This document summarizes research on conformal electronics, which allows electronics to stretch, twist, and expand. Key points include: - Conformal electronics uses a stretchy mesh with electronic islands connected by springy bridges, which can be printed onto thin plastic to conform to surfaces. - This enables applications like digital health patches that seamlessly measure body activity with wireless sensing, processing, and data analysis on an ultrathin, comfortable skin patch. - Other applications discussed include sports and fitness trackers and smart balloon catheters for medical devices.

1. Wong Hin Kai A0098451
The Rise of
Xia Liang Zhou A0103269 Conformal Electronics
Thilani Abeysinghe A0082206
Chen Zhao A0098564 a shapely future for circuits
Qu Xian A0104376
Tay Gee San A0098527

2. conventional electronics are rigid and brittle
printed, flexible electronics lack performance
and reliability
high-performance electronics that can stretch, twist and expand

3. how do we make electronics thin
and conformable?
thin
means
flexible
but being flexible is not enough

4. build a stretchy mesh with
electronics on thin islands
connected by springy bridges
print mesh onto thin plastic which
holds the entire mesh together

5. build body-worn stickers which seamlessly measure our body activity
waterproof breathable
yet

6. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
core technology deployed to allow
conformal coupling to the human body
modular system with onboard sensing, all on an ultrathin patch that mounts
processing, power and communication onto the skin like a temporary tattoo

7. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
wireless
connectivity
continuous
seamless
data
sensing
analysis
informed user

8. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
high degree of
body conformance
rigid, brittle limited mobility
wearable digital monitor
comfortable,
almost
unnoticeable
high mobility
restricted movements
health wear

9. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
easy to apply
complex connections
wearable digital monitor
modular, diverse
substrates
proprietary textiles only
health wear

10. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
High
Skin Patch
Wearable
Digital Monitor
Health Wear
Low

11. sports & fitness
- short development cycle
- rapid uptake with high volumes
- short product cycle
Number of Physical Analysts, 2011-12 Season
number
18
of
analysts 16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ranking

12. sports & fitness
- short development cycle
- rapid uptake with high volumes
- short product cycle

13. sports & fitness
- short development cycle
- rapid uptake with high volumes
- short product cycle
tracks your every step
total distance, speed, height
but it is restricted to
monitor performance only

14. sports & fitness
- short development cycle
- rapid uptake with high volumes
- short product cycle
Real-Time Data Transmission
Seamless Sensing
Low Cost High Accuracy
High Mobility
• Stretchable, Durable
• Traditional Material
• Revolutionary Technology
Full Spectrum Monitoring

15. sports & fitness
- short development cycle
- rapid uptake with high volumes
- short product cycle
High
Conventional
Wrist Band
Skin Patch
Low

16. medical device
- long development cycle
- low volumes with high margins
smart balloon catheters
conventional
catheter
springy interconnects that can expand
several times of original length
stretchable ultrathin sensors embedded on surface of
polymer-electronic balloon provide direct sensory feedback
composites

17. medical device
- long development cycle
- low volumes with high margins
* Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
better understanding of
“what‟s happening at the far end of the catheter”
improves the placement of stents and artificial heart valves

18. medical device
- long development cycle
- low volumes with high margins
1 2
conventional
method
inefficient and
time-consuming
• second catheter to freeze tissue and kill cells causing
arrhythmia
• first catheter to identify and
map abnormal tissue
efficient catheter for
mapping and ablation

19. medical device
- long development cycle
- low volumes with high margins
conventional
method
passive, manually-activated, and
skills dependent
• largely „analog‟ systems
• subjective treatment
decisions
digital, and
intelligent system

20. medical device
- long development cycle
- low volumes with high margins
High
Conventional
Catheter
Smart Balloon
Catheter
Low

21. military device
- long development cycle
- low to moderate volumes with
high margins
directly integrated into
fabrics, helmets
high-efficiency gallium
arsenide PV cells
ultrathin, flexible and
stretchable solar
stamped on as a grid, with
metal islands millimetres
across rising up from the
substrate

22. military device
- long development cycle
- low to moderate volumes with
high margins
conventional solar
stretchable
lightweight
rigid, heavy, low mobility
portable solar
high efficiency
extreme mobility lower efficiency, not stretchable

23. military device
- long development cycle
- low to moderate volumes with
high margins
solar soldier – australia‟s vision
inconspicuous
hardy, durable
obvious, low concealment
feeble, fragile

24. military device
- long development cycle
- low to moderate volumes with
high margins
High
Stretchable
Solar
Conventional
Solar
Portable Solar
Low

25. Global Flexible Electronics Market *
2025
2016 US$B
2011
0 50 100 150 200 250
* Source: International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI)

26. digital health
- moderate development cycle
- high growth potential
- white space opportunity
% GDP
Rising Healthcare Needs 20
ascending healthcare expenses 10
• 20% of global GDP by 2020 0
2000 2010
limited professional resources 2020
• 1 physician, 2 nurses, and 2 hospital beds per
704 population in 2011
growing elderly population
• 1 in every 6 people > age 65 in 2025
– increasingly prone to numerous health risks
– shortage of funds
 US’ medicare hospital fund to bankrupt by 2024
– more demands on eldercare providers
 average of 3.1hrs per day spent on eldercare
activities by informal providers in the US

27. Component
Suppliers Manufacturers Scope of
Activities
Cash Flow
Partners
Retailers
Agents
OEM
Distributors
Venture Capital
Individuals Organizations Professionals
Design
R&D

28. - Revolutionary and Patented - Non-existing Complementary
Technology Assets
- Strategic Alliances with - Unestablished Sector
Established Brand Names Branding and Reputation
- Leveraging Existing Industries
- Favorable Market Conditions - Competitors / Imitators
- Limitless Applications; - Raw Materials Costs
Infinite Possibilities - Stringent Government
- Research Grants and Awards Regulations

29. reshaping electronics
will change your way of life