PCB origami : folding circuit boards into electronic products

PCB origami is a concept for an alternative manufacturing process of electronic products, in which the electronic material will be manufactured flat and folded into functional 3D graspable products by the user. PCBs will be used both as the functional electronic material and the structural material of the products. This thesis work explores the fabrication, design and interaction aspects of this concept, by demonstrating a series of case studies. The fabrication aspect was examined by creating a straightforward customization workflow of electronic products, and by developing a series of prototyping techniques for PCB lamination. The design aspect was researched through the creation of a new type of electronic products that can be completely flat when not in use, and can be folded once needed. The user interaction aspect of the PCB origami concept was studied in the contexts of foldable surfaces with embedded information on how to fold them and by demonstrating a foldable PCB product that is able to change its shape based on the desired task.

Department dc:contributor.department

Program in Media Arts and Sciences (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sterman, Yoav

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Neri Oxman.

• Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82435

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/82435