Thinfilm, PARC collaborate on printed memory
Posted: 18 Oct 2010
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Thinfilm Film Electronics ASA is working with Xerox subsidiary Palo Alto Research Center Inc. (PARC) to develop memory technology enabled through printed electronics.
Thinfilm has been commercializing ferroelectric polymer printed, rewritable memory for toys, games and other applications. It is developing contact-based memory arrays for higher-capacity applications.
Combining PARC's printed thin-film transistor technology with its memory is part of the development of integrated systems following Thinfilm’s product roadmap.
PARC specializes in designing full-featured systems customized for clients' applications. Such systems will benefit from Thinfilm's non-volatile ferroelectric polymer memory technology because power consumption is negligible and no connection to external power is required to retain information.
Target markets for Thinfilm memory products include RFID tags, sensor tags and disposable price labels. NFC-enabled phones will soon put RFID readers directly in millions of people's pockets, purses, and backpacks. Meanwhile, major companies are targeting RF for location tags, advertising, smart packaging, and other consumer-based applications.
"By working closely with PARC to couple our memory products with their transistor technology and printed electronics capabilities, we will enable compact, 128-bit, fully printed memory systems," said Davor Sutija, CEO, Thinfilm. "Several of the world's large toy manufacturers are already designing concepts including this type of memory because of its unique design, form factor, and cost advantages. In addition to our products for card-based games and toys, we are adding resources to support the development of printed ID and sensor tags."
"When you consider the trajectory of emerging technologies, printed electronics is just coming down from its hype cycle and entering the realization phase. So now is the time for companies to look seriously at what's possible in this burgeoning market," said Mark Bernstein, CEO, PARC.
- Peter Clarke
EE Times |
