Thread: plastic Pad with a magnetic field!

A new plastic pad promises a secure and low-energy alternative to short-range wireless communications, such as is facilitated through Bluetooth. The University of Tokyo's researchers have developed a plastic pad that enables all electronic devices placed on it, to communicate with each other.The plastic sheet comprises an 8 x 8 inch (20.3 cm x 20.3cm) grid of cells, and each cell is embedded with a coil to transmit and receive signals.



Also, there are plastic micro-electromechanical (MEM) switches in the cells for turning the coils on and off, and for connecting to adjacent cells. When two electronic devices are placed on the sheet, sensors register their location. There is also a control chip, made using conventional silicon processes, situated at the edge of the sheet, which decides on the best way to route signals between the devices through the sheet.

A two-step communication is effected in the process. At first, information is transmitted wirelessly between the device and the sheet, using extremely short-range radio signals, and then a series of MEM switches are closed. This forms a wired connection between adjacent cells, which creates a path between the two devices. Thus a connection is established between the receiving coil under the first device, and the transmitting coil under the second.