Hybrid (3D and inkjet) printed electromagnetic pressure sensor using metamaterial absorber

Abstract

This paper proposed a hybrid printed electromagnetic pressure sensor using a metamaterial absorber. We used a three-dimensional printed flexible resin for the transformable substrate with inkjet printed conductive patterns stacked on the printed substrate to realize a hybrid printed electromagnetic pressure sensor. A square ring pattern was implemented for the metamaterial absorber unit cell. Since absorption frequency varied with substrate thickness, the device could be used as an electromagnetic pressure sensor with mechanically transformable substrate. Performance was numerically and experimentally measured, and absorption frequency increased from 5.2 to 5.66 GHz by applying 0 and 20 N pressure, respectively; device sensitivity = 7.75 × 108 Hz/mm (0.2 × 108 Hz/N); and repeatability was retained up to 100 cycles. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.