Aerosol Jet® Enabled 3D Antenna and Sensors for IoT Applications

Abstract

There is fast growing demand for antennas and sensors directly integrated into products including smartphones, wearables, structural components, and other products related to the Internet of Things (IoT). While IoT applications are varied, the common requirement for such “Smart Connected Devices” is an inherent need for sensors (“smart”) and antennas (“connected”). Emerging 3-Dimensional “Direct Write” approaches for creating antenna and sensors enable rapid design and prototyping, reduce manufacturing steps and associated costs, and broaden the choice of target substrate shapes and materials. Optomec has developed a high volume printing solution for the production of 3D antenna and 3D sensors that are tightly integrated with an underlying product ranging from Smartphones to Industrial Components. Aerosol Jet® is a non-contact, room temperature deposition method that is used to print a wide variety of materials, including conductive, semiconducting, ceramic, CNT, graphene and other functional inks suitable for the fabrication of antenna and sensor that are directly integrated onto existing 3D products and structures. Case studies involving direct printing of various antenna (ie: Broadband, Bluetooth, NFC, etc) and sensors (ie: Strain, Creep, etc.) will be presented. Material considerations, including performance and reliability metrics will be discussed; and examples of via filling, wrap-around printing, and five axis motion will be shown.