Innovations
Printed electronics does not only produce single elements, but combinations of these elements to offer more complex functionality or standalone function.
You can learn more about this topic under “Prinovation”
The Technology
Prinovation
Conventional / Classical electronics starts with discrete electronic components/elements and builds via a complex assembly process electronic modules on PCBs
The PCBs are also produced in a separate production process as one layer, double layer or multi-layer PCB. The PCBs are used to carry the elements, to connect them and to realize crossings of conductive traces.
The term “Prinovation” is an artificial word built of printing and innovation. It stands for the ingenious know how for the usability and utility using the printing platform:
Connectors are printed together with the connectors; crossings are realized via the printing of the different layers.
The printing substitutes nearly all steps of the conventional electronic production: element production and the whole assembly process, the connections and the crossings.
The main advantages of Prinovation are:
- There are no additional complex assembly processes necessary
- No junctions, and therefore less potential failures
- All-printed ensures fast and cost effective processes
Printed Flexible Hybrid Technology
The performance of populated electronic elements, e.g. silicon chips, is incredibly high. Through a thorough critical analysis of polymer and material science subjected to a rigorous integration process, Printed electronics can achieve this level within the next years.
For many applications high functional complexity is required. It will force us to combine printed electronics with conventional elements, which provide the performance.
i4 Technologies offers a special approach to this hybrid technology:
- A printed module
- A silicon element (best case)
- A combination of a very simple interface. Simple in printing but also a simple process driven methodology of assembling.
i4 Technologies offers process routes for all three technologies to combine conductive printed paper, cardboard or PET substrates with silicon chips and SMD elements. Circuitry design, print design, prototyping, low and mid volume products can be supplied by i4 Technologies. Lab assembly and professional pick and place assembly can be done in the associate lab of i4.
Flexible Printed & Hybrid Electronics
Populated /conventional electronics offers multifarious solutions for all walks of life. Countless years of logical development led to the emergence of very dedicated players and a highly efficient production community globally.
Fast end cost effective production of passive matrix and active matrix elements and a highly complex assembly process lead to electronic products of all sophistication levels.
Mechanized and non-mechanized Printing is a very familiar technology. The development of printing throughout centuries led to half a dozen of mature printing technologies. Some of them are able to deliver far-fetched volumes, others offer utmost precision.
The Flexible Printed Electronics idea aims to combine both technologies: to merge the functional performance of electronics with the volume and cost advantages of printing.
It is obvious, that some compromise is necessary – at least at the beginning.
But in the meantime promising progress has occurred, showing that printed electronics will be one of the growth areas of both, the printing and the electronics area.
Many applications and functions are targeted and partly already realized:
For details click below.