David Savastano, Editor09.11.19
Sensors are advancing quickly in their capabilities, and are being used more frequently in a seemingly limitless variety of applications. Flexible large-area sensors have the potential to bring sensor technology into new fields, from x-rays and the Internet of Things (IoT) to consumer electronics and more.
With its organic photodiode (OPD) technology, Isorg is well-positioned to meet the needs for this growing market, and its recent partnership with Sumitomo Chemical should help accelerate its growth.
Isorg was founded in 2010 by a team of senior managers and experts coming from the high technology and electronics industry.
“Isorg is the pioneer company in organic and printed electronics for large area photo-detectors and image sensors,” said Cliff Lau, VP business and partnership for Isorg. “R&D and our company headquarters are historically located in Grenoble, France, and our second advanced R&D center is now located in Bordeaux. Since 2016, an OPD manufacturing plant has been set up in Limoges in the center of France.”
Lau noted that Isorg’s organic photodetector technology is providing high throughput without any photolithography step, and is directly compatible with available TFT backplanes technologies, including aSi, LTPS, IGZO and organic backplanes. IT can be produced with a wide range of substrates, such as glass, PI, PEN and PET. The technology is cost-effective for its large size, and also offers wave-length flexibility for the visible and NIR spectrum.
OPD technology is ideal for numerous markets. Lau mentioned quite a few, including:
To help increase production, Isorg recently announced a partnership with Sumitomo Chemical. The companies announced that Sumitomo Chemical will produce OPD materials as well as support production and marketing. The goal is to work with OEMs to develop OPD products for new applications, including smartphone fingerprint sensors and hybrid organic CMOS image sensors for cameras.
“The partnership will benefit both Sumitomo and Isorg in their commercial growth in this booming market,” Lau said. “Isorg devel-oped all of the mandatory skills to provide complete solution of the product (process, hardware, software) in the focused markets of smartphones and biometrics, and Sumitomo has been able to optimize its new materials formulation in order to fit the requirements coming from big industrial end-users on several applications.
“This collaboration permitted both parties to enter into challenging markets where it is not easy to succeed, if you do not have in-house all the necessary skills, not only in developing materials and OPD but also system know-how and of course application know-how,” Lau added.
Lau noted that Isorg’s OPD-based sensors have already reached commercialization, with more to follow.
Isorg already reached commercialization with its OPD-based products for an airflow monitoring system, for instance,” he reported. “Isorg is on the step to finalize key agreements with major players in order to enter mass-production of its sensor technology in the coming months.
Lau said he sees plenty of opportunities ahead for Isorg’s OPD technology.
“Isorg’s outlook for its technology is crystal clear and positive due to our strong differentiation in offering cost-effective large area image sensors,” Lau added. “Isorg has leading business opportunities with key players in our focused market segment that will secure the future growth of the company. Isorg has also planned for the longer term to continue to develop its technology for many other new applications for the future that are already identified where OPD is seen as a real disruptive technology.”
With its organic photodiode (OPD) technology, Isorg is well-positioned to meet the needs for this growing market, and its recent partnership with Sumitomo Chemical should help accelerate its growth.
Isorg was founded in 2010 by a team of senior managers and experts coming from the high technology and electronics industry.
“Isorg is the pioneer company in organic and printed electronics for large area photo-detectors and image sensors,” said Cliff Lau, VP business and partnership for Isorg. “R&D and our company headquarters are historically located in Grenoble, France, and our second advanced R&D center is now located in Bordeaux. Since 2016, an OPD manufacturing plant has been set up in Limoges in the center of France.”
Lau noted that Isorg’s organic photodetector technology is providing high throughput without any photolithography step, and is directly compatible with available TFT backplanes technologies, including aSi, LTPS, IGZO and organic backplanes. IT can be produced with a wide range of substrates, such as glass, PI, PEN and PET. The technology is cost-effective for its large size, and also offers wave-length flexibility for the visible and NIR spectrum.
OPD technology is ideal for numerous markets. Lau mentioned quite a few, including:
- Medical and health: X-ray image sensors, diagnostic sensors, process monitoring sensors;
- Industrial: Biometrics, inventory management, non-destructive X-ray, automation/metrology;
- Consumer: IoT, displays, wearables, smartphones and smart packaging.
To help increase production, Isorg recently announced a partnership with Sumitomo Chemical. The companies announced that Sumitomo Chemical will produce OPD materials as well as support production and marketing. The goal is to work with OEMs to develop OPD products for new applications, including smartphone fingerprint sensors and hybrid organic CMOS image sensors for cameras.
“The partnership will benefit both Sumitomo and Isorg in their commercial growth in this booming market,” Lau said. “Isorg devel-oped all of the mandatory skills to provide complete solution of the product (process, hardware, software) in the focused markets of smartphones and biometrics, and Sumitomo has been able to optimize its new materials formulation in order to fit the requirements coming from big industrial end-users on several applications.
“This collaboration permitted both parties to enter into challenging markets where it is not easy to succeed, if you do not have in-house all the necessary skills, not only in developing materials and OPD but also system know-how and of course application know-how,” Lau added.
Lau noted that Isorg’s OPD-based sensors have already reached commercialization, with more to follow.
Isorg already reached commercialization with its OPD-based products for an airflow monitoring system, for instance,” he reported. “Isorg is on the step to finalize key agreements with major players in order to enter mass-production of its sensor technology in the coming months.
Lau said he sees plenty of opportunities ahead for Isorg’s OPD technology.
“Isorg’s outlook for its technology is crystal clear and positive due to our strong differentiation in offering cost-effective large area image sensors,” Lau added. “Isorg has leading business opportunities with key players in our focused market segment that will secure the future growth of the company. Isorg has also planned for the longer term to continue to develop its technology for many other new applications for the future that are already identified where OPD is seen as a real disruptive technology.”