Collaborating For A Fundamental Improvement In Active Matrix Force Sensing (IDTechEx Sensors USA 2016)

We combined Sharp's IGZO TFT backplane technology with Peratech's QTC-based force-sensing technology and created a new type of active matrix sensor. We're sharing the result of our trials for the first time this session. Not only will you get a preview of what the sensor can do but you'll actively participate in a brainstorming session with all participants to develop new potential applications. Everyone will get a copy of the full results of the brainstorming session.

Dr. Tolis Voutsas is an expert on thin film electronics and monolithic/bilithic electronic system integration. Dr. Voutsas received his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1994 with a doctoral thesis on advanced poly-Si material and device technologies for active-matrix LCDs. That same year he joined SHARP Labs. Over the next 20 years he has participated in and led a wide variety of R&D projects across the whole spectrum of material, process, device, and system development for flat panel displays and sensor arrays. He has been responsible for several technology transfers to large-volume manufacturing and has led initiatives in the space of flexible and wearable electronics. In 2000 he received an M.S. degree in Management of Technology from Washington State University. He has authored over 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 3 book chapters, and has been awarded over 100 US patents. Dr. Voutsas currently serves as a Director at SHARP Labs with main responsibility the development of new business opportunities, through leveraging existing technology assets and competencies and supplementing them through external partnerships.

SHARP Laboratories of America (SLA) is the U.S. research and development (R&D) subsidiary for Sharp Corporation of Japan. SLA was founded in 1995 to speed introduction into Sharp of the revolutionary digital media technologies then taking root in the U.S. Current SLA focus areas strike a balance between traditional and emerging Sharp business areas, including: Video & Vision, Mobile Communications, Cloud & Business Solutions, Health & Environment, Energy, and Materials & Devices. SLA is the only Sharp R&D organization outside of Japan with significant capabilities in both software development and cleanroom-based device design and fabrication. SLA exploits its U.S. market and cultural insight, creating partnerships with university, industry, and government organizations and leveraging an innovation-centric work culture to drive business growth for Sharp Corporation. SLA has a proud history of important contributions to Sharp's business results. For example, SLA developed the industry-leading architecture on Sharp office products worldwide, created video processing technologies at the heart of Sharp televisions, deployed Sharp's first internet-connected television service, created software functionality for Sharp U.S. and global smartphone models, and performed early research on key device technologies such as aluminum metallization and inorganic oxide transistors. Our current projects build on these accomplishments, in some cases taking them in completely new and unexpected directions.