Novel technologies are needed to address the urgent healthcare requirements of patients in the developing world and other resource-limited settings. Diagnostic devices that provide critical patient information at the point of need play a key role in the treatment and monitoring of disease. Such devices must be robust, simple to use, actionable, and extremely low in cost. Paper and other porous media provide an attractive platform from which to build devices that are able to address these needs. In an effort to expand the capabilities of porous media in diagnostics, we present a novel platform based on patterned paper microfluidic devices. In particular, 3-dimensional devices formed by stacking multiple layers of patterned paper provide the ability to perform many fluidic handling operations including: filtration; splitting; mixing; incubation; capture; and separations. Diagnostics For All (DFA) is developing tests based on this platform, in order to provide highly-functional diagnostic devices at unprecedented low cost. In this presentation, we will describe some specific examples of paper-based tests designed specifically for use in resource-poor areas.

The majority of Non-Impact Printing applications currently use lasers as their light source. In order to generate a pattern on the media of interest these laser sources must be coupled with an imaging engine.Using an array of LEDs as the light source combines the imaging engine with the light source, making all the components solid state. This leads to a higher degree of integration and ease of manufacturability.Some products are available demonstrating the viability of LEDs arrays as the imaging source and engine.This paper presents advances in LED technology that will enable LED arrays to replace other light sources as well as the imaging electronics in a manner that provides the advantages of lower power, higher speed and higher resolution (addressability).InfiniLED has demonstrated high density monolithic individually addressable μLED arrays that can be assembled to provide a single line of emitters for A4 or wider non-impact printing applications. We present the micro-led array technology and describe how it can increase performance and quality in non-impact printing while decreasing cost.

Single-pass inkjet digital printing devices can have over 100,000 nozzles per system for a 4-color B2 format size. Ultimately, an inkjet printing system's success relies on stable and reliable printheads, inks and marking process to produce crisp round dots, and image processing techniques to compensate for process artifacts such as “dot migration or interference” which can cause undesirable streaks and other image defects.At drupa 2012 held in May, several inkjet technologies were introduced and will be reviewed by features and potential.

This paper proposes a new technique of image reading for printed material using a one-chip image sensor that enables high resolution and solves the problem of false colors around pattern edges. To achieve this, the technique adopts a novel method that produces a color component value of a pixel that is not sampled based on the supposition that there is only one color dot in the background color of printed matter in small areas such as the aperture areas of the pixels of the image sensor. Based on this supposition, we derive the linear relationship between the color component and luminance in such small areas. In addition to using this linear relationship, using a color filter with a wide band transmission spectrum also contributes to achieving high resolution with this technique. We conducted a simulation where we used an LMS-type color filter as a wideband spectrum filter. The results from the simulation demonstrated the effectiveness of this method indicating that we could obtain high resolution for all color component signals as high that of a 3-chip color image sensor and it could improve color reproductivity around pattern edges.

This paper explains the Nanographic Printing™ process, Nanography™ technology and why they may have a profound impact on the printing industry.On May 2, 2012, Benny Landa—inventor of the Indigo Digital Press—brought news of a breakthrough that may greatly advance print technology and its related economics.This document will demonstrate how Nanography achieves the combined versatility and short-run economics of digital printing and the qualities and productivity of offset printing.The full version of this paper is available at www.landanano.com.

This paper relates to a process for preparation of a coating soluble in aqueous alkaline solution, which didn't dissolve in almost all organic solvents and neutral water. The coating composition comprises a poly(acrylic acid-diacetone acrylamide) and isonicotinyl hydrazide as the cross-linking agent. The two components were dissolved in 3-methoxypropanol to prepare the coating solution, which was applied to a grained and anodized aluminum substrate and then dried at 110 °C to obtain the final coating. There exists intermolecular hydrogen bond between the pyridine ring of the cross-linking agent and the carboxylic acid of the polymer. Furthermore, the in-situ chemical reaction between the hydrazide group and the carbonyl group provided the hydrazone bond during drying. The co-action of the physical and chemical cross-linking rendered the coating insoluble in general organic solvents. However, when the coating was exposed to aqueous alkaline solution, the hydrogen bond was broken immediately due to the ionization of the carboxylic acid group, leading to quick dissolving of the coating. The coating might be used in the pretreatment of the aluminum substrate of CTP plates or as the under-layer for the production of double-layer imaging system, and was found very effective in promoting the aqueous alkaline solubility of non imaging area upon development after laser imaging.

In 1999, Kevin Ashton, cofounder of MIT's AutoID Center, is credited with coining the phrase “Internet of Things” (IoT). The phrase was used to describe a new information technology paradigm linking new developments in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and wireless networking with the expanding internet. At the time, the vision for the IoT was focused on revolutionizing supply chain logistics and inventory management using RFID tagging. By using RFID tags it became possible to “endow” packages, physical assets and other items with unique identities and location awareness thus bringing new efficiencies to the logistics domain. A decade later, the concept of an “Internet of Things” has expanded and evolved dramatically. This concept now describes a vision of a fully interconnected world where swarms of sensors provide real-time information about a vast number of physical and virtual state variables around the world. The evolution of digital fabrication methods, materials and applications has been influenced by the IoT vision and technology demands. Innovations focused on new functional inks, flexible and unconventional substrates, low temperature device and circuit fabrication, and roll-to-roll manufacturing are already being leveraged to produce all-printed RFID tags and antenna, “smart” labels, “smart” packaging, and novel sensors fabricated on unconventional surfaces and substrates.The first part of the presentation will provide a brief overview of the evolution of the IoT, ambient intelligence and ubiquitous computing technologies. Next, the presentation will focus on the advantages provided by digital fabrication approaches and how these approaches are enabling current IoT applications. Finally, the presentation will provide an outlook for next generation IoT applications which will incorporate new and different digital fabrication approaches including nanofabrication and biofabrication.

Indigo's technology is based on Liquid Electro Photography (LEP). In this process an electrostatic latent image is first produced on the Photo Imaging Plate (PIP) and then ink is transferred to PIP. Afterward the ink is transferred to the intermediate transfer media, i.e. blanket and finally to the printing media (substrate). The electro ink is transferred mainly due to electrical fields (forces). In this process different types of polymeric coatings are used on the intermediate transfer media (blanket) and the electrical ink transfer depends strongly on these polymers electrical properties. In this work we present a technique for measuring electrical properties of different types of polymeric material coatings at different conditions. This unique set-up enables working under a wide range of physical parameters: temperatures, pressures, electrical voltages and frequencies. A theoretical study of the impedance behavior and equivalent electrical circle has been developed. The analysis shows good matching between experimental and theoretical results. This technique allows better understanding of development of new polymeric materials and determining process working points, especially temperature and electrical voltages.

The life cycle of print starts with paper choices – specifying environmentally preferable paper products can reduce the effect that printing has on the planet. Over the past two centuries, wood is the primary raw material in paper manufacturing. However, wood-based paper carries a significant “ecological shadow” of energy consumption, bleaching chemicals, and water used in its production. In its 2010 report, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) identified pulp and paper industry as one of the largest direct contributors to human toxicity. The substances from paper and paperboard mills that contribute most to human toxicity impact are mercury (II) ion, beryllium, and hydrogen fluoride. Motivated by legislation, consumer pressure, and the desire to become more efficient, the pulp and paper industry in the United States has invested in new technologies and processes that reduce its environmental impact. Tree-free fiber used in production is one way to minimize or eliminate the environmental impacts. This paper studied sustainable development and use of tree-free copy paper for the laser printer. The color reproduction capability and process capability of tree-free paper were evaluated in terms of optical density, print contrast, and color gamut.

The mechanism of paper curl is examined using an experimental apparatus that presses a sheet of paper between two flat-heated plates. When both sides of the paper are heated at different temperatures, the moisture content of the low-temperature side becomes higher than that of the high-temperature side. A difference in the moisture content causes a shrinkage difference between both sides of the paper, generating paper curl. An analysis of the paper curl amount is then carried out by calculation of moisture transport that considers the capillary flow and water evaporation. The amount of paper curl is calculated as a function of heating time using a bi-metal model. The theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement.