David Savastano, Editor01.31.18
The ability to communicate with consumers is not necessarily through visual keys alone. Audio capabilities are also an excellent approach. However, the development of cost-effective, mass producible, truly thin speakers has yet to take off.
PARC, a Xerox Company, may have the key to unlocking this technology. In conjunction with FlexTech, a SEMI Strategic Association Partner, PARC researchers are working on a one-year project developing paper-like smart tags printed flexible audio speakers that could be used for smart tags, wearables and much more.
Under the project, PARC will use inkjet printing for the prototypes, which would be produced on plastic sheets by printing the active materials and silver ink conductive traces.. PARC will also create a process for bonding chips, as well as printing active and passive components and interconnects necessary to drive the speakers.
Dr. Bob Street, senior research fellow and project technical lead at PARC, said that when FlexTech put out a call for projects, printed audio speakers came immediately to mind.
PARC, a Xerox Company, may have the key to unlocking this technology. In conjunction with FlexTech, a SEMI Strategic Association Partner, PARC researchers are working on a one-year project developing paper-like smart tags printed flexible audio speakers that could be used for smart tags, wearables and much more.
Under the project, PARC will use inkjet printing for the prototypes, which would be produced on plastic sheets by printing the active materials and silver ink conductive traces.. PARC will also create a process for bonding chips, as well as printing active and passive components and interconnects necessary to drive the speakers.
Dr. Bob Street, senior research fellow and project technical lead at PARC, said that when FlexTech put out a call for projects, printed audio speakers came immediately to mind.
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