TDK's experience with thin film product manufacturing techniques reaching back to the days of audio tapes, combined with sputtering technology from optical disc and semiconductor manufacturing, has enabled the creation of a unique 15µm-thick transparent conductive film targeted at the capacitive touch panels. TDK used an ITO (indium Tin Oxide) film formed by using a sputtering method. Its surface resistance is 100Ω/sq which is suited for capacitive touch panels for notebooks and All-In-One PCs (15-17-inches). TDK forecasts that the surface resistance of the future ITO film will be further reduced down to 100 Ω/sq by 2015.

TDK says that the new 'FLECLEAR' transparent conductive film prototype features high transparency (low haze), an eye-friendly color (tb value 0.5) as well as a stable quality. It would allow for production of thinned tablet computers and smartphones. According to TDK, the thickness of the transparent conductive films that are currently used for capacitive touch panels is 125µm. But 50µm-thick products have been shipped in 2013, and they are expected to become mainstream in 2014, as the demand for thinner smartphones (<6mm) is increasing. The company aims to release the new 15µm-thick film in 2015, allowing for the development of smartphones and tablets that are just 5mm thick.