The present invention discloses a
microwave flexible array sensor for ice detection, belonging to the field of sensors. The sensor primarily comprises: a central flexible substrate layer 4; an upper flexible
dielectric layer 3 and a lower flexible
dielectric layer 6 tightly attached to either side of the flexible substrate layer 4; a sensitive
array element 1 and a
metal microstrip line 5 structure attached to the upper flexible
dielectric layer 3; and a
metal reference ground 2 attached to the lower flexible
dielectric layer 6. In the present invention, an outer resonant ring 33 and an inner resonant ring 34 form a complementary
split ring resonator (CSRR). The CSRR provides a narrow
insertion loss bandwidth, making its
capacitance highly sensitive to objects placed on the sensitive element 1. Specifically, the notch frequency is
highly sensitive to changes in the dielectric constant of the ice layer, resulting in superior quality factor and accuracy to conventional planar
resonator sensors. The addition of additional rings has minimal
impact on sensor performance, and
coupling with the outer ring 32 increases the
resonator's
equivalent capacitance, enhancing the fringe
electric field and improving interaction with the
test sample. The interdigitated structure at the center of the sensitive element 1 enhances the
electric field density on the sensitive element 1, providing an expanded
capacitive coupling gap, thereby achieving
miniaturization and, importantly, greater sensitivity to changes in
ice thickness.