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Printing Electronics:
World's first flexible multi-functional timer

A consortium of partners is launching the world's first flexible timer based on printed electronics at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics Europe event in Berlin this week (April 1-2). The device consists of an electronic logic circuit implemented with thin film metal oxide transistors, powered by a printed battery, and integrated onto a paper substrate. It has four timing sequences and is designed for multi-functional use across four different applications.

Led by IDTechEx (a research and event group), partners include consumer goods company Procter & Gamble, printed logic company PragmatIC, printed battery supplier Blue Spark Technologies, conductive ink and photonic curing equipment supplier NovaCentrix, and Cal Poly, who designed and printed on the paper substrate.

Raghu Das, CEO of technology scouting and events firm IDTechEx, says, "We set out to create an integrated, fully functional device that has strong value and need. Involving end-user P&G provided valuable insight into consumer requirements, which resulted in specifying and delivering the world's first flexible multi-use timer based on commercially available printed electronics. A timer is one of the basic building blocks that will enable many different products in a modular approach. To reflect that, timers were created for different applications to demonstrate the wide applicability of the device."

Four different application sets were created: a workout timer, a cooking timer, a meeting timer, and a children's activity timer. Each has four individually controlled timing options, activated by bending or "dog-earing" one of the corners of the paper substrate.

Although the device may not look like the typical timer you have in mind, the initial production demonstrates how new applications of electronics in novel form factors can be enabled by printed electronics. Follow-on manufacturing is already planned for later this year, including enhancements to the functionality and even greater integration of the printed electronics.

Conference attendees to Printed Electronics Europe in Berlin (www.IDTechEx.com/PEeurope) will have the chance to receive the timer on a first-come, first-serve basis after visiting the companies involved in the project in the tradeshow.

The conference and tradeshow aims to bring together end-users with suppliers -- where "pull" and "push" balance -- to provide attendees with some critical insight into the driving needs for the technology, in addition to appraisal of all the key enabling materials, components, and manufacturing processes. Leading end-users exploring printed electronics, such as Hasbro, Diageo, Electrolux, Boeing, De La Rue, Abbott Diagnostics, Decathlon, and Stora Enso, will present their needs and programs.

Source: IDTechEx

Published April 2014

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