Telecommunications and Data Processing in Flexible Electronic Systems

Despite significant progress in the field of wearables and flexible electronics, there are hardly any reports describing the overall implementation of these systems, from the design of electrical interconnects and substrates to the choice of electronic components. Researchers working on materials for flexible electronics are sometimes disconnected from those designing the electronic circuits for such applications. Herein, an overview of the essential design requirements for flexible electronics is presented. It includes discussions regarding communication protocols, design and implementation of electrical interconnects, choice and fabrication of substrates, and choice of electronic components for flexible systems. The functionalities of these electronic components are comprehensively discussed with consideration of the energy budget, in terms of power consumption, also presented. Additionally, the components of power generation and storage are explored with respect to their market accessibility. The field of wearable electronics is highly interdisciplinary and such information is essential for eventual standardization of the field.