David Savastano, Editor08.15.12
The market for miniature electronic devices for applications such as cards, labels and badges is a promising field. It requires the ability to develop complete systems, including low power displays and batteries that meet the requirements of customers and end users alike.
MpicoSys Embedded Pico Systems Sp. z o.o., a Gdynia, Poland-based specialist, has found excellent success in the area of miniature electronic systems. The company has developed great experience in integrating displays in such systems, and is highly regarded for working closely with its customers to develop solutions.
“The reality is that the development of miniature electronic devices are not simple and require a full set of disciplines to create new optimized solutions,” said Peter Slikkerveer of MpicoSys Solutions B.V.“While there is a big synergy between different applications, each of the application still needs a customized solution.”
MpicoSys’ focus is on both segmented and matrix display labels. These displays typically utilize low power. For example, bistable displays only need power to change the display content, and the image is retained when power is off.
Segmented display labels included products such as UHF RFID tags. These display labels are ideal for low data content, require minimal power and in-system memory, and have a static image layout.
By contrast, matrix display labels, such as those used for signage PoP panels, are designed for more data. Matrix display labels offer full flexibility, and require more power and in-system memory. By working closely with its customers, MpicoSys is able to successfully tailor its systems to best benefit their customers’ applications.
“MpicoSys creates so-called @Ease products - simple products that just work,” said Slikkerveer. “In the markets, these focus around the card-label and token applications.
“Due to our business model, our successes might not be that well visible to the outside world,” Slikkerveer noted. “Most of our work is in the B2B market, where we assist our customers in their R&D or we develop and provide some of their products or components for their products. One of our customers’ products has won a Red Dot Design award in 2012.”
MpicoSys has made major advancements with its Embedded Pico Systems.
“We have been reducing the power needed to drive ePaper displays by a factor of 10 to 20,” Slikkerveer said. “This allows designers to create battery-free systems driven and powered by RFID for matrix displays up to 5 inches driven by HF RFID at 5 to 10 cm distance, and segmented displays driven by UHF power up to a distance of 2 meters. MpicoSys has also developed an ultra low energy kernel for small microcontrollers, which provides high reuse and easy portability while maintaining a very low power consumption. This is used as a base for our current and future developments.”
MpicoSys’ ability to develop its state-of-the-art systems comes from its compete focus on its technological pillars. The company focuses its innovations and technology around its technological pillars, which are essential for the target markets.
The first of these pillars are ultra-low-power and no-power technologies, such as small batteries or power scavenging solutions, which provide sufficient performance with minimal energy. The second pillar is the development of contactless technologies for power and communication, which require no wires and allow easier-to-use devices.
The third pillar, security, integration of security in these miniature systems, can be integrated from basic levels to ultimate protection for sensitive data, such as passport grade security. Robustness is the fourth pillar, which creates worry-free devices; examples include small devices such as banking cards that keep working in harsh environments.
“MpicoSys is product/result focused and not technology driven,” said Slikkerveer. “We will select the technologies that are appropriate in a certain situation, which could be either printed electronics, ‘normal’ electronics or a combination.We have a full team covering all disciplines needed to create the type of miniature systems ranging from analogue electronics, firmware to materials science.”
Slikkerveer added that MpicoSys operates using an ASIC-like model, where the company develops custom specific designs based on a shared technology.
Slikkerveer said the key for organic and printed electronics (OPE) manufacturers is to determine niches where their products can succeed, rather than picking areas where electronics are already well established and taking those segments heads-on.
“OPE will have a hard time competing with traditional electronics, and will need to find - and develop in - undefended niches,” Slikkerveer said.
Because of its focus on finding markets where OPE can succeed, Slikkerveer sees excellent opportunities ahead for MpicoSys.
“We expect to launch a number of standard products (OEM modules) as a development base for customers,” Slikkerveer concluded. “For the market, we expect that simple tokens will become universally present, and that MpicoSys will be able to provide solutions and support to a wide number of customers.”
“The reality is that the development of miniature electronic devices are not simple and require a full set of disciplines to create new optimized solutions,” said Peter Slikkerveer of MpicoSys Solutions B.V.“While there is a big synergy between different applications, each of the application still needs a customized solution.”
MpicoSys’ focus is on both segmented and matrix display labels. These displays typically utilize low power. For example, bistable displays only need power to change the display content, and the image is retained when power is off.
Segmented display labels included products such as UHF RFID tags. These display labels are ideal for low data content, require minimal power and in-system memory, and have a static image layout.
By contrast, matrix display labels, such as those used for signage PoP panels, are designed for more data. Matrix display labels offer full flexibility, and require more power and in-system memory. By working closely with its customers, MpicoSys is able to successfully tailor its systems to best benefit their customers’ applications.
“MpicoSys creates so-called @Ease products - simple products that just work,” said Slikkerveer. “In the markets, these focus around the card-label and token applications.
“Due to our business model, our successes might not be that well visible to the outside world,” Slikkerveer noted. “Most of our work is in the B2B market, where we assist our customers in their R&D or we develop and provide some of their products or components for their products. One of our customers’ products has won a Red Dot Design award in 2012.”
“We have been reducing the power needed to drive ePaper displays by a factor of 10 to 20,” Slikkerveer said. “This allows designers to create battery-free systems driven and powered by RFID for matrix displays up to 5 inches driven by HF RFID at 5 to 10 cm distance, and segmented displays driven by UHF power up to a distance of 2 meters. MpicoSys has also developed an ultra low energy kernel for small microcontrollers, which provides high reuse and easy portability while maintaining a very low power consumption. This is used as a base for our current and future developments.”
MpicoSys’ ability to develop its state-of-the-art systems comes from its compete focus on its technological pillars. The company focuses its innovations and technology around its technological pillars, which are essential for the target markets.
The first of these pillars are ultra-low-power and no-power technologies, such as small batteries or power scavenging solutions, which provide sufficient performance with minimal energy. The second pillar is the development of contactless technologies for power and communication, which require no wires and allow easier-to-use devices.
The third pillar, security, integration of security in these miniature systems, can be integrated from basic levels to ultimate protection for sensitive data, such as passport grade security. Robustness is the fourth pillar, which creates worry-free devices; examples include small devices such as banking cards that keep working in harsh environments.
Slikkerveer added that MpicoSys operates using an ASIC-like model, where the company develops custom specific designs based on a shared technology.
Slikkerveer said the key for organic and printed electronics (OPE) manufacturers is to determine niches where their products can succeed, rather than picking areas where electronics are already well established and taking those segments heads-on.
“OPE will have a hard time competing with traditional electronics, and will need to find - and develop in - undefended niches,” Slikkerveer said.
Because of its focus on finding markets where OPE can succeed, Slikkerveer sees excellent opportunities ahead for MpicoSys.
“We expect to launch a number of standard products (OEM modules) as a development base for customers,” Slikkerveer concluded. “For the market, we expect that simple tokens will become universally present, and that MpicoSys will be able to provide solutions and support to a wide number of customers.”