Blue Spark Technologies, a supplier of printed battery solutions, and
NTERA, a developer of color changing display technologies,
reportedly have teamed up to create what they call “the world’s lowest” voltage battery-display system.
Research indicates a steadily expanding market for smart cards that reached $12 billion worldwide in 2007. According to company officials, factors responsible for this growth include demand for increased security and authentication to counteract fraud and identity theft, increased adoption of contactless payment, and growing preference of wallet-size cards integrating visual, interactive and tactile innovations.
Both companies say that by integrating Blue Spark Technologies’ innovative battery chemistries and application design capabilities with NTERA’s ultra-thin, color-changing, 1.5 Volt compatible display technologies, they can help card makers to reduce material costs and streamline manufacturing, assembly and integration processes.
“For card companies, this partnership represents a remarkable synergy between two leaders in the burgeoning smart card and printed electronics space,” said Matt Ream, vice president of marketing for Blue Spark Technologies.
Ream said that his thin, flexible batteries deliver the ideal flat-profile, “green” power source required to power NTERA-enabled color changing displays.
Ream is confident that their technologies can help manufacturers of smart cards to not only gain greater business value but also experience increased consumer attention and buy-in.
Chris Giacoponello, vice president of business development and marketing for NTERA, said he believes low-voltage, all-printed technologies will drive the success of the printed electronics revolution – thanks, mostly, to their fundamental cost and integration advantages. The company says its NCD technology has generated interest in smart cards, smart objects and smart packaging. According to Giacoponello, low power consumption will be a critical success factor for these applications.
“The 1.5 Volt systems are ideally positioned to meet market performance requirements,” he said.
The officials inform that both Blue Spark’s and NTERA’s products, materials and manufacturing processes are eco-friendly and completely disposable.
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