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- The 24rd (2024) Yamazaki-Teiichi Prize Winner Semiconductor and its applications to System, Information Technology, Electronics
The 24th (2024) Yamazaki-Teiichi Prize Winner
Semiconductor and its applications to System, Information Technology, Electronics
Creation of Semiconductor Nano-Tactile Sensors and Sensing System that Can Surpass the Sensitivity of Fingertips
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Hidekuni Takao Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Kagawa University Director, Nano-Micro Structure Device Integrated Research Center, Kagawa University |
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Reason for award
Aiming to develop sensors capable of sensing like fingertips, which have the most delicate sense of touch, with sensitivity and resolution equal to or greater than that of humans, Dr. Takao succeeded for the first time in the world in developing semiconductor nano-tactile sensors that simultaneously detect the five factors of human tactile sensation: roughness, friction, hardness/softness, cold/warmth, and dryness/wetness, using semiconductor/MEMS integration technology. Dr. Takao invented tactile sensors with a new "horizontal device structure" that mimics the function of fingerprints and tactile receptors on the fingertips by placing the sensing components of the sensor at the edge of the chip and scanning the sensing target along the side of the chip. By integrating a thermal flow sensor at each contactor tip of the tactile sensor, the system was also made capable of sensing cold/warmth and dryness/wetness. By applying deep learning to the data acquired by the sensors, Dr. Takao developed a tactile sensing system with capabilities far surpassing the tactile discrimination ability of humans. This technology has been partially commercialized and is already being used by industries where tactile sensation is important, including clothing manufacturers, paper diaper manufacturers, cosmetics manufacturers, paper and printing manufacturers, as well as in medical and nursing research. Collaborative research aimed at applications across various industries is also underway, opening up a new field of nano-tactile sensing systems.
In recognition of the above achievements, Dr. Takao is awarded the 24th Yamazaki-Teiichi Prize in the field of Semiconductor and its applications to System, Information Technology, Electronics.