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RF-Powered Wireless Strain Sensor

Y. HEW, A. YU, H. HUANG

Abstract


This paper presents the implementation and characterization of a wireless strain measurement system that features ultra-low power consumption, wireless strain transmission, and wireless powering. The wireless strain sensor consumes about 6 mW. To achieve such an ultra-low power operation, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) was used to convert the direct-current (DC) strain signal to a high frequency oscillatory signal, which is then wirelessly transmitted using an unpowered wireless transponder. A wireless RF powering module provides the power for the sensor node. The application of such sensor in structure health monitoring could bring the benefits of reduction of the wiring cost, and high sensor density with great sensor portability.

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