Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
54 views

Basic Device Component

The basic components of a SAW sensor are a piezoelectric substrate that generates electrical charges from mechanical force, at least one interdigital transducer (IDT) to convert electromagnetic waves to acoustic waves and vice versa, and an area of propagation through which the acoustic wave propagates. The piezoelectric substrate determines the velocity of the acoustic wave. An IDT consists of a series of comb-like conductive structures that use the piezoelectric effect to convert electromagnetic current into acoustic waves and vice versa.

Uploaded by

RaviSubramanyam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
54 views

Basic Device Component

The basic components of a SAW sensor are a piezoelectric substrate that generates electrical charges from mechanical force, at least one interdigital transducer (IDT) to convert electromagnetic waves to acoustic waves and vice versa, and an area of propagation through which the acoustic wave propagates. The piezoelectric substrate determines the velocity of the acoustic wave. An IDT consists of a series of comb-like conductive structures that use the piezoelectric effect to convert electromagnetic current into acoustic waves and vice versa.

Uploaded by

RaviSubramanyam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Basic device components

The basic components of a SAW sensor are:


1. A piezoelectric substrate which generates electrical charges from mechanical force, and vice
versa
2. At least one interdigital transducer (IDT) to convert electromagnetic waves to acoustic
waves, and vice versa
3. An area of propagation, in some cases conceived as a delay line (see below), through which
the acoustic wave propagates

Figure 2: Diagram of a surface acoustic wave sensor using a delay


line.  Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Surface_Acoustic_Wave_Sensor_Interdigitated_Transducer
_Diagram.png

SAW sensors may also include an additional filtering or packaging element to sense many types of
phenomena indirectly. The sensor in this case is not directly sensing the phenomenon, but instead
sensing the response of the filtering or packaging element to its presence.

The piezoelectric effect

The IDTs and propagation area of a SAW sensor is built on a piezoelectric substrate, which uses
the piezoelectric effect to respond to mechanical forces by generating a voltage, and vice versa. This
voltage is proportional to the amount of force applied to the device as well as the type of force
applied (i.e. tension and compression produce opposite polarities). Furthermore, this effect is
reciprocal, so the device will also respond to an electric field by generating a mechanical response
that is proportional to the field's strength and polarity.

The material of the device's piezoelectric substrate determines the velocity of the acoustic wave,
which is in the range of 1500-4800 m/s. This is 10 5 times slower than the electromagnetic wave
velocity, allowing for a long delay along a relatively short area of propagation.
 

Interdigital transducers (IDTs)

An interdigital transducer consists of a series of comb-like conductive structures with an interleaving


pattern that resembles fingers, or "digits" (see Figure 3). Using the piezoelectric effect, the IDTs
convert the electromagnetic current of the impulse signal into acoustic waves and vice versa.

Conclusion

Acoustic wave sensors are extremely versatile devices that are just beginning to realize
their commercial potential. They are competitively priced, inherently rugged, very
sensitive, and intrinsically reliable, and can be interrogated passively and wirelessly.
Wireless sensors are beneficial when monitoring parameters on moving objects, such
as tire pressure on cars or torque on shafts. Sensors that require no operating power
are highly desirable for remote monitoring of chemical vapors, moisture, and
temperature. Other applications include measuring force, acceleration, shock, angular
rate, viscosity, displacement, and flow, in addition to film characterization. The sensors
also have an acoustoelectric sensitivity, allowing the detection of pH levels, ionic
contaminants, and electric fields. Surface acoustic wave sensors have proved to be the
most sensitive in general as a result of their larger energy density on the surface. For
liquid sensing, a special class of shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave sensors called
Love wave sensors proved to be the most sensitive. Much work is continuing in
developing these sensors for future applications.

SAW Oscillators Features

 Temperature stable: Micro-Oven temperature stabilizes only the SAW surface, +-10ppm for
-40C to 85C, 3 second warm-up, only .25W at room ambient
 Low phase noise circuitry: Special attention to loaded Q, 1/f noise, varactor noise, and
noise floor
 Voltage Controlled: Low noise varactor tuned 200ppm
 Vibration sensitivity: No mechanical resonance <2KHz, on-board 3-axis accelerometer for
active vibration compensation
 Aging: Special resonator packaging techniques to minimize aging
 Frequency multipliers: On-board 2-5x available
 Power: <.5W, 5 & 12 V available
 Size: 1x1x.2” hermetic kovar flatpack
 Phase Locked SAW Oscillator: PLL+VCSO locked to a low freq reference, all in 2.3″x1″
(58mmx25mm) hermetic kovar flatpack
 Test: Complete multi-temperature Acceptance Test Report shipped with every unit
 Connectorized package available
baw

saw

You might also like