Many applications from different fields (e.g., industry, food area, transportation, structural health monitoring, medical sector) require a sensor to perform a measurement inside an environment that is hermetically sealed or presents harsh characteristics, e.g., extremely high temperatures or pressures. Such requirement implies the necessity to respect specific criteria to design a proper measurement system, which concern dimensions, used materials, sensor power supply and data transmission to a readout unit. Telemetric systems represent a suitable alternative. They consist of an external readout unit able to supply a passive sensor (which is placed inside the measurement environment) and to receive information from it through the inductive coupling created between the inductors connected to them. The research activity focuses on the study of telemetric systems working with capacitive or resistive passive sensors. Furthermore, it aims at designing disposable and low-cost passive sensors with innovative technologies, such as inkjet printing (in collaboration with the University of Catania) and aerosol jet printing.

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For more info, please contact Michele Bona or Mauro Serpelloni.

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From left to right: passive sensor for temperature monitoring inside an oven; planar inductor fabricated through low-cost inkjet printing on a flexible PET substrate; planar inductor realized through aerosol jet printing on a silicone substrate.