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Participant

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: kortrijk - belgium - europe
Posts: 1

Electronic Conductivity on Irregular Shapes

12/12/2006 7:11 AM

It concerns conductive glass or glass with a conductive layer ( ITO). Everybody is working with rectangular and square designs, but I would like to start with irregular shapes. As I understood from the manufacturers, this will be a problem because of conductivity behavior (but i can hardly believe this...).

As I remember, current flux (displacement of current) onto the surface is equal per square mm (in the case of a wire, the current is flowing on the surface of the copper wire), but in the case of irregular designs on shaped glass the flow of current is not equal. So there might be a problem of energy (mW) for some leds which do not receive enough current (they will not shine as bright) because of there specific location.

Is this true? If yes, how can I determine this "current flux"? How can I visualize how this current behaves on an irregular surface?

For example:

Take the letter I (from Ingrid) and the letter M (from Maria)

When you put leds on the I, (which is a regular shape), in a regular design the leds will all shine bright with an equal brightness. When you put leds on the M, (which is an irregular shape), and you put the leds irregular dispersed on the surface the brightmess of all leds will be different.

Theoretically is this correct? They pretend this is the case in practice.

Looking forward receiving your comments.

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Guru

Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4513
Good Answers: 88
#1

Re: Electronic Conductivity on Irregular Shapes

12/13/2006 11:36 PM

There are Finite-Element Analysis (FEA) programs that can map both surface and volumetric conductivity for arbitrary 2D and 3D shapes, respectively, but most of them are expensive and can have a steep learning curve. If you're not so blessed, you'll have to map the conductivity yourself - manually - just like they did in the Bad Ol' Days.

But before you sink into abject despair, see if there are freeware or Open Source FEA programs available that do this sort of thing. Be aware, however, that many Open Source programs run under various flavors of Linux and its workalikes - and not under Windows. Don't think of this as a problem, necessarily, when it might very well be your golden opportunity to finally break free of Redmond's Yoke. Really, in a world without fences and walls, who needs Gates and Windows?

Check out Open Source sites for FEA apps. SourceForge is one. Various technical universities are another (surf MIT's websites, for instance). You'd be amazed not only at what's out there, but that much of it is high-quality stuff. But if you've just gotta stick with Windows, do yourself a favor and get a snorkel.

-e

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