The Witte Technology Sensor Series

Sensors have a long history and we encounter them every day –in private environments, like in thermometers, scales or light barriers – even long before the digital age. They are components that detect changes in the state of physical quantities and convert them into electrical signals. Although conventional sensors are particularly powerful, they are sometimes too massive, unstable, and expensive. Electronic conductors printed on thin substrates have paved the way for an alternative sensor technology that is extremely thin, durable and cost-effective, thus coming into play for new digital application areas.

Example of the week: humidity sensors

The PrintElectric® humidity sensor is a three-layer printed electrode that registers humidity levels of 15–85% and shows no degradation – even at higher levels. Certain variants have particularly high repeatability and a sensor range of 85%. The values of these three-layer, screen-printed IDE electrode structures can be read using a simple FPC or crimp connector.

Printed moisture sensors can be integrated into a flat roof, for example, as flexible conductive tracks that trigger an alarm in the event of a short circuit and prevent serious consequential damage with this monitoring function. Printed humidity sensors also have other applications, like as monitoring instruments in logistics or medical technology for intelligent wound care.

Coming next week: What are pressure sensors?