have brought LED technology to a level

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have created touch-sensitive “electronic skin(e-skin)” through integrating three distinct electronic components including semiconducting carbon-nanotube transistors, pressure-sensitive polymer sensors and led high bay light  The three components are integrated over large areas on a single plastic substrate, to form a mechanically flexible sensor network that immediately light up when being touched. And the harder it is touched, the brighter the light.

The successes of past funded projects, combined with intensive research, have brought LED technology to a level that enables LED panels to be integrated into high quality designer luminaires. Current LED panels however are too expensive for a wider spectrum of use, for example as part of general lighting. Manufacturing costs intended to be reduced by new forms of materials among other factors are essential conditions that dictate prices.

Each pixel in the active matrix of the device contains a nanotube transistor with its drain electrode connected to the anode of an LED. A pressure-sensitive polymer is laminated on top of the led flood light and it is in electrical contact with the cathode of the LED at each pixel. The top surface of the polymer is made conducting by coating it with silver ink and acts as the ground contact. When the device is touched, current flows through the polymer layer and switches the LED on.Our e-skin is the first flexible system that responds to pressure stimuli of varying intensities and provides a real-time response by emitting light through the integrated LED display,” team member Chuan Wang says. “In the system, LEDs are turned on only where the surface is touched and the intensity of the emitted light depends on the amount of pressure applied. This basically allows us to visualize the applied pressure.