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 Purdue engineers developed a simple printing process
that renders any paper or cardboard packaging into a keyboard,
keypad or other easy-to-use human-machine interfaces. This
technology is published in the Aug. 23 edition of Nano Energy.
Videos showing this technology are available at
https://youtu.be/TfA0d8IpjWU,
https://youtu.be/J0iCxjicJIQ
and
https://youtu.be/c9E6vXYtIw0.
“This is the first time a self-powered paper-based electronic device
is demonstrated,” said Ramses Martinez, an assistant professor in
Purdue’s School of Industrial Engineering and in the Weldon School
of Biomedical Engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering. “We
developed a method to render paper repellent to water, oil and dust
by coating it with highly fluorinated molecules. This omniphobic
coating allows us to print multiple layers of circuits onto paper
without getting the ink to smear from one layer to the next one.”
Martinez said this innovation facilitates the fabrication of
vertical pressure sensors that do not require any external battery,
since they harvest the energy from their contact with the user.
This technology is compatible with conventional large-scale printing
processes and could easily be implemented to rapidly convert
conventional cardboard packaging or paper into smart packaging or a
smart human-machine interface.
“I envision this technology to facilitate the user interaction with
food packaging, to verify if the food is safe to be consumed, or
enabling users to sign the package that arrives at home by dragging
their finger over the box to properly identify themselves as the
owner of the package,” Martinez said. “Additionally, our group
demonstrated that simple paper sheets from a notebook can be
transformed into music player interfaces for users to choose songs,
play them and change their volume.”
Martinez and his team have worked with the Purdue
Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent
some of his technologies related to robots and other design
innovations. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation,
contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at
otcip@prf.org.
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About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology
Commercialization
The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates
one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading
research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the
economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the
university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and
protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office recently moved into the
Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District,
adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2020, the office reported 148
deals finalized with 225 technologies signed, 408 disclosures received and 180
issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation,
which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award
for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020,
IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in
the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit
foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org
for more information.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical
solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative
University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers
world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on
and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to
all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and
most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate
debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next
giant leap at purdue.edu.
[Writer: Chris Adam
Sources: Ramses V. Martinez,
Marina Sala de Medeiros]
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