A conformable imager for biometric authentication and vital sign measurement

Flexible imagers can be placed in direct contact with a person’s skin, allowing vital signs to be monitored continuously. However, developing flexible imagers that offer both high definition and high speed has proved challenging. Here we show that a combination of polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor readout circuits and organic photodiodes with high sensitivity in the near-infrared region can be used to create a conformable imager with a resolution of 508 pixels per inch, a speed of 41 frames per second and a total thickness of only 15 μm. The imager can read out a photocurrent of less than 10 pA with low noise, and can obtain static biometric signals, including images of fingerprints and veins, via soft contact with the skin. It can also be used to map a pulse wave, electronically selecting the best measurement location by analysing the area distribution.