TRACXON B.V., Netherlands
The purpose of this demonstrator is to showcase high-density semi-transparent display functionality for automotive smart glazing applications. TracXon has developed an all-printed multi-layered backplane on a thin, transparent PET foil, on which a large number of miniLED components are assembled using conductive adhesive at a high density, to serve as „display clusters“ in the automotive front- and rear-windshields, as well as in the side glazing.
This level of complexity (100‘s of printed signal lines that are 40 µm wide, 100‘s of printed power lines that are 150 µm wide, separated by a 2-layered dielectric print) has seldom been demonstrated in printed electronics. On top of this, >25k miniLEDs of 200 µm x 100 µm have been assembled, making this one of the most complex hybrid printed electronics prototypes ever shown to function properly. The entire stack is <0.5 mm thick, which makes this prototype suitable for glass integration.
The primary impact of this prototype will be to enable display clusters in any/multiple locations in automotive glazing, thereby enabling each of the occupant to have his/her own information displayed, while at the same time not obstructing the outside view.
Functionality
This demonstrator is a typical passive matrix monochrome display in which each pixel is controlled using a grid of vertical and horizontal conductive lines (electrodes). The pixels (miniLEDs) are located at the intersections of these rows and columns, and when a voltage is applied, the miniLED pixel at the corresponding intersection is activated and lights up (please see photo & schematic). The column electrodes are signal lines that are very thin (40 µm wide) and the row electrodes are power lines that are relatively wider (150 µm wide). This combination enables semi-transparency even in the display area, so that the occupants in a car can see the outside world.
Benefits of the project
- Display that merges form and function: TracXon‘s prototype converts a car glass into multiple displays.
- Highly enhanced user-experience, thereby offering a high differentiation for brands that adopt this technology.
- Makes simultaneous warnings to the driver possible: one display section can display, e.g., „slippery road“, while another section can display, e.g., „pedestrian warning“, at the same time.
- Passengers can have their own interaction with the display without the driver being distracted.
- Enables „Smart Sunroof“ (please refer to the AI-images).
- The miniLED display of TracXon is made using only additive processes => enhances the sustainability factor for the car brand.
Target Industry
- Automotive Glazing
- Smart Buildings
Organic & Printed Components
- Conductive path
- Interconnection
- Printed dielectric / insulator
- Printed electrode
Classical Components
- miniLED (200 µm x 100 µm): 25,200 pieces
- Driver PCB with several SMD components (microcontrollers, resistors, capacitors, USB connector, etc.)