Researchers at the University of Southampton are partnering with Industrial Partner PragmatIC for developing design tool meant for introducing interactivity in everyday objects like smart packaging. The tool is supposed to expand potential use of flexible electronics to the mass market level.
PragmatIC specializes in creating FlexIC which are ultra-low cost flexible integrated circuits which thinner than human hair with potential to be embedded in everyday objects. The potential areas of adoption of the technology is in smart packaging capable of personalizing offer promotions as well as product information. Applications also include interactive toys with the ability to dynamically changing rules while playing and tracking moving pieces.
The UoS venture Sustainable Electronic Technologies Group is working on a new PDK for tailored use with industry standard tools making the technology available for development of future applications to a wider community of developers. The combined project known as Knowledge Transfer Partnership supported by InnovateUK will use existing design tools used for research and teaching in IC design. The group said that within the coming three years it will make a PDK prototype with applications such as cryptographic elements.
Printed electronics have shown great potential in smart packaging giving the producers to interactively communicate with customers. The advantage that printed electronics offers in the smart packaging is that it increase customer’s engagement with the product through the retail display while reinforcing the customer’s decision based on informed choices.
Printed circuitry have shown potential in reducing costs and overcoming technical constraints usually associated with mass manufacturing electronics. Printed electronics requires fewer input materials and lesser energy to work with them.
