Embedded Webblog

As I discuss in an upcoming EDN article, emerging printed electronics technology promises extremely low cost, flexible, and disposable circuitry that can be manufactured with custom inkjet printers or high speed presses. Designers use multilayer ink formulations to turn basic elements like thin film transistors, resistors, inductors, and capacitors into low density circuits that can be printed along with the product packaging. The key to many of these printed electronics applications is a reliable source of power integral to the product. The obvious solution is a printed battery that sits idle until the application is activated. Power Paper of Israel has developed such a power source that requires no metal case and can be printed onto most flexible materials. With a shelf-life of about three years, the batteries are composed of proprietary printed layers of zinc and manganese-dioxide to create the anode and cathode. In addition to outside licensing, Power Paper uses their batteries to power micro-electrical pharmaceutical and cosmetic patches to enhance the delivery of active ingredients to the skin. The patches are designed for treatment of conditions such as skin damage, aging, wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and photo-damage. Although the printed electronics concept has been around for years, new ink technologies and innovative thinking promise to deliver a flood of new markets and application areas.