ISORG and Plastic Logic have co-developed the first conformable organic image sensor on plastic, with the potential to revolutionize weight/power tradeoffs and optical design parameters for any systems with a digital imaging element.
The collaboration is based on the deposition of organic printed photodetectors, pioneered by ISORG, onto a plastic organic thin-film transistor, developed by the technology leader, Plastic Logic, to create a flexible sensor with a 4 by 4 cm active area, 375 µm pitch (175 µm pixel size with 200 µm spacing), and 94 by 95 = 8,930 pixel resolution.
The backplane design, production process, and materials were optimized for the application by Plastic Logic to meet ISORG's requirements. The result—a flexible, transmissive backplane—represents a significant breakthrough in the manufacture of new large-area image sensors and demonstrates the potential use of Plastic Logic's unique flexible transistor technology to also move beyond plastic displays. Combined with ISORG's unique organic photodetector technology, it opens up the possibilities for a range of new applications, based around digital image sensing, including smart packaging and sensors for medical equipment and biomedical diagnostics, security and mobile commerce (user identification by fingerprint scanning), environmental, industrial, scanning surfaces, and 3D interactive user interfaces for consumer electronics (e.g., printers, smartphones, and tablets).
ISORG's CEO, Jean-Yves Gomez stated: "We are extremely pleased to showcase our disruptive photodiode technology in a concrete application for imaging sensing. The ability to create conformal and large-area image sensors, which are also thinner, lighter, and more robust and portable than current equipment is of increasing importance, especially in the medical, industrial, and security control sectors."
Indro Mukerjee, CEO Plastic Logic said: "I am delighted that Plastic Logic can now demonstrate the far-reaching potential of the underlying technology. Our ability to create flexible, transmissive backplanes has led us not only to co-develop a flexible image sensor, but is also key to flexible OLED displays as well as unbreakable LCDs."
About ISORG
ISORG is a leading and pioneer company in organic photodetectors and large-area image sensors in printed electronics. ISORG develops a disruptive technology, transforming plastic and glass into smart surfaces able to see. These new sensors are conformable, thin, and lightweight, with low current consumption, offering unique advantages over traditional image sensors in terms of sensing area, cost per area ratio, and mechanical integration. These sensors enable creation of many innovative products, such interactive surfaces for object detection and recognition, large-area scanning surfaces, and revolutionary user interfaces for consumer products. ISORG technology opens innovation for medical, industry, and consumer markets.
ISORG has industrialized the process with its pilot manufacturing line in Grenoble and plans mass production volumes for end 2014, with its manufacturing unit in Grenoble area. Companies interested in working together with ISORG should contact [email protected].
About Plastic Logic
Plastic Logic is the recognized leader in organic thin-film transistors and has been at the forefront of research and investment into plastic electronics since the company was founded by researchers from the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University. The company has industrialized the process and now manufactures high-quality flexible plastic displays (color and monochrome) of various sizes. These unbreakable daylight readable displays are conformal, thin, and lightweight, with low battery consumption, offering huge advantages over conventional screens as they are extremely flexible with proven lifetimes of over five years and more than 10 million page updates. Flexible, bendable displays enable revolutionary design possibilities and are set to transform existing markets, such as signage, wristwatches and wearable devices, automotive, and many others. Plastic Logic is backed by major investors, including Oak Investment Partners and Rusnano.