Finished Projects
Project
pmTUC has developed a technology which allows the manufacturing of loudspeakers solely by means of conventional mass printing technologies on flexible substrates like foil or even paper. More precisely, we are talking about printed piezoelectric loudspeakers, i.e. a piezoelectric crystal transfers an applied AC voltage to a mechanical deformation and a vibration of the whole substrate. If the frequency of the AC signal is in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, audible sound is generated. In our case a piezoelectric polymer is sandwiched between two organic electrodes, i.e. we have truly fully plastic speakers without magnets. All layers can be printed step by step on a substrate but thanks to new developments during the last three years, we are now able to integrate all electronic layers within a special paper – the tone paper – or shorter T-paper – was born making it possible to print on both sides of the paper color pictures or whatever you are used to print (or write) on paper. The printed electronics part keeps hidden and invisible. At the starting point of this project, the realisation of the T-paper is based on a semi-automatic sheetfed process with low efficiency and throughput. However, first applications could be successfully demonstrated like the T-book in 2015 – a unique photo book with speaking images.
Now, main aim of the VIP+ project T-paper is to transfer the inefficient sheetfed manufacturing to a high-throughput roll-to-roll pilot line at one of pmTUC’s R2R printing presses. This includes the development and validation of a stable R2R printing process of all functional layers, the inline polarisation of the piezoelectric material but also post-press technologies like lamination and folding.
Goal
- Roll to roll manufacturing of piezoelectric loudspeaker paper
- Validation of the manufacturing process
- Demonstration of different T-PAPER prototypes
Prototypes available
- T-BOOK 2 with fully integrated loudspeaker pages into a hardcover book including power supply with rechargeable batteries as well as sensors detecting open pages
- T-RING – a surround-sound installation with seven 100V ELA-amplifiers and color print (4 m loudspeaker web)
- T-POSTER in SRA3 size with or without pressure sensor
- T-WEB – a paper based loudspeaker web for homogenous sound along of 4 m length
Contact
Institute for Print and Media Technology
Email: pminfo@…
Project
Printexray project aims to create a novel pressure sensor on textile. The textile based nanocomposite sensors have advantages for many applications, especially for medical purposes or wearables thanks to their high flexibility, bend fracture resistance, costs efficiency and at the same time high sensitivity. The sensors are manufactured by polymeric CNTs dispersion applied on textile substrate using screen printing.
Because of using printing technologies the sensor size is scalable and the manufacturing is cost efficient. The printing method allows to produce sensors for large area applications.
Due to the novel weaving and stitching methods the electrical conductive yarns stay highly flexible and resistant to bend fracture. It allows a more sustainable use of sensors in the future potential applications. Stitched conductive yarns are more robust during the cleaning and provide longevity to the future applications.
Potential applications
- Sensing mattresses for clinics and homecare
- Medical and technical (smart) clothing
- Industrial and automotive applications
- Building automation for energy consumption optimization
Partners
- Professur für Mess- und Sensortechnik, TU Chemnitz, Germany
- Textilforschungsinstitut Thüringen-Vogtland e.V. – TITV Greiz, Germany
Contact
Institute for Print and Media Technology
Email: pminfo@…
Project
SPS3D Project develops adaptive measurement sensor technology for spectral surface inspection in 3D objects. The inspection of spectral properties of surfaces (spectral colour measurement technology) will become an important step in almost all production areas. To provide an excellent research, SPS3D brings together Institute for Print and Media Technology and companies active in the areas of sensor technology, photonics, ink manufacturing and industrial inspection.
The new sensor concept is based on a CMOS-based 12-line sensor which is capable of recording 12-channel pixel-by-pixel image data. The three-dimensional image data is created by dividing the rows into a left and right field of view. After that a stereoscopic procedures can be used. Such a sensor will be provided with application-specific filter functions. As a result a hybrid three-dimensional / spectral sensor will be created.
Goal
The project aims to develop a new generation of measurement sensors. Each of 15,000 pixels of a sensor will be equipped with an application-specific filter in order to achieve any spectral sensitivity. The new sensor technology will allow spectral colour measurements on three-dimensional surfaces in industrial applications with significantly reduced colour measurement errors and high inspection speed.
Potential applications
- 3D/spectral sensor measurment system for industrial inspections
Partners
- Chromasens GmbH, Germany
- ficonTEC Service GmbH, Germany
- Innovative Ink GmbH, Germany
- Baumer Inspection GmbH, Germany
Contact
Institute for Print and Media Technology
Email: pminfo@…