Printed RFID and Wireless

Sensor Solutions, PWiSE

Nordite project

Our objectives

• Development of new tools for system integration of printed wireless sensor solutions – Basic research targeting printing of active or semi-active devices that

allow integration of printed logics, sensor and wireless communication

• Printed RFID sensor solutions – We are targeting RFID sensor functionality at similar price levels as

EPC type RFID tags (5 to 10 US cent). The main motivation for the printed part is to reach large area sensor functionality and low cost customization, and to allow disposable wireless sensor solutions.

• Sweep-over type or EAS wireless sensor solutions – We are targeting integration of printed sensor functionalities into

fully printed RF structures. The readout solutions targeted are sweep over readers (VTT) and resonator circuits typically used in Electronic Article Surveillance systems (EAS).

Vision

Printed logic

Printed large

area sensor

Printed

modulator

Printed or foil

antenna

Chip-less sensor label

Printed logic

Printed large

area sensor

Printed

modulator

Silicon IC

RFID inlay

Hybrid sensor label

Roadmap and research layers

in the project

‘Optional’

VTT, KTH

VTT, MIUN,

KTH

MIUN, VTT,

KTH

MIUN, VTT

Both chip-less and chip-assisted printed wireless

sensor demonstrations

Single event logging using

passive circuits

• Passive wireless sensor solutions need

sensors with memory functions to bridge

the gap of time

Time

Event

detected

by sensor

Wireless

tag near

reader

Gap of time

Relevant for both mesh-type and area type

solutions

Integration of printed gas sensors

with existing RFID inlays

• Combining nanoparticle based PriMeBits gas sensors with standard inlays

(aluminum) would drastically simplify manufacturing of sensor labels

• Utilizing electromagnetic coupling between printed WORM structures and

aluminum inlays is one possible solution

Manuscript ready and submitted for publication …

Measurements with moisture sensor

integrated using EM coupled loops

Measured minimum required transmit power between sensor tag and reference

tag when located inside a laboratory wall with 80% humidity and with the RFID

reader positioned perpendicular 0.8 m from the labels. Two layer printed loop

with moisture sensitive WORM was plastered over the antenna loop. The WORM

sensor was pre-sintered to about 10 kW.

Nanoparticle array sensor EAS tag activated when moisture threshold reached

Printed moisture sensor with

memory function

Combining roll to roll and ink-jet techniques

Near field fully printed sensor label

• Near field solutions are needed – Our concept are based on

sweep-over reader in an electrically active barcode technology

• The barcode provides the ID

• Sensor data can be directly linked to single bars (bits) in the barcode

– Concepts using single event logging and WORMs can be used

Reader solution developed by

VTT for third party

Spoilage sensor

Inkjet printed nanoparticle based electronic bar code for

H2S sensing. High sensitivity reached using a low sintering

degree (porous array cleaned by toluene)

Smart packaging demo - intrusion alarm using a printed electronic seal

- Low cost chip-less and passive solutions

- Uses the reader infrastructure already in

place for electronic article surveillance (anti-

theft)

Label to sensor attachment using anisotropic

conductive adhesives

Data logging using Battery Assisted

Passive RFID

System integration of a low cost smart label for

measurement of water content in different materials

Hybrid active sensor label

Moisture sensor

Smart packaging demo - Active logging intrusion alarm

• If the electronic seal is tampered with the smart label will

record it and provide the exact time of intrusion

• Readout using standard EPC gen2 RFID platform

Electronics inside the box

(can be printed on the box) The sealing tape is all

that is visible

Additional demons to be presented using

the semi-passive sensor platform

• System integration of RFID platform an

– Accelerometers – chock and tilt

– Light detection for intrusion alarm

enhancement

– Pressure for vacuum sealed packages

– Simple gas sensors (nano particle based)

– Strain

Conclusions

• Nanoparticle based printed thin film transistors have been developed and evaluated.

• Some concepts to integrate printed large area sensors with standard RFID technology has been demonstrated

• Printed moisture sensors have been evaluated and used in demonstrator setups

• Printed WORM memory technology has been developed and evaluated for use with EPC RFID tags

• Five patents have been filed during the project and in total 45 publications have been published