The sensor is based on 65nm CMOS technology and has a specially developed router, with an antenna that powers the sensor via the radio waves it uses to communicate information. The sensor stores that energy and, once there is enough, switches on, measures the temperature and sends a signal back to the router.
The current version of the sensor has a range of 2.5cm; the researchers expect to extend this to 1m within a year, and ultimately to 5m. Since this energy transfer is accurately targeted at the sensor, the router is said to consume very little electricity. The sensor is designed so that its energy consumption is also low.
The sensor is claimed to operate beneath a layer of paint, plaster or concrete. Peter Baltus, TU/e professor of wireless technology, explained: “This makes the sensor easy to incorporate in buildings, for instance by ‘painting’ it onto the wall with the latex.”
The same technology enables other wireless sensors to be made, for example to measure movement, light and humidity. “The application areas are enormous,” Prof Baltus said. “Ranging from payment systems and wireless identification to smart buildings and industrial production systems.”
Prof Baltus added that the cost of an individual chip will be around 20 cents.
According to Gartner, the market research firm, cities will incorporate 1.6billion connected things, smart buildings, 518million and homes, 1bn, in 2016.
