Thin-Film Sensor Antenna Modulating Wireless Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor technologies lack an 'all-in-one' wireless solution where changes in thin-film sheet resistance directly impact and modulate the wireless antenna signal, leading to increased system complexity and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A sensor antenna is developed using a thin-film material that can modify its sheet resistance in response to external stimuli, allowing the antenna to vary its response over a range of resistance values, thereby affecting its wireless signal, and includes a reference antenna to measure stimulus-induced changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a hard-wired measuring unit is used to sense environmental factors, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to required wired connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor element and antenna into a single integrated thin-film structure. The thin-film material serves dual functions: as the sensing element that detects environmental factors through resistance changes, and as the antenna that wirelessly transmits the sensed data. This eliminates the need for separate wired measuring units and complex communication hardware, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin-film antenna structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the radiating element for wireless communication, as the sensing element for detecting environmental factors, and as the interconnection structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated measuring and communication units, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If a microprocessor is integrated to enable wireless transmission, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy and device complexity worsen due to additional power consumption and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The thin-film antenna structure serves itself by simultaneously performing sensing and wireless transmission functions. The sensor element detects environmental factors and directly modulates the antenna's radiated signal without requiring external power sources or microprocessors. The antenna uses the inherent electrical properties of the thin-film material to encode and transmit sensing data passively, eliminating the need for active electronic components that consume power.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional separate sensor and antenna systems are used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but device complexity increases due to multiple components requiring assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor element and antenna into a single monolithic thin-film structure fabricated using standard thin-film deposition and patterning techniques. This integration eliminates the need for assembling multiple separate components, reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision through established thin-film fabrication processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies system design by integrating sensing and signal transmission, reducing energy consumption and complexity, while providing improved sensitivity and accuracy in detecting various stimuli through direct modulation of the antenna's radiation properties.
Implementation Method 1
the material including a sheet resistance capable of being modified by an external stimulus where the antenna response varies over a range of sheet resistance values
Implementation Method 2
a sensor antenna capable of modulating its electrical properties in response to external stimulus
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor antenna including a thin film material constructed in the shape of an antenna having a response, the material including a sheet resistance capable of being modified by an external stimulus where the antenna response varies over a range of sheet resistance values; method of making a sensor antenna; system including a sensor antenna; and method for operating a thin film sensor antenna including providing a thin film sensor antenna; exposing the sensor antenna to an external stimulus, simultaneously sensing the external stimulus while varying the sensor antenna response, measuring the change in the sensor antenna response, and correlating the measured response to a known change in the stimulus are disclosed.