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‘Understanding the Importance of Precision’
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DTI and MOD back electronic printed circuit research
The DTI is providing funding to Qinetiq of around £200,000 for an initial two-year research programme to develop materials and processes for printing complete electronic circuits with a view to applying the technology to large displays such as flat-screen TVs and advertising boards. The MOD, through its Electronics Systems' research budget, is additionally providing over £750,000 for a three-year project to investigate emerging technologies for printing electronic circuits.
QinetiQ will researching the potential for printing, including transistors, resistors and capacitors. For consumers the technology could help reduce the cost of many electronic products. In the defence field it could enable electronic functionality to be added to structural components of systems economically, with minimal increase in mechanical complexity or weight.
The research is based on using thin polymers instead of silicon as a semi-conductor, thus adding flexibility to the resulting circuits. The aim is to achieve reductions in manufacturing costs and shortening the time needed to complete the design, prototyping and production cycle.
The technology has a part to play in keeping down the overall weight or size of electronic systems, especially valuable in the defence sector. For the consumer market, the research could result in reductions in the size and cost of many electronic products and allow electronics to be added product packaging or even the products themselves.
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PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
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