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FlexTech News
HP and Power Film Solar, Infinite Power Solutions, and Darmstadt University of Technology Receive FLEXI Awards at Flex Conference 2010
Feb 3, 2010
Significant Progress Noted in R&D, Products and Industry Eco-System
PHOENIX, ARIZ. , February 3, 2010—The FlexTech Alliance today announced recipients of the 2010 FLEXI Awards at the 9th annual Flexible Electronics & Displays Conference and Exhibition held February 2-4, 2010 in Phoenix, Ariz. The FLEXI Awards recognize significant accomplishments in R&D, product development, and leadership in education in the flexible, printed electronics and displays industries.
 In the R&D category, the team of HP (www.hp.com) and PowerFilm Solar (www.powerfilmsolar.com) received the FLEXI Award for the SAIL (self-aligned imprint lithography) process, whereby a 3D masking structure is molded on top of the full stack of unpatterned thin films required for the electronic backplane. The multiple patterns required to create the backplane are encoded in the different heights of the masking structure. By alternately etching the masking structure and the thin film stack, the multiple patterns required for the backplane are transferred to the device layers. Because the mask distorts with the substrate, perfect alignment is maintained regardless of process induced distortion. Imprint lithography is ideally suited for roll-to-roll implementation because of its high resolution, compatibility with flexible substrates, high throughput and ability to reproduce complex 3D structures.
 Infinite Power Solutions’ (www.infinitepowersolutions.com)
THINERGY™ MEC® (Micro-Energy Cell) products - revolutionary solid-state, rechargeable, energy storage solutions that serve a variety of vertical markets - won the FLEXI Award in the product development category. These ultra-thin MECs are flexible and provide unrivaled rechargeability, cycle life and power performance. Able to operate in temperatures ranging from -40ºC to +85ºC, IPS’ ultra-thin MECs offer extremely low self-discharge rates, low cell resistance and high power.
MECs are ideally suited for use with all forms of ambient energy harvesting techniques for recharging—such as solar, thermal, RF, magnetic and vibration energy—delivering a safe, reusable and clean power source for today’s electronic devices and systems.
Germany’s Darmstadt University of Technology (www.tu-darmstadt.de) received the FLEXI Award for developing the interdisciplinary program “Printed Electronics”, which addresses materials, conventional and digital printing technologies, electronic devices and circuit design at the advanced degree level. Dr. Stefan Dilfer and Dr. Thomas Hollstein were cited for developing the program, whose objective is to generate interest and excitement among students at the masters or Ph.D. level about the printed electronics industry. The academic program gives students the chance to direct their industrial internships into practical experience by working with companies in the area of printable electronics.
“The review committee received multiple nominations in each category, a testament to the innovation and strength that are building in the flexible, printed electronics industry,” noted Michael Ciesinski, FlexTech’s CEO, in presenting the 2010 awards. “International representation was especially strong this year, as were partnerships. It’s clear that the eco-system for this exciting industry is making substantial progress,” he added.
About the FlexTech Alliance
The FlexTech Alliance is the only organization headquartered in North America exclusively devoted to fostering the growth, profitability and success of the electronic display and the flexible, printed electronics supply chain. The FlexTech Alliance offers expanded collaboration between and among industry, academia, government, and research organizations for advancing displays and flexible, printed electronics from R&D to commercialization. To this end, the FlexTech Alliance, based in San Jose, Calif., will help foster development of the supply chain required to support a world-class, manufacturing capability for displays and flexible, printed electronics. More information about the FlexTech Alliance can be found at the industry portal: www.flextech.org.
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