T-Junction Loaded With Interdigital Capacitor for Differential Measurement of Permittivity

Mohammadi P., Mohammadi A., KARA A.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT, cilt.71, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 71
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1109/tim.2022.3200600
  • Dergi Adı: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: High sensitivity, interdigital capacitor (IDC), sensor, T-junction, SENSITIVITY MICROWAVE SENSOR, RESONATOR
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The microwave sensors have been successfully used for permittivity measurement. These sensors suffer from limited sensitivity and environmental effects. This article presents a novel T-junction highly sensitive microwave sensor for permittivity measurement of low-lass solid materials. The proposed sensor operation principle is based on downshifting the transmission zero (TZ) of the outputs of T-junction with the coupling of the material under test (MUT). The sensing section consists of an interdigital capacitor (IDC) located in between the lines of the T-junction. IDC is directly connected to output arms of T-junction, so that it could disturb the outputs strongly. Any change in electric field concentration in IDC directly is transmitted to the outputs and is translated as TZ change. Design steps including T-junction and IDC effects on outputs are presented in detail. The sensor operation principle is described through an equivalent circuit model, which is validated by simulation and experimental results. Two outputs of the proposed sensor show the same electrical performances, which allow differential operation mode. Hence, cross sensitivity due to environmental factors can be tolerated by the sensor. Measurement results of the fabricated prototype show 112-MHz frequency shift per unit permittivity change and a normalized sensitivity of 3.9%, which are larger than available similar sensors. The proposed sensor is implemented on a 22.22 x 18.76 x 1.6 mm(3) printed circuit board.