Passive Electrical Components Research Articles

Semiconductor-free, monolithically 3D-printed logic gates and resettable fuses

ABSTRACT Additive manufacturing has the potential to enable the inexpensive, single-step fabrication of fully functional electromechanical devices. However, while the 3D printing of mechanical parts and passive electrical components is well developed, the fabrication of fully 3D-printed active electronics, which are the cornerstone of intelligent devices, remains a challenge. Existing examples of 3D-printed active electronics show potential but lack integrability and accessibility. This work reports the first active electronics fully 3D-printed via material extrusion, i.e. one of the most accessible and versatile additive manufacturing processes. The technology is proof-of-concept demonstrated through the implementation of the first fully 3D-printed, semiconductor-free, solid-state logic gates, and the first fully 3D-printed resettable fuses. The devices take advantage of a positive temperature coefficient phenomenon found to affect narrow traces of 3D-printed copper-reinforced, polylactic acid. Although the reported devices don’t perform competitively against semiconductor-enabled integrated circuits, the customisability and accessibility intrinsic to material extrusion additive manufacturing make this technology promisingly disruptive. This work serves as a steppingstone for the semiconductor-free democratisation of electronic device fabrication and is of immediate relevance for the manufacture of custom, intelligent devices far from traditional manufacturing centres.

Passive Electrical Components Based on Cotton Fabric Decorated with Iron Oxides Microfibers: The Influence of Static and Pulsed Magnetic Fields on the Equivalent Electrical Properties.

In this work, environmentally friendly and low-cost passive electrical components (PECs) are manufactured based on composites consisting of cotton fabrics soaked with solutions of silicone oil and different amounts of iron oxides microfibers (μFe). The μFe consists of a mixture of three phases: hematite (α-Fe2O3), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and magnetite (Fe3O4). The equivalent electrical capacitance (Cp) and resistance (Rp) of PECs are measured as a function of magnetic flux density B in a static and pulsed magnetic field superimposed on an alternating electric field of frequency 1 kHz. The relative variation in the hysteresis curves for both Cp and Rp are obtained by measuring them in the ascending and then the descending mode of B. We show that all these three quantities are sensibly influenced by the volume fractions of μFe and by the values of B. The main influence on this behavior is attributed to the semiconductor properties of the α-Fe2O3 and γ-Fe2O3 components of the oxide microfibers. In addition, it is found that at B≃ 175 mT, the maximum relative variance of the hysteresis curve is about 3.35% for Cp and 3.18 % for Rp. When a pulsed magnetic field is used, it is shown that Cp and Rp closely follow the variation in the magnetic field. Thus, the resulting electrical properties of PECs, together with the fast response to the application of pulsed magnetic fields, make them useful in the fabrication of various devices, such as electric, magnetic, and deformation fields, or mechanical stress sensors with applications in protection against electromagnetic smog, healthcare monitoring, or for human-machine interfacing.

Deposition of PEDOT:PSS via Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Torch

Creating conductive biocompatible coatings with enhanced stability and adhesion can be achieved with cold plasma‐assisted processes that provide surface modification, and assisted polymerization at mild conditions and room temperature. Herein, a novel method is reported for the controlled deposition of conductive polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on substrates with different characteristics: polyethylene terephthalate, poly(dimethylsiloxane), and soda‐lime glass. The plasma deposited PEDOT:PSS films are studied by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tested for stability and adhesion. The electrical resistance is obtained by a four‐point probe station to investigate the influence of plasma reaction and etching mechanism on the reproducibility of the electrical parameters. The proposed method is also successfully developed for the deposition of stacked layers structures, with the aim to design basic passive electrical components, such as a resistor or a capacitor. The possibility of realizing complex shapes by selective area deposition can enable the realization of advanced biosensor devices.

Additive manufacturing of IoT housings with integrated electronics

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an established fabrication method for diverse applications. Due to the versatile manufacturing possibilities, AM provides totally new approaches in designing objects. An emphasis in the field of research was set to the development of unique materials for AM. Among them, conductive filaments were examined for applications in printed electronics. The combination of new materials and the innovative design approach offered by AM generates a comprehensive field of applications. Promising applications can be found on the “Internet of Things (IoT)” sector. The development of connected products includes physical and electronic components. Traditionally, the fabrication process of these products is linear, thus, the design and the fabrication of the physical components is separated from the electronic part. To overcome this separation, an AM approach can be applied in the fabrication of IoT devices. This additive multi-material fabrication approach enables the fabrication of mechanical and electric components in one fabrication process. To prove this fabrication approach, antennas for IoT devices consisting of a supportive element and a antenna element for signal transmission were designed. The antennas were fabricated by material extrusion combining non-conductive and conductive filaments. Two different antennas (patch and arc antenna) were designed focusing on one specific frequencies range: 868 MHz (LoRa). To compare the AM antenna, reference antennas have been fabricated by etching. Antennas were characterized by simulation and measuring the return loss of the fabricated specimen. Finally, the transmission of a payload was tested in a real-world scenario. The tested antennas were able to transmit a payload, however, the return loss differed between the different designs and fabrication approaches. Nevertheless, the additive multi-material fabrication process enables an integrated production approach which led to functional devices. In this sense, electronics and physical components are merged into a truly smart product. Based on the findings, further applications of the hybrid approach will be investigated e.g., signal traces, passive electrical components to further strengthen the extensive application possibilities of additive manufacturing.Graphical abstract

A Reproducible Bioimpedance Transducer for Insulin Noninvasive Measurement

A bioimpedance transducer is proposed for non-invasive monitoring of insulin bioavailability after subcutaneous injection. The insulin bioavailability is assessed indirectly by measuring the local impedance variation due to the drug disappearance from the injection volume. The instrument allows to manage the extreme variability in insulin response by diabetic patients due to skin conditions and/or alterations such as lipodystrophy. In this way, the transducer can also be considered as a key component for new generation of artificial pancreas. The instrument achieves state of art accuracy and uncertainty. Intra-individual reproducibility also resulted improved with respect to previous studies. Moreover, the feasibility of an absorption measurement is proved. After presenting the concept design and the prototype, the metrological characterization during (i) laboratory (on passive electrical components), (ii) in-vitro (on eggplants), and (iii) in-vivo (on an human subject) experiments is reported. In laboratory tests, typical percentage deterministic errors of 1 % on magnitude and phase were obtained. The mean 1-σ repeatability of 0.05 % was obtained for both impedance magnitude and phase. The in-vitro tests were aimed to improve the reproducibility by comparing the electrical behavior of insulin and vehicle in eggplants. During the in-vivo tests, a decrease in percentage 1-σ intra-individual reproducibility was reported with respect to the state of art (from more than 200 % to 36 %), as the impedance magnitude is concerned. In a clinical application framework, an accuracy of 9 μl was obtained by means of a second-order polynomial model. The uncertainty resulted 4.2 μl, well below the typical volume of one insulin unit (10.0 μl).

Photolithography-Based Microfabrication of Biodegradable Flexible and Stretchable Sensors.

Biodegradable sensors based on integrating conductive layers with polymeric materials in flexible and stretchable forms have been established. However, the lack of a generalized microfabrication method results in large-sized, low spatial density, and low device yield compared to the silicon-based devices manufactured via batch-compatible microfabrication processes. Here, a batch fabrication-compatible photolithography-based microfabrication approach for biodegradable and highly miniaturized essential sensor components is presented on flexible and stretchable substrates. Up to 1600 devices are fabricated within a 1 cm2 footprint and then the functionality of various biodegradable passive electrical components, mechanical sensors, and chemical sensors is demonstrated on flexible and stretchable substrates. The results are highly repeatable and consistent, proving the proposed method's high device yield and high-density potential. This simple, innovative, and robust fabrication recipe allows complete freedom over the applicability of various biodegradable materials with different properties toward the unique application of interests. The process offers a route to utilize standard micro-fabrication procedures toward scalable fabrication of highly miniaturized flexible and stretchable transient sensors and electronics.

Synchronized switch piezoelectric energy harvesting using rotating magnetic ball and reed switches

Synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI) interface circuit has been developed to boost the harvesting capability of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs). Although some electronic self-powered peak-detector and switching circuits have been proposed to support the practical realization of SSHI, the energy dissipation and voltage drops in transistors and diodes of the self-powered circuits might significantly deteriorate the actual energy harvesting performance. Some mechatronic designs were proposed as well. However, most of their switches are activated by touch impacts, which might introduce undesired high-order vibrations to the main structure. In this paper, rather than using the impact-engaged strategy discussed in the literature, a new mechanism using a magnetic ball for vibration synchronization and reed switches for switching operation is proposed. A PEH shunted to an SSHI interface circuit using the proposed mechatronic approach has been prototyped. Since the peak-detection and switching operations are completed by a mechanical mechanism, less passive electrical components, which consume extra energy, are required in our proposed design. Therefore, the overall energy harvesting performance is improved. Numerical simulations and experimental tests have validated the feasibility of the proposed design. The experimental results have shown that the power output produced by the proposed mechatronic self-powered SSHI design can be increased by and , as compared with the cases using a benchmark standard energy harvesting bridge rectifier and an electronic self-powered SSHI solutions, respectively. Moreover, owing to the new mechatronic design, the auxiliary mechanical components are embedded in the tip block of the cantilevered PEH, rendering the whole system to be a compact design.

Large-scale fabrication of all-inkjet-printed resistors and WORM memories on flexible polymer films with high yield and stability

We report on the development of inkjet-printed thin-film resistors using both organic and inorganic ink formulations. The passive devices were manufactured on flexible polymer substrates in ambient condition without the need for a cleanroom environment or inert atmosphere and at a maximum temperature of 150 °C. By using the same manufacturing process, the rapid electrical sintering (RES) method is demonstrated as effective for the fabrication of inkjet-printed, programmable Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) memories. Several hundred fully inkjet-printed resistors with different parameters were fabricated and subsequently morphologically and electrically characterized with the aim of obtaining statistically significant data. From a manufacturing process viewpoint, the procedures based on inkjet printing herein described are highly attractive: they do not require high temperatures, low pressures, special atmospheric conditions, and any masks, therefore providing a versatile low-cost approach to fabricate passive electrical components and simple circuits useful for the electronic industry. Printing can be carried out at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid damage to the fabric substrate and these devices can be used in a range of applications requiring flexible and conformal devices from embedded passive filters in PCBs to wearable electronics.

WORKSHOP PENINGKATAN KUALITAS SDM BAGI CALON GURU FISIKA MELALUI MEDIA PRAKTIKUM KOMPONEN ELEKTRONIKA PASIF DAN AKTIF

: Prospective physics teachers are the seeds of the next generation to spread science. But the understanding of science has been balanced with standard laboratory facilitation. In fact there are still many public and private schools that do not have adequate laboratory facilities. Whereas a physics teacher candidate must be able to teach in all fields and conditions. This is a challenge for prospective physics teachers. So the importance of conducting workshops to conduct a learning approach using methods of using practicum media by optimizing the surrounding environment such as the use of passive and active electrical component materials. The implementation of this activity is carried out for six hours consisting of 1. Introduction 2. Characterization 3. Implementation. The results of this dedication activity the prospective physics teachers are very enthusiastic because so far the physics candidates are only limited to knowing but do not understand the physical or physical meaning.

Artificial neural network based unity power factor corrector for single phase DC-DC converters

Due to the negative effects of the non-linear semiconductor devices and the passive electrical components (inductor and capacitor) in the converter circuits, and that are deteriorating the power factor (PF) and total harmonics distortion (THD) of grid current, this study proposes a novel unity PF correction controller based on a new algorithm of neural network to improve the performance of a single phase boost DC-DC converter with respect to the mentioned concerns. The controller guarantees stable load voltage. The PF corrector, firstly measures the phase shift between grid voltage and grid current waveforms, then through a new artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm, a suitable duty cycle is predicted to guide and control the converter to reduce the phase shift between grid voltage and grid current as possible to have maximum PF which is unity PF, and to improve the THD level of grid current. The proposed system is simulated and evaluated via Simulink of MATLAB, the simulation results are collected at constant duty cycle and at controlled duty cycle through the proposed PF controller using different loads. The presented PF controller guarantees the unity power factor, and enhances the grid alternating current THD.

Simple Artificial Neuron Using an Ovonic Threshold Switch Featuring Spike-Frequency Adaptation and Chaotic Activity

As an essential building block for developing a large-scale brain-inspired computing system, we present a highly scalable and energy-efficient artificial neuron device composed of an Ovonic Threshold Switch (OTS) and a few passive electrical components. It shows not only the basic integrate-and-fire (I&F) function and the rate coding ability, but also the spike-frequency adaptation (SFA) property and the chaotic activity. The latter two, being the most common features found in the mammalian cortex, are particularly essential for the realization of the energy-efficient signal processing, learning, and adaptation to environments1-3, but have been hard to achieve up to now. Furthermore, with our OTS-based neuron device employing the reservoir computing technique combined with delayed feedback dynamics, spoken-digit recognition task has been performed with a considerable degree of recognition accuracy. From a comparison with a Mott memristor-based artificial neuron device, it is shown that the OTS-based artificial neuron is much more energy-efficient by about 100 times. These results show that our OTS-based artificial neuron device is promising for the application in the development of a large-scale brain-inspired computing system.

Influences of ambient conditions on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using various models

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is an emerging renewable energy resource for transportation and power generation. Similar to other renewable resources, the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell is affected by ambient conditions. However, procedures for analyzing the influences of such conditions on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells are expensive and time-consuming. Moreover, the commonly used models have been developed on the basis of standard ambient conditions. Thus, these models are difficult to utilize under adverse ambient conditions. This study was performed to develop suitable proton exchange membrane fuel cell models that could reflect the effects of ambient conditions on the output voltage and current of the models. The first proposed model used the advantages of electrical and thermal relationships of a complex semiempirical model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. A simplified proton exchange membrane fuel cell model that used passive electrical components was then developed by central composite surface design. Both proposed models were simulated using various ambient temperatures, pressures, and load resistances by considering that the applied hydrogen pressure is known. Results showed that the output voltage of proton exchange membrane fuel cell decreased when ambient temperature increased and pressure decreased. This variation was dominant when the load resistance was reduced. Computation using the simplified model was remarkably faster than that using the first model. The proposed model can be beneficial, especially for aircraft applications and unusual ambient conditions.

Embedding electronics in 3D printed structures by combining fused filament fabrication and supersonic cluster beam deposition

We present an integrated additive manufacturing approach for the rapid prototyping of objects with embedded electric circuits. Our approach relies on the combined use of standard fused filament fabrication (FFF) for the production of thermoplastic 3D freeform components, and supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) for the fabrication of embedded electrical conducting lines and resistors with tailored conductivity. SCBD is an additive fabrication technique based on the deposition of neutral metallic clusters carried in a highly collimated supersonic beam. SCBD produces strongly adherent conducting layers onto polymeric substrates with electrical resistance depending only on the thickness of the cluster-assembled film. A multi-step fabrication procedure alternating FFF and SCBD was developed and optimized allowing the fabrication of conductive 3D oblique paths, bridging vias, and sockets for standard electronic components fitting. This resulted in the simplification of the topology of planar electric circuits by enabling out-of-plane connections, minimizing the implementation of bulky passive electrical components and avoiding the use of soldering and conductive adhesives for the integration of active electronic components. A dark-activated light sensor was produced as a demonstrator.

Hybrid 3D Printing of Soft Electronics.

Hybrid 3D printing is a new method for producing soft electronics that combines direct ink writing of conductive and dielectric elastomeric materials with automated pick-and-place of surface mount electronic components within an integrated additive manufacturing platform. Using this approach, insulating matrix and conductive electrode inks are directly printed in specific layouts. Passive and active electrical components are then integrated to produce the desired electronic circuitry by using an empty nozzle (in vacuum-on mode) to pick up individual components, place them onto the substrate, and then deposit them (in vacuum-off mode) in the desired location. The components are then interconnected via printed conductive traces to yield soft electronic devices that may find potential application in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.

Prediction of Homo sapiens cancer cells by electrical network modelling of amino acid sequence

Amino acids are the essential primary component of every living organism, deficiency of which may lead to different types of genetic abnormalities in cells. In the present paper, electrical network modelling technique is applied on Homo sapiens genes for prediction of cancer disease. Amino acids are designed using passive electrical components i.e. resistor, inductor and capacitor. The network of amino acid sequence is used to predict the cancer genes by analysing pole-zero distribution and impedance of the network. The results show high affinity of the hydrophilic amino acids in cancer cell related genes compare to healthy genes, which validate the medical research reports. Since the present network model realisation is based on amino acid level, the concept is significantly better than other modelling approach in terms of complexity and computational load.

High-throughput shadow mask printing of passive electrical components on paper by supersonic cluster beam deposition

We report the rapid prototyping of passive electrical components (resistors and capacitors) on plain paper by an additive and parallel technology consisting of supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) coupled with shadow mask printing. Cluster-assembled films have a growth mechanism substantially different from that of atom-assembled ones providing the possibility of a fine tuning of their electrical conduction properties around the percolative conduction threshold. Exploiting the precise control on cluster beam intensity and shape typical of SCBD, we produced, in a one-step process, batches of resistors with resistance values spanning a range of two orders of magnitude. Parallel plate capacitors with paper as the dielectric medium were also produced with capacitance in the range of tens of picofarads. Compared to standard deposition technologies, SCBD allows for a very efficient use of raw materials and the rapid production of components with different shape and dimensions while controlling independently the electrical characteristics. Discrete electrical components produced by SCBD are very robust against deformation and bending, and they can be easily assembled to build circuits with desired characteristics. The availability of large batches of these components enables the rapid and cheap prototyping and integration of electrical components on paper as building blocks of more complex systems.

Optimal SMT Electronics Assembly Guidelines for Stencil Printing

The continuing miniaturization of personal electronics devices, such as mobile phones, personal music devices, and personal computing devices has driven the need for increasingly smaller active and passive electrical components. Not too long ago, 0402 (40 × 20mils) passives were seen as the ultimate in miniaturization, but recently 0201 and now 01005 passives have arrived, with predictions of even smaller sizes to come. For active components, the 30mil CSP (a chip-scale package with the solder balls on 30mil/0.75mm centers) has virtually become a requirement for enabling the many features required in modern portable electronics devices. This miniaturization trend, occurring simultaneously with the conversion to RoHS-compliant lead-free assembly, has put a considerable strain on the electronics assembly industry. This paper will discuss guidelines to optimize the electronics assembly process focusing primarily on stencil printing. With a smaller process window, each variable in the process contributes to the overall success of the assembly. Simple contributions such as storage and handling of solder paste can make or break a printing process. Many solder defects (some say 60–70%) can be attributed to the printing process. Therefore, stencil printing set-up is discussed, as well as solder paste measurement metrics, to determine the potential for success and assure a reliable solder joint.

Radio frequency based label-free detection of glucose

We investigated the frequency based mediator-free glucose sensor in the radio-frequency (RF) range. Frequency dependent power signal showed clear dependence on the glucose concentration with free enzymatic condition. Also, the passive electrical components such as the resistance, inductance, shunt conductance, and capacitance were extracted based on the transmission line model for further analysis. These various parameters proposed by the signal processing provided more effective verification for instant multi-components in-situ readings without any added supporters. Additionally the residual signal (RS), impedance (Z), and propagation constant (γ) were also calculated from measured S-parameters for glucose analysis. These parameters basically showed amplitude variation and interestingly, some parameters such as inductance and impedance showed frequency shift of resonance dip. The results support that the frequency based sensing technique including the parameter based analysis can enable effective multi-dimensional detection of glucose. Moreover, this technique showed that glucose sensing is also possible over a diabetic patient's serum.

Uncontrollable dissipative systems: observability and embeddability

The theory of dissipativity is well developed for controllable systems. A more appropriate definition of dissipativity in the context of uncontrollable systems is in terms of the existence of a storage function, namely a function such that, along every system trajectory, its rate of change at each time instant is at most the power supplied to the system at that time. However, even when the supplied power is expressible in terms of just the external variables, the dissipativity property for uncontrollable systems crucially hinges on whether or not the storage function depends on variables unobservable/hidden from the external variables: this paper investigates the key aspects of both cases, and also proposes another intuitive definition of dissipativity. These three definitions are compared: we show that drawbacks of one definition are addressed by another.Dealing first with observable storage functions, under the conditions that no two uncontrollable poles add to zero and that dissipativity is strict as frequency tends to infinity, we prove that the dissipativities of a system and its controllable part are equivalent. We use the behavioural approach for formalising key notions: a system behaviour is the set of all system trajectories. We prove that storage functions have to be unobservable for ‘lossless’ uncontrollable systems. It is known, however, that unobservable storage functions result in certain ‘fallacious’ examples of lossless systems. We propose an intuitive definition of dissipativity: a system/behaviour is called dissipative if it can be embedded in a controllable dissipative superbehaviour. We prove embeddability results and use them to resolve the fallacy in the example termed ‘lossless’ due to unobservable storage functions. We next show that, quite unreasonably, the embeddability definition admits behaviours that are both strictly dissipative and strictly antidissipative. Drawbacks of the embeddability definition in the context of RLC circuits are finally related to the inability to realise/synthesise the special one-port electrical network, called the nullator, using only passive electrical components.

Electrical Simulation of Human Cardio-Vascular System and Real-Time Tele-Monitoring of Cardiac Status of the Patients

This paper proposes an electrical model of human cardio-vascular system for the diagnosis of various cardiac diseases, like endocarditis, atherosclerosis, etc. Here, Atherosclerosis has been dealt with specifically. It is the hardening and narrowing of arteries, which slowly blocks the arteries and put blood flow at risk. An innovative electrical model has been developed which is analogous to physiological structure of human cardio-vascular system. This model comprises of passive electrical components (R, L & C), 555-Timer, opamp, and potentiometer. This electrical model has been simulated in PSPICE and two different time-domain responses are generated, for qualitative analysis of cardiac disorders. For analyzing the disease, authors have considered its different qualitative stages, e.g. good and poor, for productive analysis. Deviation of responses from healthy cardiac output enables detection of the cardiac problem (atherosclerosis). Authors have further extended the work for real-time transmission of patient's cardiac status to a distantly located doctor. A micro-controller based device has been designed that receives the cardiac pulses from an optical sensor, and under abnormal condition, it communicates the information to the patient's mobile phone via XBEE transceiver. The patient's mobile phone is preloaded with a JAVA based software application. It receives the data from the transceiver and automatically transmits it to distantly located doctor's mobile phone.