Flexible Hybrid Electronics and Printed Sensors for Healthcare and Logistics Applications

5:10 pm - 5:30 pm

Our research organization is developing Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) systems, which employ silicon-based LSI die for signal processing and wireless communication circuitry, and are integrated onto low-cost, flexible plastic film substrates. We have also developed printed pressure sensors based on ferroelectric polymers for detecting human vital signs such as pulse waves. Printed temperature sensors based on PEDOT:PSS, which possesses high sensitivity and excellent durability, have also been developed. We have developed and fabricated advanced biosensors and gas/ environmental sensors by employing an enzyme reaction to detect the disease-related target molecules. The silver interconnects, antennas, and sensors were printed on the flexible substrate by screen printing and dispensing, then integrated with several components, including a thin battery mounted on the same substrate. We have also successfully fabricated complex multilayer patterns with features of L/S=200 Âµm. The printed interconnects layer thickness and sheet resistance were about 15Âµm and about 20 mÎ©/â–¡, respectively. The Si-LSI and other components were mounted at 170ËšC for 2 min by using a low-temperature solder paste. Both Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols were employed for wireless communication. Our ultimate goal is to develop smart sensor systems that apply to healthcare, medical and logistics applications. A flexible E-paper display was combined on the same substrate for logistics applications to show the necessary information for delivery persons and consumers.

Speaker

Clay Shepherd

Professor Yamagata University

Clay Shepherd has devoted his professional career to the semiconductor device and flat-panel display and related manufacturing industries, in the process gathering diverse functional experience and making significant professional contributions to research, engineering, sales, marketing, product management, operations, and new technology development. He has worked since 2003 as an independent consultant in positioning, promoting, and supporting emerging as well as next-generation display and flexible electronics manufacturing technologies. Since 2011, he has worked as a part-time professor at Yamagata University’s Research Center for Organic Electronics (ROEL) in Japan. Clay earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. Clay is a specialist for over 20 years in the promotion of emerging and next-generation display and printed/ flexible electronics manufacturing technologies, including devices, processes, materials. He currently resides in Tokyo, Japan.