Patent ID: 7281318

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a composite structural member with an integrated electrical circuit, the method comprising: providing a plurality of layers of structural reinforcement material; disposing first and second electrical devices at least partially between the layers of the structural reinforcement material with at least one intermediate layer of the structural reinforcement material disposed between the electrical devices so that the electrical devices are disposed in different layers and directed toward opposite sides of the at least one intermediate layer of the structural reinforcement material; disposing first and second electrical buses at least partially between the layers of the structural reinforcement material and extending along the structural member, the first and second buses being electrically isolated by a material disposed therebetween; connecting a first electrode to at least one of the buses and the first electrical device and thereby electrically connecting the first electrical device to at least one of the buses; and connecting a second electrode to at least one of the buses and the second electrical device and thereby electrically connecting the second electrical device to at least one of the buses, the second electrode providing a connection separate from the first electrode such that the first and second devices are separately electrically connected to the buses by the electrodes.