FlexEnable and ISORG reveal highest resolution flexible fingerprint sensor

Cambridge (UK) and Grenoble (France), 17 October 2016 – FlexEnable, the leader in the development and industrialisation of flexible organic electronics, and ISORG, the pioneer in organic photodetectors and large area image sensors in printed electronics, are the first companies to jointly launch a flexible fingerprint sensor with 500 dots per inch (dpi) image resolution.

As the only flexible sensor technology that has achieved such high resolution, it is suitable for applications requiring standard-compliant fingerprint enrolment and/or identification. The optical sensor is ultra-thin, light and robust, and can be seamlessly integrated into products including fingerprint scanners, smartcards, mobile phones and wearables.

FlexEnable and ISORG have collaborated with Green Bit, a leading global provider of fingerprint scanners, to show that their flexible fingerprint sensor technology is ready for integration into products. The sensor has been paired with Green Bit’s image enhancement software to prove its ability to create FBI-certifiable images.

The high resolution of the flexible sensor has been enabled by FlexEnable’s organic thin-film transistors that boast better electrical performance than amorphous silicon and very low-leakage. ISORG not only supplies the photodiodes able to capture the finger print, but also has developed all the reading electronics and the related algorithms. The ISORG PLASMA development platform will accelerate sensor evaluation and product development for all customers.

Because it is made of organic electronics on a plastic sheet, the 500 dpi flexible fingerprint sensor is only 0.3 mm thick, bringing design and functional benefits to biometric applications. As well as detecting fingerprints, the sensor can capture veins, providing a second level of security since each user’s finger vein pattern is unique and requires the user to be alive for positive detection. Moreover, the technology enables large area sensors that can detect five fingers allowing more information to be collected, bringing additional security benefits. It can be curved and applied to almost any surface, unlike traditional fingerprint sensors that have form factor constraints due to the use of glass. The large area sensor can unlock new applications such as wrap-around fingerprint sensors for mobile phones or car steering wheels.

Chuck Milligan, CEO of FlexEnable, said: “The development of a 500 dpi plastic fingerprint sensor represents a major breakthrough in the commercialisation of flexible fingerprint sensors, paving the way for FBI-certification of low cost and flexible fingerprint sensors over large areas. This will open the door to a wider range of applications including law enforcement, border control and high-security banking transactions. We are working with the whole supply chain to get this disruptive technology into products and welcome customers who are interested in integrating the sensor into their applications.”

Jean-Yves Gomez, CEO of ISORG, said: “This innovation brings a step change in biometrics. It not only offers a single solution for multiple fingerprint capture and vein pattern recognition, but also addresses form-factor and ergonomic challenges. Our development tools will help our customers to cut their product time to market and minimise R&D costs. We are enabling a new generation of biometric fingerprint sensors with multiple usage.”

Sergio Rainero, COO of Green Bit S.p.A, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with FlexEnable and ISORG on this groundbreaking and innovative flexible sensor technology. By combining its cutting-edge features with Green Bit’s 20 years’ experience in image processing and enhancement, we will be in a leading position to create a new generation of fingerprint scanners. This will enable Green Bit to target applications and solutions that aren’t possible with traditional technologies.”

FlexEnable, ISORG and Green Bit will be exhibiting at Biometrics 2016 in London on 18-20 October, 2016.

-ENDS-

About FlexEnable

FlexEnable has pioneered the world’s first flexible electronics technology platform that allows electronics made of organic materials to be manufactured on flexible plastic film, the thickness of a sheet of paper. Compatible with existing manufacturing lines, it’s the key to truly flexible and cost effective electronics over large and small surfaces. The core applications of this technology are glass-free, flexible displays and sensors that enable game-changing products across a variety of industries including consumer electronics, mobile, wearables, automotive, medical and security. FlexEnable’s customers include OEMs, component manufacturers and materials suppliers. The company offers a comprehensive range of services-based packages for its technology platform including: ProductEnable™, MaterialsEnable™ and FabEnable™. www.flexenable.com

Companies interested in working together with FlexEnable should contact info@flexenable.com.

Media Contact: pr@flexenable.com

About ISORG

ISORG is the leading and pioneer company in organic photodetectors and large area image sensors in printed electronics. ISORG develops a disruptive technology transforming plastic and glass into smart surfaces able to see. These new sensors are conformable, thin and lightweight with low current consumption, offering unique advantages over traditional image sensors in terms of sensing area, cost per area ratio and mechanical integration. These sensors enable the creation of many innovative products such interactive surfaces for object detection and recognition, large area scanning surfaces and revolutionary user interfaces for consumer products. ISORG’s technology opens innovation for medical, industry and consumer markets.

Find more on ISORG and its disruptive technology by visiting www.isorg.fr.

Companies interested in working together with ISORG should contact contact@isorg.fr.

About Green Bit

Green Bit Biometric Systems S.p.A.,  headquartered  in  Turin  (Italy),  designs,  develops  and  markets  a  complete product line of FBI certified fingerprint scanner starting from single finger, rolled, 10-print up DactyScan84c to palm Livescan systems. Green Bit is in the market space since 1997 with a long track record of successful installations worldwide. To date Green Bit  is  the  only  100% European  Livescan  manufacturer  providing  a  full  product  portfolio  for Value Added applications and the Law Enforcement and Civil ID market.

Green Bit addresses all markets worldwide given our direct presence with subsidiaries in the US, China and Kazakhstan in addition to an expert network of Sales Agents around the globe. Recently Green Bit launched the brand new DactyID family with fingerprint anti-spoofing software feature. The DactyID family has been designed having in mind the fast expanding market of digital transactions and added value e-services, such as: Banking, Healthcare, Commerce, etc. It is a compact single-finger FAP 20 FBI/PIV livescan, offering a built-in patented liveness finger detection system

Find more on Green Bit by visiting www.greenbit.com.