A printed screen.

The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) is driven by embedding electronic functionality into all types of objects and environments. The key technological enablers of the IoT are enhancements in cloud computing infrastructure, wireless communications, microelectronics, and notably low power electronics. A key concern for realising a full blown vision of the IoT is how this can all be done profitably and sustainably. Conventional electronic components, their production processes and material sets are not suited for realising this vision.

Printed electronics is a technology field that uses new materials, with electronic properties, that are processable into inks and can be printed into thin layers (using conventional print house equipment) onto flexible materials, such as plastic and paper.

ynvisible’s proprietary electrochromic displays (depicted above) are printable on plastic or paper and can be the face of every smart label. ynvisible’s displays use almost no power. They don’t require recharging or battery replacement. They are ultra low weight, microscopically thin, flexible, transparent, yet robust. When combined with various sensors (e.g. movement, touch, temperature or proximity) they bring functionality and life to smart products. Based on a printed multi-layer architecture, ynvisible’s displays can be combined with inks and electronics into integrated systems, to provide total solutions for global brands.

The main advantage of recent developments in printed electronics are:

i) the availability of new more environmentally friendly material sets for producing electronic-type functionality on anything printable,

ii) the ability to establish high volume production with low capital expenses compared to conventional electronics production,

iii) and widely expanded range of tools and possibilities for low power consuming IoT product design.