New low noise interface circuit for detecting weak current of micro-sensors

A new low noise interface circuit for detecting weak current of micro-sensors is designed.By using the transimpedance amplifier to substitute the charge amplifier,the closed-loop circuit can avoid the phase error of the charge amplifier.Therefore,the phase compensation devices will be cancelled,because there is no phase transformation through the transimpedance amplifier.As well as,by using CCCII devices to implement the high value feedback resistor of the impedance amplifier,the noise of the I-V transformation devices is reduced,comparing with the passive resistor.The floating resistor is easy to be integrated into chips,making the integration of the interface circuit of the intelligent sensors increase.Through the simulation,the phase error of the charge amplifier is almost 9°at 2 kHz and it changes with the working frequency of the micro-sensors making the phase compensation not easy.The value of the floating resistor is 250 kΩ where the bias current is 50 μA.The noise of the active resistor is 0.037 fV2/Hz,comparing with the noise of the passive resistor,which is 4.14 fV2/Hz.

Numerical analysis of capacitive pressure micro-sensors

Pseudo-spectral method is used to numerically model the diaphragm deflection of capacitive pressure micro-sensor under uniform load. The relationship between the capacitance of the micro-sensor and the load is then analyzed after the description of the computational principle. For normal mode micro-sensor, the tensile force on the diaphragm can be ignored and thereby the capacitance increases linearly with the load increase only when the load is so small that the resultant deflection is less than the diaphragm thickness. The linear relationship between the capacitance and the load turns to be nonlinear thereafter and the capacitance rises dramatically with the constant increase of the load. For touch mode micro-sensor, an algorithm to determine the touch radius of the diaphragm and substrate is presented and the curve of capacitance versus load is shown on the numerical results laying a theoretical foundation for micro-sensor design.

Ink formulation, scalable applications and challenging perspectives of screen printing for emerging printed microelectronics

Screen printing is regarded as a highly competitive manufacture technology for scalable and fast fabrication of printed microelectronics, owing to its advanced merits of low-cost, facile operability and scalability.However, its large-scale application in printed microelectronics is still limited by screen printing functional ink. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of ink formation, typical scalable applications, and challenging perspectives of screen printing for emerging printed microelectronics. Firstly, we introduce the major mechanism of screen printing and the formation of different organic-and aqueous-based inks by various solvents and binders. Next, we review the most widely used applications of screen printing technique in micro-batteries, micro-supercapacitors and micro-sensors, demonstrative of wide applicability.Finally, the perspectives and future challenges in the sight of screen printing are briefly discussed.

Low-Cost Sensors Calibration for Monitoring Air Quality in the Federal District—Brazil

Critical situations that cannot be solved by conventional approaches (traditional air quality monitoring networks), have the possibility of being managed quickly by a wide network of portable systems with sensors. The purpose of this research was to calibrate and validate low-cost sensors. Pilot indoor and outdoor areas, in the central area of Brasilia (Brazil’s capital city) were chosen for corporative performance evaluation of the sensors. The CO at 99.999% volumetric injection method has been used in a gas test box, among two MiCS-5521 (CO/VOC) sensors, one being new and the other one with a short useful life. The number of injections adopted to each volume (from 1 ml to 6 ml) was 10, rising each sensor’s confidence interval mean. A increase of the injected volume (ml) of CO resulted in significant decrease in a resistance (Ohms), as shown by a good inverse relationship on the interaction of these two variables (r = 0.88), with good measurement accuracy, when compared to the manufacturer’s reference datasheet. Finally, a geospatial management system was built for the pollution data measured by the low-cost sensors.

Biomimetic Cilia Based on MEMS Technology

A review on the research of Micro Electromechanical Systems （MEMS） technology based biomimetic cilia is presented. Biomimetic cilia, enabled by the advancement of MEMS technology, have been under dynamic development for the past decade. After a brief description of the background of cilia and MEMS technology, different biomimetic cilia applications are reviewed. Biomimetic cilia micro-actuators, including micromachined polyimide bimorph biomimetic cilia micro-actuator, electro-statically actuated polymer biomimetic cilia micro-actuator, and magnetically actuated nanorod array biomimetic cilia micro-actuator, are presented. Subsequently micromachined underwater flow biomimetic cilia micro-sensor is studied, followed by acoustic flow micro-sensor. The fabrication of these MEMS-based biomimetic cilia devices, characterization of their physical properties, and the results of their application experiments are discussed.