Wireless resistive analog passive temperature sensors for smart & connected community

Next generation smart and connected community (SCC) requires novel low-power technologies that will disperse in the environment to seamlessly collect data. Thus new technologies for wearables need to address this challenge to enhance mobile health (mHealth). As such, we are developing fully-passive body-worn Wireless Resistive Analog Passive (WRAP) sensors using inkjet printing (IJP) technology for various physiological signal monitoring. In this work, we present two WRAP temperature sensors to monitor core-body temperature. The paper outlines the designs, layouts, and functional test results. In one design, a manual switch is utilized to measure relative change due to the temperature sensor (NTC) in contrast to a known load. In the other design, an automated version is presented where the switching is performed with a RC-delayed transistor. The signal transition occurs after the RC-delay, where R is the resistance of the NTC. Functional evaluation shows change of transition time for different temperatures. Quantitative characterizations are currently being conducted. In combination with other WRAP sensors under development, this novel technology has promise to detect various diseases at home using smartphones that will enhance mHealth capabilities for improved SCC health.