Tempe, AZ and Palo Alto, CA (December 17, 2015) -The Flexible Electronics and Display Center (FEDC) at Arizona State University and PARC, a Xerox company, announced today that they have successfully manufactured the world's largest flexible X-ray detector prototypes using advanced thin film transistors (TFTs).
Measuring 10 diagonal inches, the device has been jointly developed at the FEDC and PARC in conjunction with the Army Research Lab (ARL) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The device will be used to advance the development of flexible X-ray detectors for use in thin, lightweight, conformable and highly rugged devices.
"This achievement is a fantastic example of how academia, industry and government can collaborate to advance key technologies and national priorities," said Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan, Senior Vice President for Knowledge Enterprise Development at ASU. "Flexible electronics hold tremendous potential to accelerate our global competitiveness in the area of advanced manufacturing by partnering with federal agencies and industry leaders."
The TFT and PIN diode processing was done on the 470 mm by 370 mm Gen II line at the FEDC. This device showcases the center's successful scale up to GEN II, and the ability to produce sensors and displays using TFTs in standard process flows with the center's proprietary bond/de-bond technology. These detectors are unique in that they showcase both of the flexible substrates the center uses to make devices. Some of the new detectors are on PEN (Polyethylene Naphthalate) and some are on polyimide.
"This success came from a rewarding collaboration that combines FEDC's flexible array fabrication technology and PARC's experience with digital x-ray systems," said Bob Street, PARC Senior Research Fellow.
The system design and integration was done at PARC. The flexible X-ray sensor was coupled to a tablet device for control and image viewing. This system shows PARC's capability to build user-defined prototype systems incorporating novel device physics, materials and technology. PARC has extensive experience in building large-area electronic systems, display and backplane prototypes, and organic and printed electronics.
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About Flexible Electronics and Display Center at Arizona State University
The FEDC is a government - industry - academia partnership that's advancing flexible display and sensor technology and fostering development of a manufacturing environment to support the rapidly growing market for flexible electronic devices. FEDC partners include many of the world's leading providers of advanced display technology, materials and process equipment. The FEDC is unique among the U.S. Army's university centers, having been formed through a cooperative agreement with Arizona State University in 2004. This adaptable agreement has enabled the FEDC to create and implement a proven collaborative partnership model with industry members, and to successfully deploy world class wafer-scale R&D and GEN-II display-scale pilot production lines for rapid flexible technology development and manufacturing supply chain commercialization. More information on the FEDC can be found at flexdisplay.asu.edu.
About PARC
PARC, a Xerox company, is in the Business of Breakthroughs®. Practicing open innovation, we provide custom R&D services, technology, expertise, best practices, and intellectual property to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, startups, and government agencies and partners. We create new business options, accelerate time to market, augment internal capabilities, and reduce risk for our clients. Since its inception, PARC has pioneered many technology platforms - from the Ethernet and laser printing to the GUI and ubiquitous computing - and has enabled the creation of many industries. Incorporated as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Xerox in 2002, PARC today continues the research that enables breakthroughs for our clients' businesses.
PR contact for FEDC
Judy Keane
judy.keane@asu.edu
(480) 965-3779
PR Contact for PARC
Kelly Brieger
kelly@kbpr.net