The automotive market has become an interesting opportunity for flexible and printed electronics manufacturers, with applications ranging from touch screens and heaters to sensors and more.
 
As one of the leading suppliers to the automotive industry, Continental Corporation has strong positions in automotive interiors, drive trains and tires, among other segments. The company specializes in intelligent technologies for vehicles, and achieved sales of €39.2 billion with its five divisions: Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental has operations in 55 countries, employing more than 200,000 people.
 
Continental Corporation is studying the possibilities for flexible and printed electronics for touch screens in cars, and has developed curved AMOLED screens for its custokers. Kai Hohmann, principal technical expert automotive displays for Continental, sees opportunities ahead for products such as curved screens.
 
“Continental Automotive GmbH is working on several programs with curved displays,” Hohmann reported. “On top of that, Continental has a special focus on system integration, with additional features like touch panel, proximity detection and tactile feedback.”
 
Hohmann noted that design opportunities are a major driver for curved displays.
 
“The big advantage of curved displays is seen clearly in outstanding opportunities for interior design,” he noted. “Displays are no longer recognized as a flat surface plugged into the dashboard.
 
“Curved displays offer superior value to enable a new design language,” Hohmann added. “To support interior design demands, Continental provides system integration solutions for large curved surfaces with seamlessly merged displays and control elements.”
 
The possibilities for flexible displays are drawing attention from car manufacturers.
 
“The automotive market is greatly appreciating those new degrees of freedom for interior design,” said Hohmann. “The curved display feature was the missing property of displays to follow holistic interior design requirements.”
 
Hohmann observed that there are other possibilities for flexible printed electronics.
 
“Flexible printed electronics are considered to play a role with regards to functional surfaces, where touch functionality is integrated into freeform design approaches,” he noted.
 
Hohmann sees plenty of opportunities ahead for flexible and printed electronics in the automotive sector.
 
“Curved displays will enter and sustainably change automotive interior design,” he concluded. “One midterm subject of improvement is seen in the progress of the degree of curvature to allow new product opportunities, like for instance a display integrated into the A pillar.”