How about an ink jet printer that can transform fabrics or plastics into computers?

That describes a new technology from Xerox that will let manufacturers print electronic semiconductors onto a wide variety of surfaces, including thin plastic film and fabrics, using silver-based inks. This new technology is inexpensive and requires only a lightweight printer, not very different from current photo printers.

The applications are numerous.  The most familiar one is direct printing of an RFID  (Radio Frequency Identification) tag on, for example, products in a store, without needing special tags, as is now the case. But the implications are much bigger.  They include:

• Creating ultra-thin video displays, for use in portable computing or for making inexpensive, large screens for advertising and entertainment. Imagine, for example, a full-size computer screen you could roll up into briefcase, than attach to your Blackberry or iPhone to make an instant on-the-road computer.
• Throwaway devices that give a warning of an expiration date or the need for a refill.
• A variety of toys that make use of  lightweight computing for sound and motion
• Devices that will quietly track and record the usage of equipment, allowing, for example, for improved resource allocation, maintenance scheduling or traffic management.

The key breakthrough in the new Xerox process is the ability to fuse the silver ink at low temperatures. While the mature silicon-based semiconductor industry is capable of much, it requires very expensive machines and absolute laboratory conditions.  By contrast, it is claimed, the silver ink technology does not require elaborate centralized lab environments, which will allow smaller players to get into the market and create very focused, even custom, electronics at an affordable price.

According to a Xerox spokesperson, “We will be able to print circuits in almost any size from smaller custom-sized circuits to larger formats such as wider rolls of plastic sheets — unheard of in today’s silicon-wafer industry.”

Tags: RFID, semiconductors, Xerox