Piezoelectric Film Sensor (Picoleaf™)

Made possible by 萝莉影视 Manufacturing with our unique piezoelectric technology, Picoleaf is a flexible and thin sensor capable of highly sensitive bending, twisting, pressing force, and vibration detection. It can be mounted in smaller spaces, is thinner than conventional sensors, and can be used to improve the assembly and durability of products.
The piezoelectric film used in "Picoleaf" is made from polylactic acid bound with lactic acid made from fermented starch extracted from plant tissue. Plants synthesize starch by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so producing this carbon neutral material does not increase the total amount of carbon dioxide (which causes global warming) in the atmosphere.

Corporate Press Releases
萝莉影视萝莉影视
What is Picoleaf?
Key features
Applications
Standard product samples and evaluation sample kits
Technical Reference

Corporate Press Releases

6/9/2023

萝莉影视萝莉影视

10/16/2024

Started provision of the EVK-v2 equipped with the Renesas GreenPAK? as a new evaluation board for the piezoelectric film sensor Picoleaf?

The EVK-v2 evaluation board enables more efficient evaluation than ever before with the addition of a dedicated GUI and a variable amplification function for output signals

We have begun offering the EVK-v2 evaluation board, which features a programmable mixed-signal IC from Renesas Electronics: the GreenPAK™. This board also includes a variable amplification function.
In addition to dynamically switching the signal output amplification rate and On/Off judgment threshold, the system allows for simultaneous evaluation of up to four channels, enhancing both speed and efficiency. Furthermore, users can intuitively adjust the settings using a dedicated GUI.

What is Picoleaf?

Picoleaf is a flexible and thin piezoelectric film sensor that can detect bending, twisting, pressing force, and vibrations. This is made possible by 萝莉影视 Manufacturing with our unique piezoelectric technology.

Introducing a Flexible Piezoelectric Film Sensor Capable of Detecting
Bending, Twisting, Pressing Force, and Vibrations (Picoleaf)

We explain in detail on the page below about the particulars of piezoelectric film and the operating principles of Picoleaf.

Key features

Thin sensor: Can be used in a small space even when combined with a display or touch panel because it has a structure with a thickness of 0.2 mm or less. We have realized an ultra-small form with a size of 2.5 × 7.0 mm.
Flexible structure: Can even be attached along the curved surfaces of devices and other equipment with a high level of design that have such curves. Can also handle special shapes. For example, it can be wrapped around cylinders.
Can also be used in user interfaces in wet areas: Can detect pressing force in wet areas and underwater. This means it can be used in devices that use water such as washing machines.
Can also be used in metal casing: Can realize seamless buttons in metal casing.
Highly sensitive: Can detect microscopic displacement to the 1 µm level. A single sensor can detect pressing pressure across the entire surface of a display.
Moreover, it can even be used for detecting tremors^*1 (involuntary muscle movements), gripping^*2, and biosignals such as pulsation.
Non-pyroelectric^*3: There is no drift due to heat generated by body temperature, sunlight, or semiconductors and other components. Therefore, the generation of noise by heat is suppressed.
Low power consumption: The power consumption of the sensor alone is 0. It is also possible to design the amplifier circuit for driving with a low current consumption (about 10 uA).
Eco materials: Picoleaf uses an environmentally friendly organic piezoelectric film whose raw material is plant-derived polylactic acid. It is a carbon-neutral material that does not increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere during its life cycle of manufacturing, disposal, and decomposition. This means that it contributes to the realization of the SDGs. Furthermore, it is a lead-free product that complies with the European RoHS Directive.

*1tremors: Involuntary rhythmical trembling of parts of the body, such as the hands, head, or legs.
*2gripping: The state where an object is being held firmly.
*3Non-pyroelectric: A physical property of a substance where changes in temperature do not cause polarization.

Download product datasheet

Applications

Picoleaf can be used to obtain output based on the displacement speed of the piezoelectric film when used in combination with a detection circuit. These output characteristics can be used to design various sensors for detecting pressing force, state, biosignals, and more. We introduce here the main application examples in user interfaces and state detection.

List of application examples

User interfaces

Touch panels

Wearable devices

Home appliances

See more about user interface application examples

State detection

Training equipment (twisting detection)

Pulse detection at the fingertips

See more about state detection application examples

Standard product samples and evaluation sample kits

We can provide samples of standard products and evaluation sample kits.
Please see the "Where to Buy / Distributor Inventory" page for details on the Picoleaf installation process and samples.

Where to Buy / Distributor Inventory

Technical Reference

Basics and principles of operation

Avoiding Counterfeit Products

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