(Source: MARKETWIRE)ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech research and development institutions, introduces its FleXpeaker, a paper-thin flexible speaker technology. Researchers at ITRI devised a way to create arrays of tiny, bendable speakers that can be combined to produce high-fidelity speaker systems of almost any size using standard printing and can even be cut with scissors into any shape. This breakthrough in electronic sound will receive this year's 2009 Wall Street Journal Innovation Award in Consumer Electronics this evening.

FleXpeaker pioneers a new era in speakers and the electronic sound industry that will allow future consumer electronic products to become even lighter and slimmer. This technology is an effective, adaptable solution, for wired and wireless products alike, with extensive and enormous potential across a wide range of industries. In a car audio system, for example, the power consumption of the FleXpeaker is 90 percent less than that of traditional speakers, making it environmentally friendly.

Because FleXpeaker is flexible in size, lightweight and consumes less power, this disruptive technology can be used in car audio systems, flat-screen televisions, thin-sheet MP3 innovative applications, advertising (such as on billboards and in shopping malls) and public announcement systems in locations such as train stations. So far, the largest size FleXpeaker ITRI has produced is 2.5 m by 0.5 m. Additionally, it can be integrated into and extended to energy-saving buildings, electric vehicles, and entertainment and medical applications. Through special integration technology, FleXpeaker can also be incorporated into wearable clothing, wallpaper and consumer packaging.

With support from the technology project of Taiwan's Department of Industrial Technology of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, R&D of the paper-thin flexible speakers commenced in 2006. The team, led by ITRI's Vice President and General Director Dr. Yi-Jen Chan, of the Electronic & Optoelectronic Research Laboratories, utilized paper and metal layers as the material (with a thickness of less than 0.1 cm) and standard printing for speaker production. These speakers produce a high frequency sound of 20KHz and a low frequency of 200Hz. This range is especially suitable for expressing sophisticated changes in medium and high frequency ranges, such as the chirping of birds and insects, which are on par with traditional speakers.

The team has applied for 46 patents globally and published its technology papers at the largest display exhibition in the world, the U.S.