Characterization of a Robust 3D- and Inkjet-Printed Capacitive Position Sensor for a Spectrometer Application

Area of Science:

• Sensor Technology
• Spectroscopy Instrumentation
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Spectrometer devices require high-resolution sensors for precise measurements.
• Existing sensor systems can be bulky and expensive.
• Need for advanced sensor read-out electronics for improved performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and compact capacitive sensor system for spectrometers.
• To create a flexible, all-digital sensor read-out hardware.
• To achieve high position resolution and wide measurement range in spectrometer applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multilayer inkjet-printed electrode structure on a 3D-printed copper housing.
• Development of flexible, all-digital sensor read-out hardware with a carrier frequency system.
• Implementation of high sampling rates (up to 10 ns) and precise trigger signal generation.

Main Results:

• Achieved very high position resolutions below 50 nm and a wide measurement range of 1000 μm.
• Enabled spectrometer devices with significantly reduced outlines and costs.
• Demonstrated quasi-noise-immune read-out with flexible bandwidth and frequency choices.

Conclusions:

• The developed inkjet- and 3D-printed capacitive sensor system enables advanced spectrometer designs.
• The flexible, all-digital read-out hardware significantly enhances measurement precision and system efficiency.
• This technology presents a viable solution for cost-effective, high-performance spectrometer instrumentation.