Shenzhen New Degree Technology

Established in 2011, Shenzhen New Degree Technology (NDT) is a developer of force sensing solutions. The company's trajectory began when its founder, Hao Li, a former research scientist for Motorola with a PhD in material science, recognized the potential of force-sensitive sensors to redefine user interactions with electronic devices. This insight led to the creation of NDT in Shenzhen, China, complemented by a research and development lab in the United States.

NDT operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, supplying its technology to major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company specializes in the design, in-house software algorithm development, and manufacturing of its core product: a paper-thin, flexible printed strain gauge sensor. These sensors detect pressure and convert the analog force into digital information, enabling devices to respond to varying levels of touch. This technology allows for the replacement of physical, moving buttons with solid surfaces on materials like aluminum or glass, facilitating sleeker, unibody device designs.

The company's technology is integrated into a wide array of products across several markets. In consumer electronics, clients like Google, Microsoft, and Xiaomi have used NDT's sensors to create features such as pressure-sensitive sides on smartphones for activating assistants, buttonless volume controls, and under-screen pressure sensing for enhanced gaming controls. Beyond mobile devices, the applications extend to PC trackpads, smart home appliances, personal care items like electric toothbrushes, and increasingly, the automotive sector for smart cockpits and pressure detection in components like seats and steering wheels.

A significant milestone for NDT was providing the sensors for ZTE's Axon Mini in 2015, which was the first smartphone to feature a touchscreen that could differentiate between a regular and a hard press. Since its founding, the company has successfully commercialized its flexible MEMS technology and has sold over 100 million units of its micro strain sensors to a client roster that includes Lenovo, HUAWEI, vivo, and OPPO.

Keywords: force sensing technology, printed strain gauge, pressure sensors, force touch solutions, flexible sensors, MEMS sensors, haptic feedback, buttonless design, consumer electronics components, smart surfaces, automotive sensors, Hao Li, user interface technology, tactile sensors, micro strain sensors, edge sense, under-screen sensing, smart cockpit technology, human-machine interaction, pressure-sensitive controls