MEMS: From Micro Devices to Wireless Systems

Vol. 7, Special Issue, October 2009, pp.150-159

Comparison of Transmission Line Methods for Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling

¹William WILSON, ²Gary ATKINSON

¹NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA,

²Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA,

Tel.: +1 (804) 827-0185

E-mail: GMAtkins@vcu.edu

Received: 28 August 2009   /Accepted: 28 September 2009   /Published: 12 October 2009

Abstract: Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed.

This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method (a first order model), and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices.

Keywords: Surface acoustic wave, SAW, Transmission line models, Impulse response method

Click <here> or title of paper to download the full pages article (555 Kb)

1999 - 2009 Copyright ©, International Frequency Sensor Association (IFSA). All Rights Reserved.

Home - News - Links - Archives - Tools - Standardization - Patents - Marketplace - Projects - Wish List - Subscribe - Search - Membership - Submit Press Release

 Members Area -Sensors Portal -Training Courses - S&T Digest - For advertisers - Bookstore - Forums - Polls - Sensor Jobs - e-Shop - Site Map