WO2013143708A2

WO2013143708A2 - Switching elements with overlapping conductor paths, and method for designing a circuit configuration

Info

Publication number: WO2013143708A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/000957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Moosheimer
Original assignee: Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München
Priority date: 2012-03-30
Filing date: 2013-03-28
Publication date: 2013-10-03
Also published as: DE102012102804B3; WO2013143708A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching element that is designed such that a first conductor path, which is formed on a first substrate layer and which is connected to an electric load, overlaps with a second conductor path in the region of a spacer element, said second conductor path being formed on a second substrate layer and being connected to an electric voltage source. Said design allows switchable flexible displays to be produce at a low cost and with a high degree of precision. In particular, the switching element according to the invention does not require a subsequent electric contact, but rather can be completed in one pass. The invention also relates to methods for designing such a switching element and for designing corresponding circuit configurations.

Description

Switching elements with overlapping strip conductors and method for forming a

circuit configuration

Field of the invention

The invention relates to printable circuit configurations, in particular for electrochromic displays, LEDs or other light sources, as well as methods for forming such circuit configurations.

Background and state of the art

In many applications, such as for children's toys and parlor games as well as greeting cards or magazines, there is a need for a flexible, thin electronic display element that can be inexpensively manufactured in large numbers and activated at the touch of a button to a font, a picture or to represent a sequence of movements. In the prior art, electrochromic displays and electroluminescent displays have been developed for this purpose, the components of which including the display element, an electrochemical battery for power supply and the printed conductors and switching elements can all be formed in a printing process, for example a screen printing process. Such displays and manufacturing methods are described for example in the patent US 6,369,793 Bl. In this case, an anode element of the battery, the electrochromic display element and a first conductor path connecting the anode element and the display element to a first portion of a flexible plastic substrate printed. A cathode element of the battery and a second trace are printed on a second portion of the substrate. The anode is initially separated from the cathode after printing, so that no electrolyte reaction takes place and the battery is inactive. By folding the substrate along a predetermined fold line, the cathode element may be contacted in a subsequent step with the anode element via an electrolyte layer printed on the anode so that the battery is activated. By contacting the second trace with the display element, the circuit can then be closed and the display element activated. In addition, interruptions may be provided in the first printed conductor or second printed conductor which can be closed via pressure contact switches, which can likewise be printed on the first or second substrate. This allows a reversible activation of the electrochromic display.

The use of flexible substrates and screen printing technology, as described in US '793, allow fabrication of thin electrochromic displays for a wide variety of applications and at a relatively low cost. A disadvantage of the prior art, however, is the additional contacting step, which is required after the folding of the second portion of the substrate over the first portion of the substrate to connect the second conductor to the display element. This contacting step increases the production times and is in practice also faulty. Reliable contacting requires a large production effort, which significantly increases the production times and production costs. The formation of the switching elements increases the production cost in addition.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide switching elements and associated circuit configurations and methods for their production, which allow fast, cost-effective and reliable production of electrochromic or similar display elements. Overview of the invention

This object is achieved by a switching group according to claim 1 or by the method for forming a switching group or for forming a circuit configuration according to claims 7 and 13. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

A switching group according to the invention comprises a first substrate layer, in particular a flexible first substrate layer on which a first printed conductor is formed, wherein the first printed conductor is connected to an electrical load, and a second substrate layer, in particular a flexible second substrate layer, on which a second printed conductor is formed is, wherein the second conductor track is connected to an electrical voltage source and at least partially overlaps the first conductor track. The switching group according to the invention further comprises a switching element with a spacing element, which spatially and electrically separates the second strip from the first strip in an open switch position of the switching element, wherein the spacing element is designed such that the switching element by applying a compressive force to the first substrate layer and / / or the second substrate layer merges into a closed switch position, in which the second conductor track contacts the first conductor track.

The second interconnect may be facing the first interconnect in the switching group according to the invention. In particular, the first conductor track can be formed on an upper side of the first substrate layer, which faces or faces a lower side of the second substrate layer on which the second conductor track is formed. The spacer element may be formed between the first conductor track and the second conductor track and / or between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. The first substrate layer and the second substrate layer are preferably arranged parallel to one another. The first trace and the second trace can thus be between the first Substrate layer and the second substrate layer may be arranged in two different planes, which are spatially and electrically separated in the open switch position by the spacer formed in the overlap region between the first conductor track and the second conductor track. By exerting a compressive force on the first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer in a direction normal to the substrate surfaces in the overlapping region of the second interconnect with the first interconnect, the distance between the interconnects can be overcome so that the second interconnect contacts the first interconnect and the switch goes to the closed switch position.

An advantage of this configuration over the prior art is, in particular, that the first conductor element and the second conductor element can be formed on different substrate layers during manufacture, so that they can already be manufactured in the manufacturing process with the corresponding electrical components, i. the electrical load or the electrical voltage source, can be firmly connected. By bonding the second substrate layer to the first substrate layer, for example, by folding the substrate as described above with reference to US '793, the first trace and the second trace can then be overlapped with each other in the overlap region, in which the spacer is formed, forming a pressure switch for reversible switching.

The switching element may comprise at least a portion of the first substrate layer with the first conductor formed thereon and at least a portion of the second substrate layer with the second conductor formed thereon in the overlap region of the first conductor and the second conductor and the spacer formed between the first conductor and the second conductor include.

The switching group according to the invention makes it possible, in particular, to manufacture all the components of an electrochromic or electroluminescent display, that is to say in particular the display element, the printed conductors, the battery and the switch, in a single operation which already all necessary contacts are made. This eliminates the costly downstream step of a secure electrical contacting of the display element with the switch and / or the battery. The invention therefore makes it possible to produce display elements faster, cheaper and with low error rate or high accuracy.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer element rests on the first conductor track and / or on the second conductor track. In particular, the spacer element can rest completely on the first conductor track and / or completely on the second conductor track. In this way, a reliable spatial and electrical separation of the interconnects is achieved in the overlapping region of the interconnects in the open switch position, however, when exerting a compressive force on the first substrate layer and / or second substrate layer allows equally reliable closing of the switch.

Preferably, the first conductor track and the second conductor track overlap exclusively in the region of the spacer element. In this way, an accidental short circuit of the switching element is effectively avoided.

The spacer element may in particular be an electrically insulating and / or dielectric spacer element.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer element is a ring element, in particular a circular ring element. A ring element in the sense of the invention may in particular be a simply connected body, which leaves open an opening in its interior, through which the contact between the second and the first conductor track takes place when the pressure force is exerted. The spacer element may also comprise a plurality of spatially separated spacers.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer element comprises stamped or printed plastic.

The spacer element may in particular be designed such that the switching element returns when the pressure force is withdrawn into the open switch position. This allows the switch to be reversibly opened and closed.

In particular, the first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer may comprise a shape memory material, in particular a shape memory polymer, at least in the overlap region of the second conductor track with the first conductor track.

In a further preferred embodiment, the switching group comprises a locking element for locking the switching element in the closed switch position. This embodiment is advantageous if the switching element is to be used only for a single or initial activation of the electrical load, the electrical load should remain activated after the withdrawal of the pressure force and a reversible switching is not required or not desirable.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking element may comprise an adhesive element, for example an adhesive. The adhesive may, for example, be arranged between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer in the overlapping region of the conductor tracks in order to permanently keep the first conductor track and the second conductor track in contact even after the pressure force has been removed. In one development of the invention, the first interconnect is connected via a second switching element to the electrical load, wherein the second switching element is preferably a switching element according to the invention with one or all of the aforementioned features.

Alternatively or additionally, the second interconnect may be connected to the electrical voltage source via a third switching element, wherein the third switching element is preferably a switching element according to the invention with one or all of the aforementioned features.

The second switching element or the third switching element may, in particular, comprise a spacing element which, in an open switch position, spatially and electrically separates the first printed conductor or the second printed conductor from a further printed conductor. The spacer element can be designed such that the second switching element or third switching element passes by exerting a compressive force on the first substrate layer and / or second substrate layer in a closed switch position in which the previously separated interconnects touch each other.

The spacer element can rest on the corresponding conductor tracks, in particular rest completely on them.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer element is a ring element, in particular a circular ring element.

The spacer element may also comprise a plurality of spatially separated spacers.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer element comprises stamped or printed plastic. The spacer element may in particular be designed such that the switching element returns when the pressure force is withdrawn into the open switch position. This allows the switch to be reversibly opened and closed.

In particular, the first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer may comprise a shape memory material, in particular a shape memory polymer, at least in the overlapping region of the conductor tracks.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second and / or third switching element also comprises a locking element for locking the second or third switching element in the closed switch position. This embodiment is advantageous if the switching element is to be used only for a single or initial activation of the electrical load, the electrical load should remain activated after the withdrawal of the pressure force and a reversible switching is not required or not desirable.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking element may comprise an adhesive element, for example an adhesive. The adhesive may, for example, be arranged between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer in the overlapping region of the conductor tracks in order to permanently keep the first conductor track and the second conductor track in contact even after the pressure force has been removed.

The use of several inventive switching elements allows, for example, AND circuits or OR circuits, as they may be desired for some combinatorial applications.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching element and the second switching element or the switching element and the third switching element between the electrical load and the electrical power source connected in series. In this way, an AND circuit can be provided.

In a further embodiment, a plurality of switching elements are connected in parallel on the first substrate layer and / or on the second substrate layer. In this way, OR circuits can be formed.

The switching group may include a third conductor formed on the first substrate layer and electrically connecting the electrical load to the voltage source. The third conductor can then close the circuit between the electrical load and the electrical voltage source in cooperation with the first and the second conductor.

The first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer may comprise a polycarbonate and / or paper. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polypropylene (PP) as well as paper, paperboard or board and their composite materials are particularly suitable as the substrate layer. These materials are flexible, lightweight and easy to print and therefore very suitable for the switching group according to the invention. The first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer may each be formed from a plurality of sub-layers, which are arranged on one another and / or next to each other. In addition to the aforementioned materials, the sublayers may also include barrier layers of aluminum, silica, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH), and / or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC).

The first substrate layer and the second substrate layer may be portions of a contiguous folded substrate layer. The components of the switching group can then all be formed in one operation on the substrate layer. To produce the switching element then the first conductor and the second Conductor be brought by folding the substrate layer along a predetermined fold line reliably, quickly and accurately in overlap.

The first printed conductor and / or the second printed conductor and / or the third printed conductor may comprise carbon and / or silver and / or copper. Such printed conductors can be formed quickly and reliably in the printing process, in particular in the screen printing process. Other printable materials are conductive polymers, for example, poly-3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene (PEDOT: PSS). The interconnects can also be produced on the first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer on the basis of evaporated indium-tin oxide (ITO) with subsequent structuring by masking or lasing.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical load comprises an electrical display element, preferably an electrochromic display or an electroluminescent display or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The electrical load may also include a light emitting diode, an audiovisual element or a sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical voltage source comprises an electrochemical voltage source, preferably a printed battery.

In one development of the invention, the electrical load is at least partially formed on the first substrate layer. Likewise, the electrical voltage source can also be formed at least partially on the second substrate layer. This configuration allows the formation of a compact electrochromic display in which all components can be manufactured in one operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical voltage source comprises a first component having a first electrode, which is formed on the first substrate layer, and a second component having a second electrode formed on the second substrate layer. Such an electrical voltage source can be activated by connecting the first substrate layer to the second substrate layer in such a way that the first component electrically contacts the second component, in particular the first electrode makes contact with the second electrode via an electrolyte layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching group comprises a plurality of electrical voltage sources, which are formed on the first substrate layer and / or on the second substrate layer. The plurality of electrical voltage sources may be interconnected via interconnects, in particular be connected in series.

This embodiment makes it possible to achieve higher operating voltages by connecting several voltage sources in series.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching group comprises at least three voltage sources, wherein two voltage sources, in particular two adjacent voltage sources, are interconnected by a conductor track, wherein a first subset of the conductor tracks which interconnect voltage sources is formed on the first substrate layer and a second subset of the conductor tracks, which connect voltage sources together, is formed on the second substrate layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical voltage source comprises a pickup, which is formed on the second substrate layer and is connected to the second conductor track, and a sealing element, wherein the sealing element is formed around the pickup on the second substrate layer. By sealing the pickup directly to the substrate, it is possible to ensure that the electrolyte of the voltage source comes into contact only with the anode or with the cathode and not with the pickup.

The invention also relates to a method of forming a switching group comprising the steps of forming a first trace and an electrical load on a first substrate layer, forming a second trace and at least a portion of an electrical voltage source on a second substrate layer, depositing a spacer to the first interconnect and / or second interconnect, as well as connecting at least a portion of the second substrate layer to at least a portion of the first substrate layer such that the second interconnect at least partially overlaps the first interconnect in the region of the spacer element.

In a preferred embodiment, connecting the second substrate layer to the first substrate layer comprises forming a switching element, in particular a pressure contact switch in the overlapping region of the second printed conductor with the first printed conductor.

In a further development, only part of the area of the second substrate layer is connected to only a part of the area of the first substrate layer by overlapping the corresponding conductor tracks.

In one development, the first substrate layer and / or the second substrate layer can each also be formed as a composite of a plurality of sublayers arranged on top of one another. The partial bonding of the second substrate layer to the first substrate layer may then also relate to individual ones of these partial layers. The first printed conductor and / or the electrical consumer are preferably printed on the first substrate layer.

Likewise, the second conductor track and / or the electrical voltage source can be printed on the second substrate layer.

In a development, the spacer element is printed on the first conductor track and / or second conductor track.

The printing may each preferably comprise screen printing. Alternatively, the printing can also be carried out in flexographic printing, offset printing, gravure printing or inkjet printing.

The printed conductors can also be embossed, in particular cold-embossed.

In a preferred embodiment, the method additionally comprises the step of bonding and / or welding the second substrate layer to the first substrate layer.

In a development of the invention, a first component of the electrical voltage source, which comprises a first electrode, is formed on the first substrate layer, preferably printed, and a second component of the electrical voltage source, which comprises a second electrode, is formed on the second substrate layer, preferably printed, wherein the second component of the electrical voltage source is preferably electrically connected to the second conductor track.

The second substrate layer can be connected to the first substrate layer in such a way that the second component is at least partially connected to the first component in FIG is brought electrical contact to activate in this way the electrical voltage source. In particular, the electrical voltage source may be an electrochemical voltage source which is activated by bringing the second component into contact with the first component.

In a development, the method additionally comprises forming, preferably printing, a third conductor track on the first substrate layer, and electrically connecting the first component of the voltage source to the third conductor track at a first end of the third conductor track and electrically connecting the consumer to the third Conductor at a first end opposite the second end of the third conductor track.

In a preferred embodiment, the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer are portions of a continuous substrate layer, wherein the step of bonding comprises at least partially folding the second portion of the substrate layer over the first portion of the substrate layer.

The at least partial folding may include folding a portion of the second portion of the substrate layer over a portion of the first portion of the substrate layer. The partial folding may also relate to a folding of a partial layer of the second partial region of the substrate layer over the first partial region of the substrate layer, if, for example, the second substrate layer comprises a plurality of superimposed partial layers. For example, the second substrate layer may comprise a PET-Al-PP composite, wherein the aluminum layer is used as a barrier for the battery. However, when folding the entire substrate layer, it would cover the display. In the area of the display, therefore, for example, only the PP partial layer can be folded over the second partial area of the substrate layer. In a preferred embodiment, a first part of the electrical load is formed on the first substrate layer and a second part of the electrical load is formed on the second substrate layer, wherein the step of connecting comprises connecting the first part of the electrical load to the second one of the electrical load.

Preferably, connecting the first part of the electrical load to the second part of the electrical load comprises at least partially folding the second portion of the substrate layer over the first portion of the substrate layer.

Similar to what has been described above for the electrical voltage source, additionally or alternatively, the electrical load can be formed in two parts, wherein the circuit can be closed by assembling the two parts of the electrical load, preferably by folding the substrate layer.

In a preferred embodiment, forming at least a portion of the electrical voltage source on the second substrate layer comprises the step of sealing a capacitor of the electrical voltage source connected to the second conductor track to the second substrate layer.

The sealing preferably takes place around the customer.

The part of the electrical voltage source on the first substrate layer can be sealed accordingly.

In a development, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of forming at least one electrical voltage source on the first and / or second substrate layer, forming a plurality of electrical consumers on the first and / or second substrate layer, forming a plurality of interconnects on the first and / or second substrate layer, wherein the interconnects electrically connect the respective electrical loads with the electrical voltage source, and the step of selectively severing individual predetermined interconnects.

This embodiment enables the simple and cost-effective formation of electrochromic displays with a plurality of display elements, which are each supplied via their own interconnects of the electrical voltage source. The display elements may be segments of a composite display, for example segments of a 7-segment display, as widely used to represent numbers and letters in electrochromic or electroluminescent displays. The inventive method makes it possible to produce such display elements first in one step and therefore with little effort in a configuration in which all segments are activated. For this purpose, a standardized method can be used. For example, in the example of the 7-segment display, all segments may be activated after this step. The adaptation of the display to the logo to be displayed or an image to be displayed can then take place in a subsequent production step, which may be spatially and / or temporally separated from the printing of the display and the circuit configuration, in which individual interconnects are selectively separated, thereby Disable individual segments of the 7-segment display. This method is particularly suitable for mass production of electrochromic and electroluminescent display elements. This is an independent aspect of the invention.

The invention therefore also relates to a method of forming a circuit configuration comprising the steps of forming at least one electrical voltage source on a substrate layer, in particular a flexible substrate layer, forming a plurality of electrical loads on the substrate layer, forming a plurality of conductor tracks that house the respective electrical loads connect to the electrical voltage source, and the selective separation of individual predetermined tracks. The separation of individual predetermined tracks can be done for example by means of switching elements, in particular by means of the pressure contact switch according to the invention.

In an alternative embodiment, the cutting of the conductor tracks by means of a laser, in particular by means of a solid-state laser, preferably by means of a YAG laser.

By using suitable solid-state lasers, in particular the use of YAG lasers, in conjunction with suitable substrate materials, it can be achieved that the laser acts only on the printed conductor tracks, while the substrate material is not damaged. The encapsulation of the entire display unit is therefore retained even in the structuring.

A structuring of the display by means of a laser can be carried out quickly, inexpensively and nevertheless with great accuracy. It is therefore suitable for mass production of electrochromic or electroluminescent displays in a special way.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of electrical consumers form individual components of an electrical display element, in particular an electrochromic display or an electroluminescent display.

Preferably, the electrical voltage source and / or the electrical loads and / or the printed conductors are printed on the substrate layer. The printing preferably comprises screen printing. Description of preferred embodiments

The features and numerous advantages of the switching group according to the invention or of the manufacturing method according to the invention can best be understood on the basis of a detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the appended figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a switching group printed on a substrate according to an embodiment of the invention in an intermediate step before the folding of the substrate;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the switching group according to the invention of FIG. 1 after folding; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross section of the switching group according to the invention of Fig. 2;

4 shows a schematic cross-section of an AND circuit according to a development of the invention;

Fig. 5a is a schematic plan view of a circuit configuration according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a plurality of electrical display elements are assembled into a display;

Fig. 5b shows the circuit configuration of Fig. 5a after the selective separation of individual traces;

Fig. 6 schematically shows the structure of a printed battery element according to a

Embodiment of the invention shows;

Fig. 7a shows a schematic plan view of a switching group according to the invention according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7b is a schematic plan view of a switching group with an AND circuit and two

Folding lines according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 shows a schematic plan view of a part of a switching group according to the invention with a series connection of three battery elements, wherein partial image 8a the electrical interconnect lines and part 8b shows the anode and cathode elements.

The switching group according to the invention with overlapping interconnects or the methods for forming such a circuit configuration are described below using the example of a printed electrochromic display. However, the invention is not limited thereto but can be used profitably wherever the production of a circuit configuration with voltage sources and electrical consumers on a substrate, in particular a flexible substrate, is to be simplified. In particular, the invention is also applicable to other types of displays, for example to electroluminescent displays or organic light-emitting diodes. However, compared to LEDs and organic LEDs, electrochromic displays currently have the advantage that they are better printed in air and can be better connected to tracks.

Figure 1 shows a switching group 10 according to an embodiment of the invention in an intermediate step of manufacturing. The finished switching group 10 is shown in FIG. An electrochromic display element 16 and a first component 18a of an electrochemical voltage source which contains an anode and a second component 18b are provided on a substrate 12 which is divided by an imaginary or pre-punched fold line 14 into a first partial area 12a and a second partial area 12b an electrochemical voltage source containing a cathode formed. The substrate 12 may be, for example, a paper substrate or else a plastic material, in particular a polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP). In particular, the substrate 12 may be formed entirely or partially of a translucent or transparent plastic material. Alternatively, a matching window in the first subarea 12a of the substrate 12 and / or in the second subarea 12b of the substrate 12 can also be partly or completely punched out in the region of the display element 16. A separation of the opaque portion of the substrate material in this area is possible. The electrochromic display element 16 may be formed on the substrate 12 by screen printing. Such an electrochromic display element 16 may, for example, comprise two planar transparent electrodes made of ITO (indium-tin-oxide), between which an electrochromically active material is accommodated.

The anode element 18a and the cathode element 18b of the electrochemical battery may also be formed on the substrate 12 by screen printing. The anode element 18a may, for example using manganese dioxide (Mn0 ₂₎ - ink are formed, and on its upper side, an electrolyte layer, such as a polymeric gel or a hydrogel, include. The cathode element 18b may be printed using, for example, a tin-based ink.

The printing of electrochromic displays and the printing of battery elements on flexible substrates are familiar to the person skilled in the art, so that a more detailed description can be dispensed with here. For details of the formation of electrochromic display elements or spatially separated battery elements reference is made to the patent US 6,369,793 Bl. An electrochromic organic display element and its production method are also described in the published patent application DE 10 2008 024 641 A1. For the formation of battery elements in the screen printing process, reference is additionally made to the patent US 6,576,364 Bl.

A first trace 20 extends from the electrochromic display element 16 in the first portion 12a and is in electrical contact with a terminal (not shown) of the electrochromic display element 16 at a first end 20a, while the second end 20b opposite the first end 20a is the first Conductor 20 free in the first portion 12a ends. Correspondingly, a second printed conductor 22 is formed on the second partial region 12b of the substrate 12, which is in electrical contact with a connecting element (not shown) of the cathode element 18b at a first end 22a. The first end 22a opposite second end 22b of the second conductor 22 protrudes into the second portion 12b of the substrate into and ends there free. The lengths of the first interconnect 20 and the second interconnect 22 are selected such that the projections of their free ends 20b and 22b overlap.

In addition, a third printed conductor 24 is formed in the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12, which has a first end 24a with a connecting element (not shown) of the anode element 18a and a second end 24b of the third printed conductor 24 opposite the first end 24a another connection element (not shown) is electrically connected to the electrochromic display element 16.

The tracks 20, 22 and 24 are each spaced apart and electrically isolated by the non-conductive substrate 12. They can be formed on the substrate 12 together with the connection elements, the display element 16 and the battery elements 18a, 18b by screen printing. The printing of the conductor tracks can be done, for example, with silver-containing or copper-containing ink. Also lead-based printed circuit boards can be printed.

Conductor tracks can be formed with the inventive method in different dimensions on the first portion 12a and on the second portion 12b. Their length can vary from a few microns over a few centimeters to a few meters, depending on the size of the substrate and the application. Typical widths are for the trace between 20 μπι and 10 mm, the width can be generally selected both in consideration of the application and on the substrate 12 available space as well as in dependence on the conductivity of the material used. Typical heights of the printed conductors depend on the printing method and the number of printing passes and are usually between 0.7 μm and 30 μm. Heights / thicknesses between 5 μιτι and 15 μπι are preferred. For details of the printing of printed conductors, which are well known to those skilled in the art, reference is additionally made in turn to the patent US 6,369,793 Bl.

The electrochromic display element 16, the anode element 18a, the first interconnect 20 and the third interconnect 24 are all formed on the first portion 12a of the substrate 12, while the cathode element 18b and the second interconnect 22 are formed on the second portion 12b of the substrate 12. The arrangement of the anode element 18a and the cathode element 18b may also be reversed, i. The anode element 18a may be formed on the substrate 12 instead of the cathode element 18b in the second portion 12b, and the cathode element 18b may be formed on the substrate 12 instead of the anode element 18a in the first portion 12a.

After the formation of the first conductor track 20, a spacer element 26 is formed on the substrate 12a and / or on the first conductor track 20 in the region of the free second end 20b of the first conductor track 20. The spacer element 26 can be printed on the substrate 12a and / or the first printed conductor 20, in particular by means of a screen printing method. However, the spacing element 26 can also be a separate component which, after the printing of the first printed conductor 20, is placed on the first printed conductor 20 and / or the substrate 12 and optionally fixed there by gluing. The spacer element 26 may be formed or printed from a dielectric material, in particular from a plastic material. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the spacer element 26 is a circular ring element, which rests with its peripheral portion partially on the first conductor 20 in the region of the second end 20b and partially on the adjacent substrate surface. The ring element 26 has an opening 28, which releases part of the first conductor track 20 in the region of the second end 20b of the first conductor track 20. Alternatively, the spacer element 26 could also be formed in the same way in the region of the free second end 22b of the second conductor track 22 on the second partial area 12b and / or on the second conductor track 22.

For completing the electrochromic display, the second subregion 12b of the substrate is then folded along the fold line 14 together with the cathode element 18b and the second conductor track 22 onto the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12. The anode element 18a, the cathode element 18b, the first interconnect 20 and the second interconnect 22 are positioned on the substrate such that upon folding along the fold line 14, the cathode element 18b comes to lie on top of the anode element 18a and the second interconnect 22 in the region of the second end 22b of the second interconnect 22 and the second end 20b of the first interconnect 20 overlaps with the first interconnect 20. In the overlapping configuration shown in FIG. 2, the second printed conductor 22 comes to rest on the upper side of the spacer 26 in the region of the second end 22b of the second printed conductor 22 and is therefore spatially and electrically separated from the underlying first printed conductor 20 in the overlapping region by the spacer 26 ,

After folding along the fold line 14, the second portion 12b of the substrate may be firmly bonded along a circumferential line to the first portion 12a of the substrate 12, for example, welded or glued along the edge.

A schematic sectional view through the folded configuration of FIG. 2 in the region of the first printed conductor 20 and the second printed conductor 22 is shown in FIG. The first portion 12a of the substrate 12 and the second portion 12b of the substrate 12 lie approximately parallel to each other after folding and form an intermediate region in which the electrochromic display element 16, the anode element 18a and the cathode element 18b and the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 22 are included. The first conductor 20 is formed on the first portion 12 a of the substrate 12 and therefore lies below the fold on the second portion 12 b of the substrate 12 after folding formed second conductor 22. The first conductor 20 is separated in the overlap region of the second conductor 22 by the spacer element 26. The height of the spacer element 26 or the distance between the first conductor track 20 and the second conductor track 22 in the overlapping region can generally be 20 to 1000 μm, preferably 100 to 600 μm.

During folding, the cathode element 18b is brought into contact with the anode element 18a via an electrolyte region (not shown) formed on the upper side of the anode element 18a. As described in more detail in US Pat. No. 6,369,793 B1, this activates the electrochemical voltage source. However, the circuit to the electrochromic display element 16 is not yet closed in the configuration shown in Figure 3, because the second conductor 22 is separated from the first conductor 20 in the region of the spacer 26 through the opening or the gap 28. The circuit can be closed by, by exerting a compressive force on the first portion 12a and / or the second portion 12b in the region of the spacer 26 along the arrows shown in Figure 3, the gap 28 is overcome and the second conductor 22 with the first conductor 20th brought into spatial and electrical contact. The contacting establishes a closed circuit from the cathode element 18b via the second trace 22 and the first trace 20 to the electrochromic indicating element 16 and back across the third trace 24 to the anode element 18a of the electrochemical voltage source.

When the pressing force is withdrawn, the first subregion 12a and the second subregion 12b of the substrate 12 with the first conductive trace 20 and the second conductive trace 22 move back into those in the figure due to a restoring force exerted by the first substrate layer 12a and / or the second substrate layer 12b 3 illustrated initial position, so that the circuit is interrupted again. By exerting the compressive force along the arrows shown in Figure 3, therefore, the display element 16 can be reversibly activated and deactivated. By folding the substrate, a switching element is formed as a pressure contact switch 30 in the region of the overlapping strip conductors in this way, which comprises a subregion of the first substrate layer 12a and the first interconnect 20 as well as a subregion of the second substrate layer 12b and the second interconnect 22 in the region of the overlap as well as the spacer element 26.

In a development, a locking element (not shown) may also be provided in order to lock the first printed conductor 20 and the second printed conductor 22 after the first exertion of the pressure force in the closed switch position of the switch 30. For example, the locking can take place with the aid of an adhesive which is applied, in particular printed, in the area of the spacer element 26 or in the vicinity of the overlapping area to the first partial area 12a and / or the second partial area 12b of the substrate 12, and the first partial area 12a of the substrate and fixed the second portion 12b of the substrate in the closed switch position.

An advantage of the circuit configuration of the invention over the prior art is that the electrochromic display element 16, the tracks 20, 22, 24, the battery elements 18a and 18b and the spacer 26 in the deployed configuration of Figure 1 can all be fabricated in one operation , The electrochemical voltage source is then activated by folding along the folding line 14, wherein the pressure switch 30 is formed in its open switch position simultaneously by overlapping the second conductor track 22 with the first conductor track 20 in the region of the spacer element 26. The overcoming of the difference in height or vertical distance between the first printed conductor 20 formed in the first partial region 12a of the substrate 12 and the second printed conductor 22 formed in the second partial region 12b of the substrate 12 takes place in the region of the switching element 30 and becomes synergetic with the reversible switching of the electrochromic display element 16 used. A subsequent electrical contacting of the electrochromic display element 16 with a switching element 30 and the battery 18 a / 18 b is not required. As a result, process steps are saved during production and the manufacturing costs are reduced. In addition, the quality of the entire unit can already be controlled in the production process. In the context of the solution according to the invention, several of the switching elements 30 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 may also be formed on a common substrate 12. This allows more complex circuit configurations to be generated. The example of an AND circuit with two switching elements 30, 30 'according to the invention in series connection is shown in FIG. 4 in a schematic cross-sectional view. Figure 4 shows only the tracks and switches; the electrical voltage source and the electrical consumers are not shown in Figure 4 for reasons of clarity. Formed in the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12 is the first printed conductor 20, which partially overlaps with a second printed conductor 22, which is formed on the second subregion 12b of the substrate, and is separated from the second printed conductor 22 in the overlapping region by the spacer element 26, such as previously described with reference to Figures 1 and 3. In contrast to the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 3, however, the second printed conductor 22 is not connected to a battery element at its first end 22a, but terminates freely on the second partial region 12b of the substrate 12 and overlaps in this region with a fourth printed conductor 32 which in turn on the first portion 12a of the substrate 12, but separated from the first conductor 20, is formed. In the overlap region of the second conductor track 22 with the fourth conductor track 32, a second spacer element 26 'is formed, which corresponds in its construction and its construction to the spacer element 26 completely and leaves a gap 28' between the second conductor track 22 and the fourth conductor track 32, through which the second conductor 22 is spatially and electrically separated from the fourth conductor 30. As a result, a second switching element 30 'is formed, which corresponds in its construction and its function to the first switching element 30. Closing the circuit now requires the closing of both switching elements 30, 30 ', ie the exertion of a compressive force at two points, namely in the area indicated by the first pair of arrows of the first spacer 26 and simultaneously in the direction indicated by the second pair of arrows area of the second spacer element 26 '. In this way, an AND circuit can be implemented. In a similar manner, an OR circuit can be formed by connecting two switching elements 30, 30 'in parallel.

In practice, a display unit may comprise a multiplicity of display elements, which in each case may be connected to individual voltage sources via printed conductors and, if appropriate, additionally via respective associated switching elements and which form the components of a composite display. FIG. 5a shows an example in which seven separate electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g together form a 7-segment display. The electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g are formed on the flexible substrate 12 and connected via respective separate conductor tracks 36a to 36g with corresponding electrochemical voltage sources 38a to 38g. Instead of separate voltage sources 38a to 38g, it is also possible to provide a common voltage source which supplies several or all display elements 34a to 34g via the printed conductors 36a to 36b.

The electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g, printed conductors 36a to 36g and the electrochemical voltage sources 38a to 38g may be formed on the substrate 12 by printing, preferably by screen printing followed by folding in order to activate the process described above with reference to Figs Battery. In each of the conductor tracks 36a to 36g switching elements 30, 30 'according to the invention can be formed, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. They are not shown in the illustration of Figure 5a for reasons of clarity. Instead of or in addition to the switching elements in each of the printed conductors 36a to 36g, a global switch for common connection of all printed conductors 36a to 36g to the common voltage source may also be formed. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if a subsequent structuring step is followed by the printing of the electrical components and the folding of the substrate or the activation of the battery / batteries only with some time delay and premature exhaustion of the battery is to be prevented. The formation of the 7-segment display of Figure 5a can be such that after completion of the display element or after the activation of the electrochemical voltage sources 38a to 38g first all electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g activated, that are supplied with power or via the switching elements or the global switch can be activated. This condition is shown in FIG. 5a. The electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g will then show the figure 8 in general. In general, a plurality of numbers and / or patterns and / or letters may be displayed on the substrate 12, optionally with additional 7-segment displays.

In a subsequent process step, the display unit may be patterned by means of a laser to selectively deactivate individual ones of the electrochromic display elements 34a to 34g and to display a desired pattern or configuration with the remaining display elements. For structuring, with the aid of the laser, individual ones of the connections between the display elements 34a to 34g and the associated electrochemical voltage sources 38a to 38g are separated. The laser can either cut through the layers of the display or the corresponding tracks 36a to 36g. When using a suitable laser, in particular a YAG laser (yttrium aluminum garnet laser), it can be achieved that the laser structures only the corresponding printed layers, but not the substrate material 12. YAG laser beams generally do not interact with transparent materials, such as PET film, PP film or PE film, but are absorbed by black or metallic conductor layers. The printed conductors are therefore severed, while the overlying transparent film remains undamaged. A similar technique, however, for use in laser printers, and suitable films are described in the utility model DE 200 17 501 Ul in more detail. The structuring of the display element can be done in this way without surface damage, and the encapsulation of the entire display unit is maintained.

Selective separation of individual printed conductors can also be carried out using a C0 ₂ laser or by punching. The foregoing with reference to the YAG laser described material selection does not exist here. However, the penetration depth can be controlled, so that selectively only individual layers of a composite can be severed.

The separation of individual printed conductors 36a to 36g can also take place by using a laser or by punching using electrical switching elements which connect the corresponding display elements 34a to 34g to the electrochemical voltage sources 38a to 38g.

In the illustration shown in FIG. 5b, the first interconnect 36a and the second interconnect 36b are interrupted by way of example with the aid of a YAG laser or switch, so that the associated display elements 34a and 34b are deactivated. The 7-segment display then represents the number 6 instead of the number 8 shown in Figure 5a as the initial configuration.

Fig. 6 shows schematically in an exploded view the structure of a built-up of two sub-elements 18a and 18b printed battery element 18, as can be used in embodiments of the present invention.

The anode element 18a comprises a first pickup 40a formed on the first portion 12a of the substrate 12 and comprising a printed metal layer connected to the third line 24. The anode element 18a further comprises an anode layer 42a which is formed on the first pickup 40a and is in electrical contact therewith. The anode layer 42a may be, for example, a layer of manganese dioxide (Mn0 ₂ ) ink deposited on the pickup 40a. Furthermore, the anode element 18a comprises an electrolyte layer 44, for example a nonwoven soaked in saline solution, which is in electrical contact with the anode layer 42a. The electrolyte layer 44 may be assigned to both the anode group 18a and the cathode group 18b. The cathode element 18 b has a corresponding structure and comprises a metallic second pickup 40 b printed on the second subregion 12 b of the substrate 12, which is electrically connected to the second printed conductor 22. Underneath the second pickup 40b and in electrical contact therewith is the cathode layer 42b, for example a printed tin or aluminum layer.

Good results could be obtained in a configuration in which the anode layer 42a comprises manganese dioxide and the cathode layer 42b comprises an aluminum foil. In this case, stable voltages in the range of 0.7 V could be obtained.

Optionally and preferably, the anode element 18a and / or the cathode element 18b each comprise sealing layers 46a and 46b, which are formed around the first pickup 40a or around the second pickup 40b and the first pickup 40a and the second pickup 40b, respectively, directly to the corresponding substrate 12a , 12b seal. Such sealing ensures that the electrolyte layer 44 only comes into contact with the anode layer 42a or the cathode layer 42b, but not with the consumers 40a, 40b.

The seal layers 46a, 46b can be formed by fusing sealable films under pressure and heat. The resulting composite is moisture and air impermeable. By sealing around the first pickup 40a and the second pickup 40b, respectively, a chamber is formed which is protected from external influences and into which the electrode layers 42a, 42b and the electrolyte layer 44 are accommodated. The inventors were able to achieve good sealing results with stretched / oriented polypropylene films (OPP films) at 90 ° Celsius, polyethylene composite films at 115 ° Celsius and composite aluminum films at 190 ° Celsius. The sealing pressure amounted to l, 8kp / cm ² and the contact duration about one second. The electrolyte layer 44 may also be added as a last step in forming the battery element 18 before the module is sealed. An advantage of this embodiment is that the electrolyte layer 44 is not thermally stressed by subsequent drying processes.

FIG. 7 a shows a switching group 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention, which is very similar to the switching group described in FIGS. 1 to 3. The switching group 10 of FIG. 7a differs from the switching group shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 on the one hand in that not the battery element 18, but the display element 16 is formed in two parts. On the other hand, the fold line 14 extends transversely instead of longitudinally to the conductor tracks. Incidentally, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1 to 3.

A first subelement 16a of the display element 16 is formed on the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12 and connected to the battery element 18, which is integrally formed on the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12, via the third conductive trace 24 on the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12 , The battery element 18 is further connected to a spacer element 26 via a second conductor track 22, which is likewise formed on the first subregion 12a of the substrate 12.

A second subelement 16b of the display element 16 is formed on the second subregion 12b of the substrate 12 and connected to a first conductive trace 20 so that the second subelement 16b of the indicator element 16 extends along the fold line 14 when the second subregion 12b is folded over the first subregion 12a overlaps with the first sub-element 16a of the display element 16 and the first conductor track 20 overlaps in the region of the spacer element 26 with the end of the second conductor track 22. By folding along the fold line 14 and connecting the first subelement 16a of the display element 16 with the second subelement 16b of the display element 16, the electrochromic display element is formed and at the same time the first conductor track 20 is at least partially aligned with the second conductor track 22. When exerting pressure on the first section 12a of the substrate 12 and / or the second portion 12b of the substrate 12 in the region of the spacer 26, the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 22 can then be brought into contact with each other, so that the circuit is closed.

7b shows a switching group 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention, which differs from the switching group of FIG. 7a in that both the electrochromic display element 16 and the battery element 18 are formed in two parts and the substrate 12 into three subregions 12a, 12b , 12c is divided.

The first partial region 12a of the substrate 12 comprises a first partial element 16a of the display element 16 and an anode element 18a of the battery element 18. The first partial element 16a of the display element 16 is connected to a spacer element 26 'via a fifth printed conductor 48 formed on the first partial region 12a of the substrate 12. connected while the anode member 18a of the battery element 18 is connected via the second conductor 22 on the first portion 12ade of substrate 12 with the spacer 26.

The second partial region 12b of the substrate 12 comprises the second partial element 16b of the display element 16, which is connected to a first conductive path 20 formed on the second partial region 12b of the substrate 12. Correspondingly, the third subregion 12c of the substrate 12 comprises the cathode element 18b of the battery element 18, which is connected to a sixth conductive trace 50 formed on the third subregion 12c of the substrate 12. By folding the second portion 12 b of the substrate 12 over the first portion 12 a of the substrate 12 along the fold line 14, the second sub-element 16 b of the display element 16 is brought into coincidence with the first sub-element 16 a of the display element 16. At the same time the end of the first conductor 20 is aligned with the end of the second conductor 22 and is separated from it by the spacer 26 spatially and electrically. Accordingly, by folding the third portion 12c of the substrate 12 over the first portion 12a of the substrate 12 along the fold line 14 ', the cathode member 18b of the battery member 18 is registered with and connected to the anode member 18a of the battery member 18. At the same time, the end of the sixth printed conductor 50 is flush with the end of the fifth printed conductor 48 and is spatially and electrically separated from it by spacer element 26 '.

The closing of the circuit requires in the embodiment of Fig. 7b, the simultaneous overcoming of the distance between the tracks 20 and 22 and between the tracks 48 and 50 in the region of the spacers 26, 26 '. In this way, in turn, an AND circuit is realized.

FIG. 8 shows a series connection of three battery elements 18, 18 ', 18 ", as it can be used in the context of all the embodiments described above, in order to achieve higher voltage values.

In the first production step shown in FIG. 8a, connecting conductor tracks 52, 52 'for connection between the (later printed) battery elements 18, 18', 18 "and supply conductor tracks are formed on the first partial area 12a of the substrate 12 or on the second partial area 12b of the substrate 12 Also, in this step, at the predetermined positions on the first portion 12a and the second portion 12b of the substrate 12, to which the battery elements 18, 18 are printed ', 18 "are provided, electrical pickup 40 together with the connecting lines 52, 52' and the supply conductor tracks 54, 54 'printed.

After the printing of the interconnect tracks 52, 52 ', supply tracks 54, 54' and pickup 40, in a second sub-step, which is illustrated in FIG. 8b, Anode elements 18a, 18'a, 18 "a and cathode elements 18b, 18'b, 18" b printed on the first portion 12a and on the second portion 12b of the substrate on the electrical pickup 40 so that they are connected to the interconnect lines 52, 52nd 'or supply conductor tracks 54, 54' are electrically in contact. After the second substep, the cathode elements 18b and 18'b are connected by the connection trace 52 'formed on the second portion 12b of the substrate 12. The anode elements 18'a and 18''a are similarly connected by the interconnect trace 52 formed on the first portion 12a of the substrate 12. The anode element 18a and the cathode element 18''b are via the supply trace 54 and 54 ', respectively are formed on the first portion 12a of the substrate 12 and on the second portion 12b of the substrate 12, respectively, connected to the electrical load (not shown in Fig. 8). By folding the second portion 12b over the first portion 12a along the fold line 14, the cathode members 18b, 18'b, 18 "b are aligned with the anode members 18a, 18'a, 18" a, and the circuit can be closed.

The inventors have obtained in experiments with a series circuit of three battery elements 18, 18 ', 18 ", the anode element respectively manganese dioxide (Mn0 ₂ ) and the cathode element each aluminum foil, stable voltages in the range of 2.3 V.

The description of the preferred embodiments and the figures serve only to illustrate the invention and the advantageous effects achieved with it, but are not intended to limit the invention. The scope of the invention arises solely from the following claims.

reference numeral

10 switching element

12 substrate

12 a first portion of the substrate 12th

12 b second subregion of the substrate 12

12c third portion of the substrate 12th

14, 14 'fold line

16 electrochromic display element

16 a first subelement of the display element 16

16b second sub-element of the display element 16th

18, 18 ', 18 "battery element

18a, 18'a, 18 "an anode element

18b, 18 ^* b, 18 "b cathode element

20 first trace

20a first end of the first conductor path 20

20b second end of the first conductor 20 20th

22 second trace

22 a first end of the second conductor track 22

22b second end of the second conductor track 22nd

24 third track

24a first end of the third track 24th

24b second end of the third track 24th

26, 26 'spacer element

28, 28 'opening / gap of the spacer element 26 or 26' , 30 'switching elements

fourth trace at the first end of the fourth trace 30a - 34g electrochromic display elements - 36g trace

a - 38g electrochemical voltage sources

customer

a first customer

b second customer

an anode layer

b cathode layer

Electrolyte layer first sealant layer

b second sealing layer

fifth interconnect sixth interconnect, 52 'interconnect lines

, 54 'supply conductors

Claims

claims

1st switching group (10) with:

a first substrate layer (12a) on which a first printed conductor (20) is formed, wherein the first printed conductor (20) is connected to an electrical consumer (16); a second substrate layer (12b) on which a second printed conductor (22) is formed, wherein the second printed conductor (22) is connected to an electrical voltage source (18a, 18b) and at least partially overlaps the first printed conductor (20);

a switching element (30, 30 ') having a spacer element (26, 26') which, in an open switch position of the switching element (30, 30 ') spatially and electrically separates the second conductor track (22) from the first conductor track (20);

wherein the spacer element (26, 26 ') is designed in such a way that the switching element (30, 30') changes into a closed switch position by exerting a compressive force on the first substrate layer (12a) and / or second substrate layer (12b), in which the second conductor track (22) touches the first conductor track (20).

2. Switching group according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element (26, 26 ') on the first conductor track (20) and / or on the second conductor track (22) rests.

3. Switching group according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer element (26, 26 ') is a ring element, in particular a circular ring element.

4. Switching group according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first conductor track (20) via a second switching element (30, 30 ') to the electrical load (16) is connected and / or the second conductor track (22) via a third switching element ( 30, 30 ') is connected to the electrical voltage source (18a, 18b), wherein the second switching element (30, 30') and / or the third switching element (30, 30 ') is preferably a switching element according to one of the preceding claims.

5. Switching group according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical load (16) at least partially on the first substrate layer (12a) is formed and / or the electrical voltage source (18a, 18b) at least partially on the second substrate layer (12b) is formed ,

6. Switching group according to one of the preceding claims with a plurality of electrical voltage sources (18, 18 ', 18 ") which are formed on the first substrate layer (12a) and / or on the second substrate layer (12b), wherein the plurality of electrical voltage sources (18 , 18 ', 18 ") via interconnects (52, 52') are interconnected, in particular in series.

7. Switching group according to claim 6 with at least three voltage sources (18, 18 ', 18 "), wherein in each case two voltage sources (18, 18', 18") by a conductor track (52, 52 ') are interconnected, wherein a first subset the conductor tracks (52, 52 ') are formed on the first substrate layer (12a) and a second subset of the conductor tracks (52, 52') is formed on the second substrate layer (12b).

8. Switching group according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electrical voltage source (18b) has a pickup (40b) which is formed on the second substrate layer (12b) and connected to the second conductor track (22), and a sealing layer (46b) wherein the sealing layer (46b) is preferably formed around the pickup (40b) on the second substrate layer (12b).

9. Switching group according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first substrate layer (12a) and the second substrate layer (12b) are portions of a contiguous folded substrate layer (12).

10. Method for forming a switching group with the following steps:

Forming a first conductive line (20) and an electrical load (16) on a first substrate layer (12a);

Forming a second conductive trace (22) and at least a portion (18b) of an electrical voltage source on a second substrate layer (12b);

Applying a spacer element (26, 26 ') to the first printed conductor (20) and / or second printed conductor (22); and Connecting at least a portion of the second substrate layer (12b) with at least a portion of the first substrate layer (12a) such that the second conductor track (22) at least partially overlaps the first conductor track (20) in the region of the spacer element (26, 26 ').

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first printed conductor (20) and / or the electrical load (16) are printed on the first substrate layer (12a) and / or in which the second printed conductor (20) and / or the electrical voltage source (18b) are printed on the second substrate layer (12b) and / or in which the spacer element (26, 26 ') is printed on the first printed conductor (20) and / or second printed conductor (22), the printing in each case preferably being a screen printing includes.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a first component (18a) of the electrical voltage source, which comprises a first electrode on the first substrate layer (12a) is formed, preferably printed, and a second component (18b) of the electrical Voltage source comprising a second electrode, on the second substrate layer (12 b) is formed, is preferably printed, wherein the second component (18 b) of the electrical voltage source with the second conductor (22) is connected and the second substrate layer (12 b) with the first substrate layer (12a) is connected such that the second component (18b) is at least partially brought into contact with the first component (18a).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of forming, preferably printing, a third trace (24) on the first substrate layer (12a) and electrically connecting the first component (18a) of the voltage source to the third trace (24) at one first end (24a) of said third trace (24) and electrically connecting said load (16) to said third trace (24) at a second end (24b) of said third trace (24) opposite said first end (24a).

The method of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first substrate layer (12a) and the second substrate layer (12b) are portions of a continuous substrate layer (12), wherein the bonding step at least partially Folding the second portion (12b) of the substrate layer (12) over the first portion (12a) of the substrate layer (12).

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein a first part (16a) of the electrical load (16) on the first substrate layer (12a) is formed and a second part (16b) of the electrical load (16) on the second Substrate layer (12b) is formed, wherein the step of connecting comprises connecting the first part (16a) of the electrical load (16) with the second part (16b) of the electrical load (16), preferably by at least partially folding the second portion (16). 12b) of the substrate layer (12) over the first portion (12a) of the substrate layer (12).

16. The method of claim 10, wherein forming at least a portion of the electrical voltage source on the second substrate layer comprises sealing a pickup connected to the second conductor track is with the second substrate layer (12b), wherein the sealing preferably takes place around the pickup (40b).

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16 with the following steps:

Forming at least one electrical voltage source (18a, 18b, 38a-38g) on the first (12a) and / or second (12b) substrate layer;

Forming a plurality of electrical loads (16; 34a-34g) on the first (12a) and / or second (12b) substrate layer;

Forming a plurality of printed conductors (20, 22, 24, 36a-36g) on the first (12a) and / or second (12b) substrate layers, the printed conductors (20, 22, 24, 36a-36g) forming the respective electrical loads (16; 34a-34g) to the electrical power source (18a, 18b, 38a-38g); and

selectively separating individual predetermined tracks (20, 22, 24, 36a - 36g).

18. A method of forming a circuit configuration, comprising the steps of:

Forming at least one electrical voltage source (18a, 18b, 38a-38g) on a substrate layer (12);

Forming a plurality of electrical loads (16; 34a-34g) on the substrate layer

(12); Forming a plurality of tracks (20, 22, 24; 36a - 36g) connecting the respective electrical loads (16; 34a - 34g) to the electrical power source (18a, 18b; 38a - 38g); and

selectively separating individual predetermined tracks (20, 22, 24, 36a - 36g).

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the separation of the conductor tracks (20, 22, 24, 36a-36g) by means of a laser, in particular by means of a solid-state laser, particularly preferably by means of a YAG laser occurs.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the plurality of electrical consumers individual components (34a - 34g) of an electrical display element, in particular an electrochromic display or an electroluminescent display form.