Programmable logic circuits for functional integrated smart plastic systems

Abstract

In this paper, we present a functional integrated plastic system. We have fabricated arrays of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) and printed electronic components driving an electrophoretic ink display up to 70 mm by 70 mm on a single flexible transparent plastic foil. Transistor arrays were quickly and reliably configured for different logic functions by an additional process step of inkjet printing conductive silver wires and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) resistors between transistors or between logic blocks. Among the circuit functions and features demonstrated on the arrays are a 7-stage ring oscillator, a D-type flip-flop memory element, a 2:4 demultiplexer, a programmable array logic device (PAL), and printed wires and resistors. Touch input sensors were also printed, thus only external batteries were required for a complete electronic subsystem. The PAL featured 8 inputs, 8 outputs, 32 product terms, and had 1260 p-type polymer transistors in a 3-metal process using diode-load logic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a PAL concept with organic transistors has been demonstrated, and also the first time that organic transistors have been used as the control logic for a flexible display which have both been integrated on to a single plastic substrate. The versatility afforded by the additive inkjet printing process is well suited to organic programmable logic on plastic substrates, in effect, making flexible organic electronics more flexible. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.