French deep-tech company, Nanomade, has created the first fully transparent film combining both capacitive touch and ultra-sensitive force sensing. Developed in cooperation with PolyIC, printed electronics solutions provider, the innovation marks a major milestone in Human-Machine Interface (HMI) technology, enabling transparent, flexible and illuminated control surfaces without compromising performance, aesthetics, or industrial scaleability.
PolyIC has produced a transparent flexible capacitive film with printed transparent and conductive electrodes. Nanomade then added its proprietary nanoparticle-based ink to integrate ultra-sensitive force detection directly onto the same substrate. The combination overcomes the limitations of existing standard capacitive solutions, allowing operation with gloves and wet environments, at a reduced false activations rate.
Force sensing adds a new dimension of interaction, allowing manufacturers to differentiate between simple contact and deliberate press, significantly improving safety, reliability, and enhanced user experience thanks to the combination of the force sensing with gradual haptic feedback.
Target applications for the new transparent foil include consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive interiors, industrial control panels, and home appliances.
Samples of the foil will be available later this year, with a first demonstration currently underway with a leading OEM as part of an ongoing project.
