Characterization of Low Cost Printed Sensors for Smart Packaging

Abstract: Currently there are very significant interests in printed electronics in the world. The possibility to produce electronics in a roll to roll printing process will considerably reduce the cost of the electronic devices. However, these new devices will most probably not replace the traditional silicon based electronics, but will be a complement in low cost applications such as in intelligent packages and other printable media. One interesting area is printable low cost sensors that add value to packages. In this thesis a study of the performance of low cost sensors is presented. The sensors were fabricated using commercial printing processes used in the graphical printing business. The sensors were characterized and evaluated for the intended application. The evaluated sensors were moisture sensing sensor solutions and touch sensitive sensor solutions.A printable touch sensitive sensor solution is presented where the sensor is incorporated into a high quality image such as in point of sales displays. The sensor solution showed good touch sensitivity at a variety of humidity levels. Four printed moisture sensor concepts are presented and characterized. Firstly, a moisture sensor that shows good correlation to the moisture content of cellulose based substrates. Secondly, a sensor that measures the relative humidity in the air, the sensor has a measuring accuracy of 0.22% at high relative humidity levels. Thirdly, a moisture sensor that utilizes unsintered silver nano-particles to measure the relative humidity in the air, the sensor has a linear response at very low relative humidity levels. And fourth, an action activated energy cell that provides power when activated by moisture. A concept of remote moisture sensing that utilizes ordinary low cost RFID tags has also been presented and characterized. The remote sensor solution works both with passive and semi-passive RFID systems. The study shows that it is possible to manufacture low cost sensors in commercial printing processes.