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A large-area wireless power-transmission sheet using printed organic transistors and plastic MEMS switches

Nature Materials volume 6, pages 413–417 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The electronics fields face serious problems associated with electric power; these include the development of ecologically friendly power-generation systems and ultralow-power-consuming circuits. Moreover, there is a demand for developing new power-transmission methods in the imminent era of ambient electronics, in which a multitude of electronic devices such as sensor networks will be used in our daily life to enhance security, safety and convenience. We constructed a sheet-type wireless power-transmission system by using state-of-the-art printing technologies using advanced electronic functional inks. This became possible owing to recent progress in organic semiconductor technologies; the diversity of chemical syntheses and processes on organic materials has led to a new class of organic semiconductors, dielectric layers and metals with excellent electronic functionalities1,2,3,4,5. The new system directly drives electronic devices by transmitting power of the order of tens of watts without connectors, thereby providing an easy-to-use and reliable power source. As all of the components are manufactured on plastic films, it is easy to place the wireless power-transmission sheet over desks, floors, walls and any other location imaginable.

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Figure 1: Configuration of the wireless power-transmission system and its components.
Figure 2: Diagram of circuit waveforms and characteristics of the contactless position-sensing system.
Figure 3: Characteristics of the wireless power-transmission system.
Figure 4: Demonstration of power transmission.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by Special Coordination Funds for Promoting and Technology, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and JST/CREST. We also thank Kyocera Chemical Cooperation for providing high-purity polyimide precursors (KEMITITE CT4112), Daisankasei for a high-purity parylene (diX-SR) and H. Kawaguchi and K. Hizu for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Yoshiaki Noguchi, Shintaro Nakano, Yusaku Kato & Takao Someya

  2. VLSI Design and Education Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan

    Makoto Takamiya

  3. Center for Collaborative Research, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan

    Takayasu Sakurai

Authors
  1. Tsuyoshi Sekitani
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  2. Makoto Takamiya
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  5. Yusaku Kato
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  6. Takayasu Sakurai
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  7. Takao Someya
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Correspondence to Takao Someya.

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Sekitani, T., Takamiya, M., Noguchi, Y. et al. A large-area wireless power-transmission sheet using printed organic transistors and plastic MEMS switches. Nature Mater 6, 413–417 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1903

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