Light-Controlled Thin Film Backscatter Device Using Additive Manufacturing

The recent demand for flexible printed electronics integration technologies in, e.g., additively manufactured radio frequency (RF) components and modules for Internet of Things (IoT) gains growing popularity. Inkjet printing on flexible substrates is one of the most preferable techniques because of easy fabrication and compact packaging. This letter presents a compact thin film backscatter device (BD) designed for visible light communication (VLC)-enabled IoT scenarios. The BD converts light carrying sensor data into RF signals, transmitting them at the 2.4 GHz band by employing ambient backscatter communication. The integration of inkjet-printed circuitry, antenna, and lumped components on polyethylene terephthalate substrates through additive manufacturing highlights advancement in device compactness and flexibility. Experiment results validate the BD's robust performance under various lighting conditions for data transmission, showing potential for facilitating VLC-IoT applications.