Flex Circuit Technology
History of
Flexible Circuits
From Albert Hansen’s 1903 patent and Thomas Edison’s notebooks to today’s omnipresent flex circuits — over a century of flexible circuit innovation.
A Century of Innovation
History of Flexible Circuit Technology
From patent filings at the turn of the 20th century to today’s omnipresent flex circuits.
Hansen's Patent — The First Flex Circuit
Albert Hansen files an English patent describing flat metal conductors on paraffin-coated paper — the earliest documented description of what we now recognize as a flexible circuit. Thomas Edison's lab books from the same period show similar thinking.
Printed Circuit Techniques Published
Cledo Brunetti and Roger W. Curtis publish 'Printed Circuit Techniques' (National Bureau of Standards Circular 468), including discussion of circuits on flexible insulating materials — establishing the concept formally in scientific literature.
Sanders Associates — Commercial Development
Victor Dahlgren and Royden Sanders at Sanders Associates (Nashua, NH) develop and patent processes for printing and etching flat conductors on flexible substrates to replace wire harnesses. The first serious commercial flex circuit development.
Military Adoption
Rigid-flex circuits gain widespread adoption among military and defense product designers. Ability to package complex interconnections in tight, vibration-resistant, connector-free assemblies makes flex ideal for aerospace and defense.
KAPTON and Consumer Electronics
KAPTON polyimide from DuPont becomes the dominant flex substrate. Consumer electronics manufacturers adopt flex circuits for thinner, lighter products. Compaq uses rigid-flex in laptop hinges — passing tens of thousands of flex cycles during qualification.
Smartphone Revolution
The proliferation of smartphones drives massive growth in flex circuit demand. Space and weight savings make flex circuits essential for the mobile era.
Universal Adoption
Rigid-flex in consumer laptops becomes commonplace. Flex circuits appear in virtually every electronic product category — from medical implants to automotive safety systems to wearable devices.
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