Implementation of Radiating Elements for Radiofrequency Front-Ends by Screen-Printing Techniques for Internet of Things Applications

Abstract

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to embedding wireless transceivers into a wide range of devices, in order to implement context-aware scenarios, in which a massive amount of transceivers is foreseen. In this framework, cost-effective electronic and Radio Frequency (RF) front-end integration is desirable, in order to enable straightforward inclusion of communication capabilities within objects and devices in general. In this work, flexible antenna prototypes, based on screen-printing techniques, with conductive inks on flexible low-cost plastic substrates is proposed. Different parameters such as substrate/ink characteristics are considered, as well as variations in fabrication process or substrate angular deflection in device performance. Simulation and measurement results are presented, as well as system validation results in a real test environment in wireless sensor network communications. The results show the feasibility of using screen-printing antenna elements on flexible low-cost substrates, which can be embedded in a wide array of IoT scenarios.

Cost-Driven Design of Printed Wideband Antennas with Reduced Silver Ink Consumption for the Internet of Things

“…Reliable connectorization of printed samples on a flexible substrate is typically a challenging task; conventional soldering degrades the substrate, and conventional mm SMA coaxial connectors are too heavy to provide a mechanically stable connection [ 2 ]. Therefore, a Hirose U.FL-R-SMT-1 U.FL connector was chosen as a lower-weight and more compact alternative.…”

“…In IoT systems, wireless communication plays a key role in providing interaction between the user and the device, between devices themselves, and in transmitting data for business, analytics, or monitoring purposes [ 2 ]. However, due to the current lack of standardization and the multitude of IoT applications, wireless transceivers must operate within a wide range of communication protocols and frequencies in order to guarantee maximal interoperability.…”

A Review of IoT Sensing Applications and Challenges Using RFID and Wireless Sensor Networks

“…The main challenges these systems must overcome in order to enable their use as wearable devices are the following [64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]:…”