Smartkem, which is seeking to change the world of electronics using its disruptive organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), has signed a multi-year agreement with FlexiIC, a company providing innovation in the design of flexible integrated circuits and systems, to begin a new project to develop a new generation of CMOS for smart sensors.
The goal of the two-year project is the development of custom circuitry using Smartkem's organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) technology and n-type oxide TFT to make low-power CMOS-enabled sensor devices.
FlexiIC Smartkem's technology
The devices are expected to incorporate mixed-signal and digital IPs, such as RISC-V cores
The devices are expected to incorporate mixed-signal and digital IPs, such as RISC-V cores (a circuit type that uses an open-source instruction set), as well as utilizing machine learning (ML), a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that allows machines to learn and improve from data without being explicitly programmed, to improve the processing of signals.
Smartkem Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ian Jenks commented, "This project with FlexiIC furthers Smartkem's technology for potential use in the field of large area, low power consumption electronics suitable for the internet-of-things (IoT), a market which is expected to grow to approximately $4,062.34 billion by 2032, a CAGR or 24.3% from 2024."
New areas of flexible electronics
Ian Jenks added: "The use of CMOS architecture in this application is significant as it consumes much less power, has better noise margins, generates less heat and has enhanced scalability compared to alternative PMOS architectures."
He continues, "We are excited to be involved in this ambitious project and, if successful, we believe that this project will demonstrate the utility of Smartkem's technology in next-generation biosensors, force sensors, optical sensors, chemical sensors, item level tracking, and other new areas of flexible electronics."
Robust amplification and transmission capabilities
FlexiIC Co-CEO - Dr. Eloi Ramon stated, "Our innovative sensor acquisition platform offers affordability, adaptability, and eco-friendliness, empowering diverse sensor applications with robust amplification and transmission capabilities to mitigate noise interferences effectively. The partnership in this project with Smartkem to provide custom circuits in foil with low power and a rapid turnaround from design through fabrication is vital to the success of the system in foil devices."
The project commencement is subject to receipt of the approval of grant funding by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI), a Spanish public entity under the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
