Pressure-Mapping System Simplifies LCD/Flat-Panel Development

Dec. 18, 2003

The Tactilus electronic tactile-force and pressure-indicating sensing system helps designers develop and test LCDs and flat-panel displays. Produced by Sensor Products, it handles any application where pressure lies between 0.007 kg/cm² and 141 kg/cm² (0.1 to 2000 psi). Designers can monitor precisely how force is distributed between any two contacting, impacting, or mating surfaces in real time.

The system determines precise pressure distribution points between a pc-board assembly and an LCD panel at the point of bonding. It also can be used to clearly detect inconsistencies in resistor thickness across large-area substrates in the manufacture of hybrid circuits.

Additionally, Tactilus boosts performance analysis between a heatsink (transistor) and heat source. Designers can balance the tradeoff between greater thermal conductivity (more tension at the interface) and substrate cracking due to over-bonding of the LCD and its companion pc-board assembly.

The Windows-based system consists of an electronic sensor element "skin," an interface controller, and software. The 10-mil thick sensing elements, which can be spaced up to 1 mm (0.04 in.) apart, collects data up to 60,000 times/s. The system can be used over flat and curved surfaces.

Tactilus is precalibrated and requires no user training. Requirements include a Windows 95 or higher operating system, 16 Mbytes of free disk space, and 64 Mbytes of RAM. The basic system price starts at $13,000.

Sensor Products Inc.www.sensorprod.com (973) 884-1755

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.