Dedicated SAW Oscillator for Sensing Applications

When using high-sensitivity sensors in arrays, it is essential to divide the sensor system into individual, robust and separable components. This is the most effective way to achieve a sufficient sensor density and to make efficient use of techniques such as multiplexing. This paper presents a compact surface acoustic wave (SAW) oscillator ring composed of discrete components for magnetic field measurement. The output signal of the oscillator is the frequency modulated (FM) sensor signal and can be directly demodulated or down-converted for demodulation, depending on the operating frequency of the sensitive element.