Chapter 2 – Flexible Circuit Technology Past, Present and Future
By Joseph Fjelstad and Thomas Stearns

            While flexible circuits are often viewed as cutting edge technology, according to interconnection guru and technology historian, Dr. Ken Gilleo, their history extends back to the days of Edison. Chapter 2 describes the history of flexible circuits and provides a fascinating first-hand, pioneering account of the early days of the flex circuit industry by Thomas Stearns, a noted flex circuit engineer and co-inventor of the earliest rigid flex interconnection constructions.
From inception through development, flexible circuits have become a powerful presence and are now found in every imaginable type of product. The chapter also offers a snapshot overview of the current global market for flexible circuit technology, as well as some prospects and projections for the future.