Development of Urushi Interface Technology to Link People and Information

• Project/Area Number: 18H03316
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 61060:Kansei informatics-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: hashimoto yuki 筑波大学, システム情報系, 准教授 (10601883)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 志築 文太郎 筑波大学, システム情報系, 教授 (20323280) ; 高橋 徹 筑波大学, システム情報系, 助教 (40780672)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥15,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,690,000); Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000)
• Keywords: 漆 / 回路 / インタフェース / 電子回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An innovative technology has been developed that creates electronic circuits within a lacquer film, adding functionality to objects. Researchers tested the lacquer film's electrical insulation properties and found it suitable as a resist material for circuits. Multi-layer circuits were created using a foil stamping method with conductive foil, offering high precision and design flexibility. The technology has potential applications in touch interfaces, NFC tags, and color control of lacquer, making it versatile for various uses.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で実装した技術は，既存のモノに塗料を塗り、電子回路を組み込むことを可能とし，既に存在するモノを機能化する．これにより、空間圧迫の問題を解消し、自然なインタラクションが実現できる．モノに塗り込む情報インタフェースには、カスタマイズ性や環境性能の高さなどの利点がある．本研究で焦点を当てた漆は，耐久性や安全性、美しさなどの付加価値を持ち、日常生活で直接触れ合う用途に適する．また、漆は再生産可能な天然素材であり、「自然との共生」に大きく寄与する．伝統工芸で培ってきた日本の漆技術を基にした本研究成果は、社会的なニーズに応えつつ、持続可能な社会の実現に貢献するものと言える．

Research Products

• [Presentation] Prototyping an Urushi Display that Changes Color Interactively by Temperature Control (2022)
  • Author(s): Hinako Nozaki, Ryo Ikeda, Yoshiki Nishikawa, Yui Atarashi, Yuki Hashimoto, Buntarou Shizuki
  • Organizer: 2022 Nicograph International
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Japanese Patterns as NFC Antennas for Interactive Urushi-ware (2020)
  • Author(s): [1]Keita Saito, Takuto Nakamura, Kazushi Kamezawa, Ryo Ikeda, Yuki Hashimoto, Buntarou Shizuki
  • Organizer: International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI '20)
• [Presentation] Touch Interface Design System in Multilayered Urushi Circuit (2019)
  • Author(s): Takuto Nakamura, Koshi Ikegawa, Shogo Tsuchikiri, Keita Saito, Kazushi Kamezawa, Yuki Hashimoto, Buntarou Shizuki
  • Organizer: the 2019 ACM CHI symposia on ASIAN CHI SYMPOSIUM
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Investigation of Touch Interface Using Layered Urushi Circuit (2018)
  • Author(s): Koshi Ikegawa, Shuhei Aoyama, Shogo Tsuchikiri, Takuto Nakamura, Yuki Hashimoto
  • Organizer: the 12th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI 2018)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 金属箔による漆面上への文様回路作成手法の検討 (2018)
  • Author(s): 土切匠悟，橋本悠希
  • Organizer: 第23回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会