Adding pressure to a human-machine-interface (HMI) touch control can make it far more intuitive to use and allow it to recognize much more than simply “on” and “off.” With this new 3D information, a touch interface would recognize the difference between a touch and a tap. Adding a hard press, a light press, or a midway-between press to a touch interface means no more false activations. No more pocket dialing from your smartphone, if you will. And this is all achievable with quantum-tunnelling-composite (QTC) printed sensors.
QTC is a printable material that’s composed of conductive nanoparticles embedded in a polymer. QTC materials change resistance depending on variations in applied force, and could mean the end of fumbling with and swearing at your phone, oven, car console…the possibilities are endless.
What follows are a few myths regarding QTC printed sensors, and the real story behind each.
1. Printed sensors only work on solid surfaces.
QTC can be applied as a printable ink under almost any material that can translate force, whether the material is solid or flexible—materials such as glass, leather, wood, plastic, rubber, and metals. You can also consider the use of wood veneers, flexible OLEDs, and quantum-dot displays.