With printed temperature sensors poised to grow substantially over the next decade, this seems like a very appropriate question. Based on nanostructured silicon composite inks, PST Sensors (of South Africa) thin film printed and flexible temperature sensors are available in a suite of temperature sensing systems. Its silicon nanoparticle negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor can be printed on many different materials including paper, fabric and polymer film. Unlike semiconductor technology-based devices, the printing process does not require high temperature processing or clean room facilities.
The thin, lightweight Printed Silicon Thermistor (PST) has a response time of < 100 ms, making it more responsive than any other temperature sensors. With its large active sensing area (from mm2 to m2), the PST sensor is also more accurate (< ± 0.1 °C) than traditional sensors. It provides the basis for other temperature sensor products for PST Sensors.
For example, a fully printed analog circuit based PST, the Active-T Sensor, is a voltage divider where the output voltage tracks the temperature. Simply measuring the output voltage provides the temperature information. The temperature range, precision and choice of substrate materials are similar to those of the Printed Silicon Thermistor.
Temperature sensor arrays provide an innovative way to obtain temperature profiles. PST Sensors’ Thermal imaging Mat (TiM) is an array of individually addressed temperature sensors and the XY-T Array is a fully XY addressable passive matrix sensor array. Both arrays can have sensor elements with different sizes and shapes.
Chip on Sensor hybrid (CoSH) technology provides a digital serial temperature sensor. Digital temperature data is available without measuring resistance or voltage and without having to perform multi-point calibrations. Additional functionality, such as secure data and data logging, can be provided through special request.
PST Sensors Thermistors, Active-T Sensors, Temperature Sensor Arrays and CoHS technology can be combined in a hybrid system with any wireless protocol.
These different approaches can address many wearable, wireless, energy harvesting and/or long battery life as well as Internet of Things (IoT) temperature sensing applications.
Filed Under: Sensor Tips