This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project seeks to develop a force sensitive solution for touch applications that will overcome the technical shortcomings of currently available technologies. The design utilizes the sensitivity, size, and cost advantages of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in a novel configuration to prevent overloading of the sensor for large applied forces. The solution will enable truly force sensitive touch that is low cost and highly sensitive. It will be operable with any object, including fingernails, gloves, and styluses, while not being susceptible to environmental factors that hinder current capacitive technologies, such as dirt and moisture.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is pertinent to a wide array of applications, including force sensitive buttons for consumer electronics, automotive controls, and force sensitive displays for fixed and mobile devices. Two decades ago, touch technology was primarily found within ATMs and point-of-sale systems. More recently, the technology migrated to other electronic industry verticals, including one of the largest and certainly the fastest growing ? smartphones and tablet PCs. Consumer demand is driving an explosion of applications in every vertical. There is increasing demand for low cost, low power, more feature rich touch solutions. In addition, new user experience benefits such as force sensitivity are constantly being pursued, yet there is no viable solution yet on the market. Such a technology would be poised to capture significant market share from existing technologies in all of these relevant verticals.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project entitled "MEMS Force Sensor for Touch Surfaces" sought to develop a force sensitive solution for touch applications that overcame the technical shortcomings of currently available technologies. The sensor design leveraged the sensitivity, size, and cost advantages of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in a novel configuration to enhance durability of the sensor dramatically, making it uniquely applicable for human touch interfaces where device durability is paramount. The sensor technology developed as part of this SBIR project enables touch solutions that are operable with any object - including fingernails, gloves, and styluses - while not being susceptible to environmental factors that hinder current touch technologies such as dirt and moisture. The technology also enables a new third axis of touch - force - that will be very important for future touch-enabled applications like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and automotive touch zones. In developing this sensor technology during the course of the Phase I project, NextInput succeeded in designing not only the most durable (by 4x), but also the most sensitive (by 2x), and most cost effective (by 2x) force sensor solution suitable for consumer electronics on the market. The sensor design is a game-changer that will allow high-volume consumer electronics manufacturers to easily add force-sensitive touch to their products. The sensor design employs flip-chip technology – an efficient packaging technique that significantly reduces the size and cost of the solution. It achieves its durability by coupling a highly sensitive MEMS membrane design with a load bearing element that will allow the device to absorb significant forces before damage occurs without sacrificing its sensitivity within its designed functional range. NextInput has succeeded in prototyping and validating the ForceTouch sensor in the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN) cleanrooms at Georgia Tech, and is now ramping its newest designs into production with Asia Pacific Microsystems in Taiwan. In parallel with sensor development, NextInput has secured major customers in a variety of industries, including market leaders in the laptop, GPS device, automotive, industrial, and commercial sectors. Products are being developed for these customer applications, many of which will be ready to order when the first ForceTouch sensors hit the market in late 2014. NextInput has also solidified key partnerships with contract manufacturers who will deliver the complete components to NextInput’s customers when they are ready for market. Flextronics, the second largest contract manufacturer globally, is both a manufacturing partner and investor in NextInput, and continues to open up customer opportunities through its business channels. As a direct result of this Phase I SBIR award, NextInput is well-positioned to market a new sensor technology that is capable of making a direct and immediate impact on a number of very large markets. It continues to work with the NSF and expects to leverage more funding opportunities to help grow and expand, including a Phase II and Phase IIB related directly to the technology described.
