Dec 04, 2012 
Leading designers of printed electronics collaborate on printed electronic demonstration give-a-way
On Dec 5-6, attendees to the Printed Electronics USA conference and exhibition in Santa Clara, CA, will receive their own origami printed electronic device. One of the compelling benefits of printed electronics is that electronics can be used in completely new and innovative form factors.
The demonstrator consists of printed circuits on traditional paper, which only become functional when the device is correctly folded - the design of the folded paper is part of enabling the functionality of the circuit. The innovative design utilizes conductive silver ink, printed batteries and traditional LEDs to create an interactive user experience in the form of an origami sail boat. The circuit will illuminate the boat's mast light and logo, and highlights the technology's growing use in the area of interactive packaging and printed media.
The image on left shows one side of the device.
The sample was built in collaboration with a number of partners, including Cal Poly, Blue Spark, NovaCentrix, Fujifilm Dimatix, Sappi Fine Paper, 3M, Esterline and IDTechEx.
All attendees will receive their sample at the Cal Poly booth, part of "Manufacturing Street." In addition, Manufacturing Street brings together organizations in the supply chain who will demonstrate a number of printing and process steps in interactive sessions throughout the event, printing functional inks and demonstrating how the sample was made.
The event also features "Demonstration Street", a large area dedicated to showing a full range of complete working products. Visitors will have the opportunity to closely examine samples, prototypes, and commercial products. These demonstrators, that incorporate printed electronic functionality, will help attendees envisage how printed electronics can be integrated into their own products, in addition to keeping your own very unique sample.
For more information and to register please see www.PrintedElectronicsUSA.com
About California Polytechnic State University
Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Department is a leader in print and graphics education in the US. With more than 60 years preparing talent for the field, Cal Poly State University continues to prepare students for industry as well as research new and innovative solutions for print-centric markets. Beginning in Fall 2013, Cal Poly will offer online graduate courses in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging. Focusing on printed electronics, active packaging, and security printing, this program will provide working professionals an opportunity to participate in meaningful, instructor lead education preparing them for advanced fields in printing. These courses will focus on printing technologies, manufacturing models, product development, and scaling from "lab to fab". http://www.grc.calpoly.edu.
About NovaCentrix
NovaCentrix, based in Austin, Texas, is a leader in printed electronics manufacturing technologies. The Company's PulseForge® photonic curing tools sinter functional inks in milliseconds on low-temperature, flexible substrates such as paper and plastic. NovaCentrix's tools process a wide array of metal-based conductive inks, as well as non-metallic and semiconductor inks. NovaCentrix also offers high-performance, economical Metalon® conductive inks which work optimally with PulseForge tools. To learn more, please visit www.novacentrix.com.
About FUJIFILM Dimatix
FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., the world's leading supplier of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads for industrial applications, is driving a revolution in production technology to support a new generation of products for printing, industrial product decoration and materials deposition. The company's innovative inkjet technology and world-class fabrication techniques enable OEMs, system integrators and manufacturers to build cutting-edge systems and manufacturing processes for high-performance, precision printing of traditional inks and deposition of functional fluids on all types of surfaces, including flexible substrates.
A wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, FUJIFILM Dimatix is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and maintains U.S. product development and manufacturing operations in California and New Hampshire. The company sells and supports its products worldwide through offices in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. For more information, visit www.dimatix.com
About Blue Spark Technologies
Blue Spark Technologies, Inc. is the leader in developing flexible, printed, "green," proprietary power source solutions for battery-powered printed electronic systems. The company was founded as Thin Battery Technologies in 2002 with patented technology and technical leadership from Energizer (Eveready Battery Company). Blue Spark customers include manufacturers, product designers, and integrators across multiple industries including: interactive packaging, RFID, pharmaceutical, powered smart cards, and novelty items. Users of products powered by Blue Spark batteries enjoy increased efficiency, greater convenience and portability, improved safety, lower manufacturing and assembly costs, higher profit margins, and greater environmental responsibility. For more information, visit www.bluesparktechnologies.com or call +1 440 249 5400.
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Printed Electronics USA is the World's largest event on printed electronics and related technologies. It covers the opportunities of the technology, with presentations from end users. The tradeshow features over 115 exhibiting companies. It is part of the global series of events including Printed Electronics Europe and Asia. See www.PrintedElectronicsUSA.com for more details. The event is hosted by IDTechEx. IDTechEx offers independent market research, business intelligence and advice on emerging technologies to companies across the value chain, supporting them in making essential strategic business decisions. www.IDTechEx.com
