchable interconnect can be made from a semiconductor material. 
     The first discrete operative device also can be formed from a semiconductor material. In an example, the stretchable interconnect is made from a different semiconductor material than the first discrete operative device. 
     In an example, the semiconductor material is a single crystal semiconductor material. 
     In an example implementation, the stretchable electrical device can be configured such that the first discrete operative device and the second discrete operative device are in physical communication with the surface of the stretchable substrate, and the stretchable interconnect is not in physical communication with the surface. 
     The first discrete operative device or the second discrete operative device can includes one or more of a photodetector, a photodiode array, a display, a light-emitting device, a photovoltaic device, a sensor array, a light-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, an optical imaging system, a transistor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or any combination of thereof. 
     The following publications, patents, and patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
     Kim et al., “Stretchable and Foldable Silicon Integrated Circuits,” Science Express, Mar. 27, 2008, 10.1126/science.1154367;   Ko et al., “A Hemispherical Electronic Eye Camera Based on Compressible Silicon Optoelectronics,” Nature, Aug. 7, 2008, vol. 454, pp. 748-753;   Kim et al., “Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon Integrated Circuits Incorporating Monolithically Integrated Stretchable Wavy Interconnects,” Applied Physics Letters, Jul. 31, 2008, vol. 93, 044102;   Kim et al., “Materials and Noncoplanar Mesh Designs for Integrated Circuits with Linear Elastic Responses to Extreme Mechanical Deformations,” PNAS, Dec. 2, 2008, vol. 105, no. 48, pp. 18675-18680;   Meitl et al., “Transfer Printing by Kinetic Control of Adhesion to an Elastomeric Stamp,” Nature Materials, January, 2006, vol. 5, pp. 33-38;   U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0002402-A1, published Jan. 7, 2010, filed Mar. 5, 2009, and entitled “STRETCHABLE AND FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES;”   U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0087782-A1, published Apr. 8, 2010, filed Oct. 7, 2009, and entitled “CATHETER BALLOON HAVING STRETCHABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUITRY AND SENSOR ARRAY;”   U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0116526-A1, published May 13, 2010, filed Nov. 12, 2009, and entitled “EXTREMELY STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS;”   U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0178722-A1, published Jul. 15, 2010, filed Jan. 12, 2010, and entitled “METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF NON-PLANAR IMAGING ARRAYS;” and   U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 027119-A1, published Oct. 28, 2010, filed Nov. 24, 2009, and entitled “SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS UTILIZING STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS TO MEASURE TIRE OR ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS.”   Kim, D. H. et al. (2010). Dissolvable films of silk fibroin for ultrathin conformal bio-integrated electronics. Nature Materials, 9, 511-517.   Omenetto, F. G. and D. L. Kaplan. (2008). A new route for silk. Nature Photonics, 2, 641-643.   Omenetto, F. G., Kaplan, D. L. (2010). New opportunities for an ancient material. Science, 329, 528-531.   Halsed, W. S. (1913). Ligature and suture material. Journal of the American Medical Association, 60, 1119-1126.   Masuhiro, T., Yoko, G., Masaobu, N., et al. (1994). Structural changes of silk fibroin membranes induced by immersion in methanol aqueous solutions. Journal of Polymer Science, 5, 961-968.   Lawrence, B. D., Cronin-Golomb, M., Georgakoudi, I., et al. (2008). Bioactive silk protein biomaterial systems for optical devices. Biomacromolecules, 9, 1214-1220.   Demura, M., Asakura, T. (1989). Immobilization of glucose oxidase with Bombyx mori silk fibroin by only stretching treatment and its application to glucose sensor. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 33, 598-603.   Wang, X., Zhang, X., Castellot, J. et al. (2008). Controlled release from multilayer silk biomaterial coatings to modulate vascular cell responses. Biomaterials, 29, 894-903.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/723,475 entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR SENSING AND TREATMENT HAVING STRETCHABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUITRY,” filed Mar. 12, 2010.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/686,076 entitled “Methods and Applications of Non-Planar Imaging Arrays,” filed Jan. 12, 2010.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/636,071 entitled “Systems, Methods, and Devices Using Stretchable or Flexible Electronics for Medical Applications,” filed Dec. 11, 2009.   U.S. Patent Application publication no 2012-0065937-A1, published Mar. 15, 2012, and entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND COMPONENTS VIA CONFORMAL ELECTRONICS.”   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/616,922 entitled “Extremely Stretchable Electronics,” filed Nov. 12, 2009.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/575,008 entitled “Catheter Balloon Having Stretchable Integrated Circuitry and Sensor Array,” filed on Oct. 7, 2009.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/336,518 entitled “Systems, Methods, and Devices Having Stretchable Integrated Circuitry for Sensing and Delivering Therapy,” filed Dec. 23, 2011.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/843,873 entitled “STRAIN ISOLATION STRUCTURES FOR STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS,” filed Mar. 15, 2013.   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/843,880 entitled “STRAIN RELIEF STRUCTURES FOR STRETCHABLE INTERCONNECTS,” filed Mar. 15, 2013.   

     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts described in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It also should be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The skilled artisan will understand that the figures, described herein, are for illustration purposes only, and that the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed teachings in any way. In some instances, various aspects or features may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the inventive concepts disclosed herein (the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the teachings). In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to like features, functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements throughout the various figures. 
         FIG. 1A  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 1B  shows an example of the composite configurations of the example interconnect of  FIG. 1A , according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of the deformation of an interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 4A  shows another example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 4B  shows an example of the composite configurations of the example interconnect of  FIG. 4A , according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 6  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 7  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 8  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 9A  shows an example interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 9B  shows another example interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 10A  shows an example of serpentine-shaped features according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 10B  shows another example of serpentine-shaped features according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 11A  shows an example of an interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 11B  shows another example of an interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 11C  shows a further example of an interconnect according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 12  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 13A  shows an example configuration of interconnects and device islands according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 13B  shows an example cross-section of a portion of the interconnects and device islands of  FIG. 13A  according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 14  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 15A  shows an example device configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 15B  shows another example device configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 15C  shows a further example device configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 15D  shows yet another example device configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 16A  shows an example system configuration according to the principles described herein. 
         FIG. 16B  shows another example system configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 16C  shows a further example system configuration according to the principles described herein; 
         FIG. 17  shows the architecture of an example computer system according to the principles described herein; and 
         FIG. 18  shows an example conformal sensor device according to the principles described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, inventive methods, apparatus and systems for monitoring hydration via conformal electronics. It should be appreciated that various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes. 
     As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but is not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at least in part on. 
     With respect to substrates or other surfaces described herein in connection with various examples of the principles herein, any references to “top” surface and “bottom” surface are used primarily to indicate relative position, alignment and/or orientation of various elements/components with respect to the substrate and each other, and these terms do not necessarily indicate any particular frame of reference (e.g., a gravitational frame of reference). Thus, reference to a “bottom” of a substrate or a layer does not necessarily require that the indicated surface or layer be facing a ground surface. Similarly, terms such as “over,” “under,” “above,” “beneath” and the like do not necessarily indicate any particular frame of reference, such as a gravitational frame of reference, but rather are used primarily to indicate relative position, alignment and/or orientation of various elements/components with respect to the substrate (or other surface) and each other. The terms “disposed on” “disposed in” and “disposed over” encompass the meaning of “embedded in,” including “partially embedded in.” In addition, reference to feature A being “disposed on,” “disposed between,” or “disposed over” feature B encompasses examples where feature A is in contact with feature B, as well as examples where other layers and/or other components are positioned between feature A and feature B. 
     Example systems, apparatus and methods described herein provide conformal electronics that present greater stretchability and flexibility than existing devices due to implementation of an example interconnect according to the principles described herein. In an example, the conformal electronics can be formed as stretchable electrical devices that include electrical contacts and at least one electrical interconnect electrically coupling the electrical contacts. In an example, the conformal electronics can be formed as stretchable devices that include a stretchable substrate and a stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable substrate. As a non-limiting example, the stretchable electronic circuit can include at least one discrete operative device and a stretchable interconnect coupled to the at least one discrete operative device. For example, the stretchable interconnect according to the principles herein can be implemented to couple a first discrete operative device to a second discrete operative device. 
     In any example herein, the example interconnect can be configured as a fractal serpentine interconnect. 
     In one non-limiting example implementation, the fractal serpentine interconnect can be configured to have a meander-shaped configuration that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
     In another the electrical interconnect non-limiting example implementation, the fractal serpentine interconnect can be configured to have a serpentine-in-serpentine (“SiS”) configuration that includes a serpentine-shaped structure including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
     Any example fractal serpentine interconnect according to the principles herein can be formed as an electrically conductive interconnect. In other examples, the example fractal serpentine interconnect can be formed as a thermally conductive interconnect, or as a non-conductive interconnect formed from an electrically non-conductive material. 
     In any example implementation, a fractal serpentine interconnect according to the principles herein can be formed as bi-axial, extremely stretchable, high fill-factor interconnects. An example fractal serpentine interconnect can be configured as “fractal” serpentine structures built into a “base” overall meander-shaped structure (including a serpentine structure). In an example, the example fractal serpentine structures can be configured as a nested serpentine feature. An example fractal serpentine interconnect can be configured in such a way that the fractal features have multiple wavelengths, amplitudes, and are positioned in locations that allow the base serpentine interconnect or meander-shaped structure to be stretched in multiple directions, such as, e.g., the transversal direction. Due to the fractal serpentine design, the overall length of the interconnects according to the principles described herein (also referred to as fractal serpentine interconnects) is greater than that of other existing serpentine or meander-shaped structures. That is, if a fractal serpentine interconnect according to the principles herein were stretched and extended to the full length, the fractal serpentine interconnect would be longer in length than an interconnect having a solely meander shape (including a serpentine shape). Thus, the fractal serpentine interconnect configuration facilitates fitting a longer length of interconnect into effectively the same stretchable area. Thus, the fractal serpentine interconnect configurations according to the principles described herein present high fill factors and are extremely stretchable and flexible. 
     In example implementations, apparatus according to the principles described herein include devices based on conformal (e.g., stretchable, flexible and/or bendable) electronics that include the fractal serpentine interconnects. 
     In an example, the fractal serpentine interconnects can be formed from a conductive material or from a non-conductive material. 
     In an example, a system, apparatus and method is provided that is based on thin device islands, including integrated circuitry (IC) chips and/or stretchable interconnects that are embedded in a flexible polymer. 
       FIG. 1A  shows an example stretchable device according to the principles described herein. The example stretchable device  100  includes contacts  102  and at least one interconnect  154  coupled to the contacts  102 . In an example, contacts  102  can be electrical contacts, and the interconnect  154  can be an electrical interconnect that electrically couples the electrical contacts. In this example, the example interconnect  154  has a meander-shaped configuration that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
       FIG. 1B  shows the composite configurations of the interconnect  154  of  FIG. 1A . Interconnect  154  is comprised of a meander-shaped configuration  152  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  154 . In this example, each nested serpentine-shaped features  154  is disposed at a portion  156  of each repeat loop of the meander-shaped configuration  152 . In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  154  may be disposed at different portions of the meander-shaped configuration  152 , such as but not limited to, at a tip  158  of a loop of the meander-shaped configuration  152 . In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  154  may be disposed both at a position along a length of a loop (such as position  156 ) and at a tip of a loop (such as position  158 ). In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped features  154  of an interconnect  154  may be configured with multiple differing wavelengths (λ) and/or differing amplitudes (a). 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of the stretching direction and expansion directions of an example fractal serpentine interconnect. Any example interconnect described herein can be subjected to several different directions of deformation. According to the principles herein, the nested serpentine-shaped features are disposed at portions of the meander-shaped configuration such that the interconnect can be stretched in a bi-axial direction or multiple directions, such as but not limited to a transversal direction. 
       FIG. 3  shows another example stretchable device according to the principles described herein. The example stretchable device  300  includes contacts  302  and at least one interconnect  304  coupled to the contacts  302 . In an example, contacts  302  can be electrical contacts, and the interconnect  304  can be an electrical interconnect that electrically couples the electrical contacts. In this example, the example interconnect  304  has a meander-shaped configuration  352  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  354 . The nested serpentine-shaped features  354  are disposed at regions along each repeat loop of the meander-shaped configuration  352 . In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped features  354  of an interconnect  304  may be configured with multiple differing wavelengths and/or differing amplitudes. 
       FIG. 4A  shows another example stretchable device according to the principles described herein. The example stretchable device  400  includes contacts  402  and at least one interconnect  404  coupled to the contacts  402 . In an example, contacts  402  can be electrical contacts, and the interconnect  404  can be an electrical interconnect that electrically couples the electrical contacts.  FIG. 4B  shows the composite configurations of the interconnect  404  of  FIG. 4A . Example interconnect  404  has a meander-shaped configuration  452  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  454 . The nested serpentine-shaped features  454  are disposed at regions along each repeat loop of the meander-shaped configuration  452 . In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  454  may be disposed at different portions of the meander-shaped configuration  452 , such as but not limited to, at a tip  458  of a loop of the meander-shaped configuration  452 . In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  454  may be disposed both at a position along a length of a loop and at a tip of a loop (such as position  458 ). In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped features  454  of an interconnect  404  may be configured with multiple differing wavelengths and/or differing amplitudes. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show other example stretchable devices according to the principles described herein that include interconnects having a meander-shaped configuration including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. In the examples of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the meander-shaped configuration is serpentine-shaped, such that the interconnect has a serpentine-in-serpentine (SiS) configuration. The example stretchable device of  FIG. 5  includes contacts  502  and at least one interconnect  504  coupled to the contacts  502 . Example interconnect  504  has a serpentine-shaped structure  552  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  554 . The nested serpentine-shaped features  554  are disposed at the tips of each repeat loop of the serpentine-shaped structure  552 . In this example, the nested serpentine-shaped features  554  are oriented towards the midpoint of each loop. The example stretchable device of  FIG. 6  includes contacts  602  and at least one interconnect  604  coupled to the contacts  602 . Example interconnect  604  has a serpentine-shaped structure  652  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  654 . The nested serpentine-shaped features  654  are disposed at the tips of each repeat loop of the serpentine-shaped structure  652 . In this example, the nested serpentine-shaped features  654  are oriented outwards from each loop. 
     Example contacts  502  and  602  can be configured as electrical contacts, and the interconnects  504  and  604  can be electrical interconnects that electrically couples the respective electrical contacts. In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  554  or  654  may be disposed at different portions of the serpentine-shaped structure  552  or  652 , such as but not limited to, along a portion of a length of a loop. In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  554  or  654  may be disposed both at a position along a length of a loop and at a tip of a loop. In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped features  554  and  654  of an interconnect  504  and  604 , respectively, may be configured with multiple differing wavelengths and/or differing amplitudes. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show other example stretchable devices according to the principles described herein that include interconnects having a meander-shaped configuration including nested serpentine-shaped features. The example stretchable device of  FIG. 7  includes contacts  702  and at least one interconnect  704  coupled to the contacts  702 . Example interconnect  704  has a meander-shaped configuration  752  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  754 . The example stretchable device of  FIG. 8  includes contacts  802  and at least one interconnect  804  coupled to the contacts  802 . Example interconnect  804  has a meander-shaped configuration  852  that includes several nested serpentine-shaped features  854 - a  and  854 - b . The nested serpentine-shaped features  854 - a  are disposed along a length of each repeat loop of the meander-shaped configuration  852 , while nested serpentine-shaped features  854 - b  are disposed at the tips of each repeat loop of the meander-shaped configuration  852 . Example contacts  702  and  702  can be configured as electrical contacts, and the interconnects  704  and  804  can be electrical interconnects that electrically couples the respective electrical contacts. In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  754  or  854  may be disposed at different portions of the serpentine-shaped structure  752  or  852 , such as but not limited to, along a portion of a length of a loop. In other examples, the nested serpentine-shaped feature  754  or  854  may be disposed both at a position along a length of a loop and at a tip of a loop. In some examples, the nested serpentine-shaped features  754  and  854  interconnect  704  and  804 , respectively, may be configured with multiple differing wavelengths and/or differing amplitudes. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show other example interconnects that can be implemented based on differing types of meander-shaped configurations, according to the principles described herein. In the example of  FIG. 9A , the meander-shaped configuration is a boustrophedonic-shaped structure. The example stretchable device of  FIG. 9A  includes contacts  902  and an interconnect  904  coupled to the contacts  902 , where the example interconnect  904  has a boustrophedonic-shaped structure that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature  954 . In the example of  FIG. 9B , the meander-shaped configuration is a zig-zag-shaped structure. The example stretchable device of  FIG. 9B  includes contacts  912  and an interconnect  914  coupled to the contacts  912 , where the example interconnect  914  has a zig-zag-shaped structure that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature  954 . 
     In other examples, the interconnect can have any other meander-shaped configuration in the art. For example, the meander-shaped configuration can be configured to have any number of linear or non-linear structure, including a corrugated or rippled structure, a helical structure, or any other configuration of that provides a flexible and/or stretchable interconnect. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show other non-limiting examples of serpentine shapes that the can be implemented as nested serpentine-shaped features, according to the principles described herein. As shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the nested serpentine-shaped feature can be modeled as a series of circular arcs. The turning angle of the arcs in the example of  FIG. 10A  are smaller than the turning angle of the arcs in the example of  FIG. 10B . Therefore, the arcs of the example serpentine structure of  FIG. 10B  are more circular than the arcs of the example serpentine structure of  FIG. 10A . 
     In any example implementation, a stretchable device can include electrical contacts and at least one interconnect disposed on a flexible and/or stretchable substrate. In an example, the flexible and/or stretchable substrate can be an elastomeric substrate. In an example, the electrical contacts can be in physical communication with the surface of the flexible and/or stretchable substrate and the interconnect is not in physical communication with the flexible and/or stretchable substrate. 
     In any example implementation, the electrical contacts can be in communication with a semiconductor circuit. 
     In any example implementation, the electrical contacts can be in communication with at least one device component in communication with at least one electrical contact, and wherein the at least one device component is an electronic device component, an optical device component, an optoelectronic device component, a mechanical device component, a microelectromechanical device component, a nanoelectromechanical device component, a microfluidic device component or a thermal device. 
     In any of the examples described herein, the electrically conductive material (such as but not limited to the material of the electrical interconnect and/or the electrical contact) can be, but is not limited to, a metal, a metal alloy, a conductive polymer, or other conductive material. In an example, the metal or metal alloy of the coating may include but is not limited to aluminum, stainless steel, or a transition metal, and any applicable metal alloy, including alloys with carbon. Non-limiting examples of the transition metal include copper, silver, gold, platinum, zinc, nickel, titanium, chromium, or palladium, or any combination thereof. In other non-limiting examples, suitable conductive materials may include a semiconductor-based conductive material, including a silicon-based conductive material, indium tin oxide or other transparent conductive oxide, or Group III-IV conductor (including GaAs). The semiconductor-based conductive material may be doped. 
     In any of the example structures described herein, the interconnects can have a thickness of about 0.1 μm about 0.3 μm about 0.5 μm about 0.8 μm about 1 μm about 1.5 μm about 2 μm, about 5 μm, about 9 μm, about 12 μm, about 25 μm, about 50 μm, about 75 μm, about 100 μm, or greater. 
     In an example system, apparatus and method, the interconnects can be formed from a non-conductive material and can be used to provide some mechanical stability and/or mechanical stretchability between components of the conformal electronics (e.g., between device components). As a non-limiting example, the non-conductive material can be formed based on a polyimide. 
     In any of the example devices according to the principles described herein, the non-conductive material (such as but not limited to the material of a stretchable interconnect) can be formed from any material having elastic properties. For example, the non-conductive material can be formed from a polymer or polymeric material. Non-limiting examples of applicable polymers or polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, a polyimide, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a silicone, or a polyeurethane. Other non-limiting examples of applicable polymers or polymeric materials include plastics, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, elastoplastics, thermostats, thermoplastics, acrylates, acetal polymers, biodegradable polymers, cellulosic polymers, fluoropolymers, nylons, polyacrylonitrile polymers, polyamide-imide polymers, polyarylates, polybenzimidazole, polybutylene, polycarbonate, polyesters, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers and modified polyethylenes, polyketones, poly(methyl methacrylate, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxides and polyphenylene sulfides, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polyurethanes, styrenic resins, sulphone based resins, vinyl-based resins, or any combinations of these materials. In an example, a polymer or polymeric material herein can be a DYMAX® polymer (Dymax Corporation, Torrington, Conn.). or other UV curable polymer, or a silicone such as but not limited to ECOFLEX® (BASF, Florham Park, N.J.). 
     In any example herein, the non-conductive material can have a thickness of about 0.1 μm, about 0.3 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 0.8 μm, about 1 μm, about 1.5 μm, about 2 μm or greater. In other examples herein, the non-conductive material can have a thickness of about 10 μm, about 20 μm, about 25 μm, about 50 μm, about 75 μm, about 100 μm, about 125 μm, about 150 μm, about 200 μm or greater. 
     In an example system, apparatus and method, the interconnects can be formed from an electrically conductive material that is covered or coated at least in part by a non-conductive material. In an example implementation where the conductive interconnect includes a coating of a non-conductive material, the dimensions of the interconnects can be defined based on the thickness of the conductive portion of the interconnect versus the thickness of the non-conductive coating material, also referred to as the “trace and space”.  FIGS. 11A-11C  shows variations of the top-view cross-sections of interconnects including a conductive portion  1102 ,  1122 ,  1142  and a non-conductive coating  1100 ,  1120 ,  1140 . In the examples of  FIGS. 11A and 11C , the conductive portion and the non-conductive portion have approximately the same width. In the example of  FIG. 11B , the non-conductive portion has a greater width than the conductive portion. 
     In an example implementation illustrated in  FIGS. 11A-11C , notation “x” can represent a dimension of about 75 μm and notation “y” can represent a dimension of about 25 μm. In an example, the dimensions of  FIG. 11A  can be used where the thickness of the conductive portion is about 5 μm to about 18 μm thick. When the thickness of conductive portion is increased, the thickness of the non-conductive portion may be reduced to maintain the same interconnect thickness. 
     Non-limiting example processes that can be used for generating the interconnects include an etching process, a metal deposition process, or other wafer-based fabrication process. A metal deposition process may be used to provide interconnects with greater thicknesses. A wafer-based process may be used to provide interconnects with finer lateral features. In this example, any interconnect or other structure made using a wafer-based fabrication process may be released from the wafer substrate prior to further processing. 
     In an example system, apparatus and method, sensors and other electronics are described herein that can include one or more of any of the fractal serpentine interconnects according to the principles described herein. 
     In an example system, apparatus and method, the interconnects can be formed from an electrically and/or thermally conductive material and can be used to provide electrical and/or thermal communication between components of the conformal electronics, e.g., between discrete operative device components. In any of the example devices according to the principles described herein, at least a portion of an example interconnect can be formed from an electrically conductive material. 
     An example stretchable device according to the principles described herein can include an example stretchable and/or flexible substrate, and an example stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable and/or flexible substrate. In an example, the stretchable electronic circuit can include at least one discrete operative device coupled to a stretchable interconnect that has a meander-shaped configuration including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. For example, the stretchable electronic circuit can include two discrete operative devices and a stretchable interconnect coupled to the discrete operative devices, where the stretchable interconnect has a meander-shaped configuration including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. 
       FIG. 12  shows an example stretchable device  1200  that includes an example stretchable and/or flexible substrate  1202 , and an example stretchable electronic circuit disposed on a surface of the stretchable and/or flexible substrate  1202 . In an example, the stretchable electronic circuit includes two discrete operative devices  1204 ,  1206  and a stretchable interconnect  1208  coupled to the discrete operative devices  1204 ,  1206 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the stretchable interconnect can have a meander-shaped configuration  1222  including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature  1224 . In different examples, the stretchable interconnect can be any interconnect according to any of the principles described herein, including the interconnect of any of  FIGS. 1A through 10 . The description of material composition, dimensions, and properties of any interconnect described herein, including the interconnects of any of  FIGS. 1A through 10 , apply to the stretchable interconnect of  1208 . 
     In any example implementation, one or more of the discrete operative devices can include a metal contact. The stretchable interconnect can be electrically coupled to the contact. 
     In any example implementation, the stretchable interconnect and one or more of the discrete operative devices can be fabricated from the same material, such as but not limited to a semiconductor material. 
     In any example implementation, the stretchable interconnect can be made from a semiconductor material. The discrete operative device is formed from a different semiconductor material than the stretchable interconnect. 
     In any example implementation, the stretchable interconnect can be made from a single crystal semiconductor material. 
     In any example implementation, the one or more discrete operative devices can be in physical communication with the surface of a stretchable and/or flexible substrate, and the stretchable interconnect is not in physical communication with the surface of the flexible and/or stretchable substrate. 
     In any example herein, the discrete operative device can be a semiconductor device. For example, the discrete operative device can be one or more of an electronic device, an optical device, an opto-electronic device, a mechanical device, a microelectromechanical device, a nanoelectromechanical device, a microfluidic device, a sensor, a light-emitting device, or a thermal device. 
     For example, the discrete operative device can include one or more of a photodetector, a photodiode array, a display, a light-emitting device, a photovoltaic device, a sensor array, a light-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, an optical imaging system, a transistor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or any combination of thereof. 
     In an example, a conformal electronic structure is provided that includes a fractal serpentine interconnect in electrical communication with at least one device component. The fractal serpentine interconnects and at least one device component can be disposed on a portion of a supporting surface of a flexible and/or a stretchable substrate. 
     In a non-limiting example, the flexible substrate can be a polymer. For example, the flexible substrate can be, but is not limited to, an elastomer, a polyimide, a foil, paper, fabric, or other flexible material. In another example, the flexible substrate can be a stretchable substrate. 
     In another example, a conformal electronic structure is provided that includes at least one device component and at least two fractal serpentine interconnects, each of the at least two fractal serpentine interconnects being in electrical communication with the at least one device component. 
     In an example system, apparatus and method herein, a fully conformal electronic device is provided that includes one or more of the fractal serpentine interconnects. The fully conformal electronic device can be placed on, including being attached on, a variety of surface profiles, with minimal to no effect on the functionality of the conformal electronic device sensor. As a non-limiting example, the conformal device can be a sensor. 
     In an example, a stretchable device according to the principles described herein can be configured as a sensor. A portion of the example sensor can be formed with a fractal serpentine interconnect that maintains mechanical stability during deformation and/or stretching of the sensor. For example, the fractal serpentine interconnect can be formed at least in part from a non-conductive material that is stretchable. Components of the example sensors can be linked by one or more of the fractal serpentine interconnect to provide the mechanical stability during deformation and/or stretching of the sensor. 
     In a non-limiting example, a stretchable device according to the principles described herein can be formed as a two-dimensional device. The discrete operative device components can include one or more materials such as a metal, a semiconductor, an insulator, a piezoelectric material, a ferroelectric material, a magnetostrictive material, an electrostrictive material, a superconductor, a ferromagnetic material, or a thermoelectric material. 
     In a non-limiting example stretchable device, at least one of the discrete operative components can be disposed on a device island, with the interconnect being coupled to the discrete operative component via the device island.  FIGS. 13A-13B  show an example of a configuration of interconnects disposed between, and coupled to, spaced apart device islands. As shown in  FIG. 13A , the stretchable device can include a plurality of device islands  1302  arranged co-planar plane relative to each other, each of the device islands including one or more discrete operative device components  1304 . A plurality of interconnects  1306  can be used to couple adjacent device islands, or to couple conductive contacts to device islands. While the example of  FIG. 13A  shows serpentine-shaped interconnects, one or more of the interconnects  1306  can be configured as a meander-shaped configuration including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature according to the principles described herein. The resulting example stretchable device would have significantly greater flexibility, stretchability, and robustness to multi-axial deformations based on the greater stretchability of the fractal serpentine interconnect. In the example of  FIG. 13A , two interconnects  1306  are used to couple device islands in each row or to couple contacts to the device islands; at least one interconnect  1306  couples adjacent device islands across the two rows. 
     In other example implementations, the device islands and/or the interconnects can be disposed in a three-dimensional arrangement. For example, the device islands and/or the interconnects the interconnects can be arranged in a single layer or in multiple layers (e.g., two or more layers). In an example, two or more interconnects between device islands can be disposed in a co-planar, substantially parallel arrangement. Any multiple-layered portion of an example structure can be arranged in a staggered arrangement, a stacking arrangement, or a randomized arrangement. That is, the interconnects can be multiple layer stacking, or can be placed in a coplanar parallel arrangement. In various examples, the components can be oriented in differing directions in each stacked layer, and/or each layer of the stacked layers can include differing numbers of device islands or interconnects. In other examples, at least a portion of the device islands and the interconnects of a structure can be disposed in a substantially curved arrangement. 
       FIG. 13B  shows a cross-section through line “X-section” through the non-limiting example stretchable device of  FIG. 13A . The stretchable device includes base plate  1350 , a discrete operative electronic device component  1352  disposed over the base plate  1350 , and interconnects  1354  coupled to a portion of the base plate  1350 . The base plate is  1350  is disposed over a substrate  1356 . The example stretchable device can include an encapsulant  1358  disposed over at least a portion of the discrete operative device  1352  and/or the interconnect  1354 . The encapsulant can be formed from any polymer or polymeric material described herein. 
     In an example, the substrate  1356  can be a stretchable and/or flexible substrate. The substrate can be formed from any polymer or polymeric material described herein. 
     In an example, the base plate  1350  includes a polyimide layer (PI). For example, the base plate  135  can be about 50 μm thick. In any other example according to the principles herein, the example base plate can have any other dimensions or material compositions that provides for proper functioning of the overall conformal device as a conformal sensor system as described herein. 
     The base plate  1350  may include a contact formed from a conductive material that can serve as an electrical contact to the discrete operative electronic device component  1352  and/or the interconnect  1354 . In an example, the contact can be copper (Cu) having a thickness of about 0.5 μm Cu. 
       FIG. 14  shows a non-limiting example implementation of a stretchable device that includes device islands  1400 , a discrete operative device component  1402  disposed on the device island  1400 , and interconnects  1404  coupled to a portion of a device island  1400  and/or to an electrical contact  1406 . The example stretchable device can include an encapsulant  1408  disposed over at least a portion of the discrete operative device  1402  and/or the interconnect  1404 . In an example, the encapsulant can be but is not limited to a coating of an epoxy-based coverlay. 
     In any example implementation, the example stretchable device can be configured to control placement of a location of a spatially-varying neutral mechanical plane locally in the region of functional component of the stretchable device, including at least one of a device component, an interconnect, and a transition region between a device component and an interconnect. Controlled placement of the spatially-varying neutral mechanical plane relative to a functional component can result in little to no stress or strain being exerted in selected regions of the functional component, when the overall stretchable device is subjected to the deformation forces (including from an applied stress or strain). The positioning of the spatially-varying neutral mechanical plane can be controlled locally at any electronic component of the overall conformal device by controlling parameters locally including at least one of the following: to the shape of the interconnect, the placement of the encapsulant in the overall stretchable device, and the type of encapsulant material (degree of stiffness), the material composition and dimensions of the base plate, and the composition and modulus properties of the substrate. 
     Non-limiting example system architectures are described below relative to stretchable devices that are configured as conformal motion sensor systems. However, the example system architectures described herein are not so limited. The example system architectures below can be applicable to any type of conformal sensor system fabricated according to the principles described herein, including any one or more of a temperature sensor, a neuro-sensor, a hydration sensor, a heart sensor, a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, an equipment monitor (e.g., smart equipment), a respiratory rhythm monitor, a skin conductance monitor, an electrical contact, or any combination thereof, including a multifunctional sensor, such as but not limited to a temperature, strain, and/or electrophysiological sensor, a combined motion-/heart/neuro-sensor, a combined heart-/temperature-sensor, etc. 
     As a non-limiting example, the architecture of the conformal motion sensor system can include one or more sensors, power &amp; power circuitry, wireless communication, and at least one processing unit. In some example, the power source can be a wireless power source. 
       FIGS. 15A-15D  show non-limiting examples of possible device configurations. The example device of  FIG. 15A  includes a data receiver  1501  disposed on a substrate  1500 . The data receiver  1501  can be configured to conform to a portion of the object to which the data receiver  1501  and the substrate are coupled. The object can be at least one body part, a secondary object, and/or a muscle group. The data receiver  1501  can include one or more of any conformal sensor component according to the principles of any of the examples and/or figures described herein. In an example, the data receiver includes at least one accelerometer  1503  and/or at least one muscle activation monitor  1504 . The at least one accelerometer  1503  and/or at least one muscle activation monitor  1504  can be used to measure data indicative of a motion of an object (including a body part of a subject, a secondary object, and/or a muscle group). The example device of  FIG. 15A  also includes an analyzer  1502 . The analyzer  1502  can be configured to quantify the data indicative of motion, physiological data, or analysis of such data indicative of motion, and physiological data, according to the principles described herein. In one example, the analyzer  1502  can be disposed on the substrate  1500  with the data receiver  1501 , and in another example, the analyzer  1502  can be disposed proximate to the substrate  1500  and data receiver  1501 . 
     In the example implementation of the device in  FIG. 15A , the analyzer  1502  can be configured to quantify or otherwise analyze the data indicative of the accelerometry measurement and/or the muscle activation monitoring to provide an indication of a motion of the body part and/or muscle activity. 
       FIG. 15B  shows another example device according to the principles disclosed herein that includes a substrate  1500 , data receiver  1501 , an analyzer  1502 , and a storage module  1505 . The storage module  1505  can be configured to include a memory to save data from the data receiver  1501  and/or the analyzer  1502 . In some implementations the storage device  1505  is any type of non-volatile memory. For example, the storage device  1505  can include flash memory, solid state drives, removable memory cards, or any combination thereof. In certain examples, the storage device  1505  is removable from the device. In some implementations, the storage device  1505  is local to the device while in other examples it is remote. For example, the storage device  1505  can be the internal memory of a computing device. In the various examples herein, the computing device may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, a slate computer, an e-reader or other electronic reader or hand-held or wearable computing device, a laptop, an Xbox®, a Wii®, or other game system(s). In this example, the device may communicate with the external computing device via an application executing on the external computing device. In some implementations, the sensor data can be stored on the storage device  1505  for processing at a later time. In some examples, the storage device  1505  can include space to store processor-executable instructions that are executed to analyze the data from the data receiver  1501 . In other examples, the memory of the storage device  1505  can be used to store the measured data indicative of motion, physiological data, or analysis of such data indicative of motion, or physiological data, according to the principles described herein. 
       FIG. 15C  shows an example device according to the principles disclosed herein that includes a substrate  1500 , a data receiver  1501 , an analyzer  1502 , and a transmission module  1506 . The transmission module  1506  can be configured to transmit data from the data receiver  1501 , the analyzer  1502 , or stored in a storage device (such as the storage device  1505  of  FIG. 15B ), to an external memory or other storage device, a network, and/or an off-board computing device. In one example, the transmission module  1506  can be a wireless transmission module. For example, the transmission module  1506  can be used to transmit data via wireless networks, radio frequency communication protocols, Bluetooth®, near-field communication (NFC), and/or optically using infrared or non-infrared LEDs. The data can be transmitted to an external memory or other storage device, a network, and/or an off-board computing device. 
       FIG. 15D  shows an example system that includes a substrate  1500 , a data receiver  1501 , an analyzer  1502  and a processor  1507 . The data receiver  1501  can receive data related to sensor measurement from a sensor. In an example, the sensor can be a conformal sensor. The processor  1507  can be configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in a storage device  1507  and/or within the processor  1507  to analyze data indicative of motion, physiological data, or analysis of such data indicative of motion, or physiological data according to the principles described herein. In some implementations, the data can be directly received from the data receiver  1501  or retrieved from a storage device (such as the storage device  1505  of  FIG. 15B ). In one example, the processor can be a component of the analyzer  1502  and/or disposed proximate to the data receiver  1501 . In another example, the processor  1507  can be external to the system, such as in a computing device that downloads and analyzes data retrieved from the system. The processor  1507  can execute processor-executable instructions that quantify the data received by the data receiver  1501 . 
       FIGS. 16A-16C  show non-limiting examples of possible system configurations including a display for displaying or otherwise outputting the data or analysis results from analysis of the data. The example systems of  FIGS. 16A-16C  include a substrate  1600 , a data receiver  1601 , an analyzer  1602 , and an indicator  1603 . As shown in the examples of  FIGS. 16B-16C , the system can further include a processor  1605  (see  FIG. 16C ), to execute the processor-executable instructions described herein, and/or a storage device  1604  (see  FIG. 16B ), for storing processor-executable instructions and/or data from the analyzer  1602  and/or one or more conformal sensors of the system. 
     The indicator  1603  of the example systems of  FIGS. 16A-16C  can be used for displaying and/or transmitting data indicative of motion, physiological data, or analysis of such data indicative of motion, or physiological data, according to the principles described herein, and/or user information. In one example, the indicator  1603  can comprise a liquid crystal display, or an electrophoeretic display (such as e-ink), and/or a plurality of indicator lights. For example, the indicator  1603  can include a series of LEDs. In some implementations, the LEDs range in color, such as from green to red. In this example, if performance does not meet a pre-determined threshold measure, a red indicator light can be activated and if the performance meets the pre-determined threshold measure, the green indicator light can be activated. In another example, indicator  1603  may include a screen or other display that can be used to display graphs, plots, icons, or other graphic or visual representations indicative of the data or analysis results from analysis of the data. 
     In some implementations, as described above, the signaling of the indicator  1603  is detectable to the human eye, and in other implementations, it is not detectable by the human eye but can be detected using an image sensor. The indicator  1603  may be configured to emit light outside the viable spectrum of the human eye (e.g., infrared) or too dim to be detected, as examples of indication methods substantially not detectable by the human eye. In these examples, the image sensor can be configured to detect such signals outside the viewing capabilities of a human eye. In various examples, the image sensor may be a component of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a slate computer, an e-reader or other electronic reader or hand-held or wearable computing device, a laptop, an Xbox®, a Wii®, or other game system(s). 
       FIG. 17  shows the architecture of an example computer system  1700  that may be employed to implement any of the example methods, computer systems, and apparatus discussed herein. The computer system  1700  of  FIG. 17  includes one or more processors  1720  communicatively coupled to memory  1725 , one or more communications interfaces  1705 , and one or more output devices  1710  (e.g., one or more display units) and one or more input devices  1715 . 
     In the computer system  1700  of  FIG. 17 , the memory  1725  may include any computer-readable storage media, and may store computer instructions such as processor-executable instructions for implementing the various functionalities described herein for respective systems, as well as any data relating thereto, generated thereby, or received via the communications interface(s) or input device(s). The processor(s)  1720  shown in  FIG. 17  may be used to execute instructions stored in the memory  1725  and, in so doing, also may read from or write to the memory various information processed and or generated pursuant to execution of the instructions. 
     The processor  1720  of the computer system  1700  shown in  FIG. 17  also may be communicatively coupled to or control the communications interface(s)  1705  to transmit and/or receive various information pursuant to execution of instructions. For example, the communications interface(s)  1705  may be coupled to a network  1714 , and may therefore allow the computer system  1700  to transmit information to and/or receive information from other devices (e.g., other computer systems). Network  1714  can be a wired or wireless network, bus, or other data transmission means or communication means. The system of  FIG. 17  may further include one or more communications interfaces to facilitate information flow between the components of the system  1700 . In some implementations, the communications interface(s) may be configured (e.g., via various hardware components or software components) to provide a website as an access portal to at least some aspects of the computer system  1700 . 
     The output devices  1710  of the computer system  1700  shown in  FIG. 17  may be provided, for example, to allow various information to be viewed or otherwise perceived in connection with execution of the instructions. The input device(s)  1715  may be provided, for example, to allow a user to make manual adjustments, make selections, enter data or various other information, or interact in any of a variety of manners with the processor during execution of the instructions. The input device(s)  1715  may take the form of, but is not limited to, switches, contacts, capacitive or mechanical components. In other examples, input device(s)  1715  may use the measures from sensors to actuate controls of the system. 
       FIG. 18  shows an example schematic drawing of the mechanical layout and system-level architecture of a non-limiting example conformal motion sensor configured as a rechargeable patch. The example stretchable device includes a plurality of interconnects  1802  that couple to the device islands and interconnects  1804  that couple a device island to a contact. While  FIG. 18  is interconnects  1802  and  1804  are shown as serpentine interconnects, any one or more of the fractal serpentine interconnects according to the principles described herein may be used as an interconnect  1802  or  1804 . In an example, any interconnect  1802  or  1804  can be configured as a meander-shaped configuration including at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature. In an example, any interconnect  1802  or  1804  can be configured as a serpentine-shaped structure that includes at least one nested serpentine-shaped feature (a serpentine-in-serpentine configuration). The non-limiting example stretchable device also includes a monopole antenna  1806 , which can be configured as any of the fractal serpentine interconnects according to the principles described herein. The example stretchable device can include multiple device components, such as a processor  1808 , a memory  1810  in communication with the processor  1808 , a power source  1812 , regulators  1814  and  1816 , a coil  1818 , a communication component  1820 , sensor components  1822  and  1824 , an electrode  1826 , and contacts  1828 . In an example, the sensor component  1822  can be an accelerometer and the sensor component  1824  can be an EMG component. In an example, communication component  1820  can be a BLUETOOTH® device. In an example, coil  1818  can be a power transfer coil. 
     The example conformal motion sensor electronics technology can be designed and implemented with various mechanical and electrical layouts for multifunctional platforms. The devices including the conformal electronics technology integrate stretchable form factors using designs embedded in polymeric layers. These can be formulated to protect the circuits from strain and to achieve mechanical flexibility in an ultra-thin cross-section. For example, the device can be configured with thicknesses on the order of about 1 mm on average. In other examples, the patch can be configured with thinner or thicker cross-sectional dimensions. The device architecture can include a reusable module containing surface-mount technology (SMT) components, including accelerometer, wireless communication, microcontroller, antenna, coupled with disposable conformal electrode arrays for sensing EMG, EEG and EKG signals. 
     CONCLUSION 
     While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be examples and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. 
     The above-described embodiments of the invention may be implemented in any of numerous ways, including through implementations provided in Appendices A, B, C and D attached hereto. For example, some embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. When any aspect of an embodiment is implemented at least in part in software, the software code may be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices/computers. 
     Also, the technology described herein may be embodied as a method, of which at least one example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
     The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
     As used herein in the specification, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” 
     As used herein in the specification, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.