Digital microelectromechanical sensor with an engineered polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bridge structure

Abstract

Functional electronic devices integrated on flexible substrates are of great interest in both academia and industry for their potential applications in wearable technologies. Recently, there have been an increasing number of investigations on developing new materials for flexible strain sensors and pressure sensors, with the aim of achieving better sensitivity and detection ranges. However, the analog signal outputs of these sensors are accompanied with challenges regarding device reproducibility and reliability. Here we designed and fabricated a new class of sensors—digital microelectromechanical (MEM) sensors for wearable technologies. Our digital MEM sensors were implemented with the polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) bridge on flexible substrates, and provided digital signal outputs based on electrical insulating-to-conducting transitions. By engineering the PDMS bridge structure, we could tune the sensitivity of the digital MEM sensor for various applications. These digital MEM sensors were used in bending tests: they were integrated on glove fingers and used to detect gestures. These sensors were also used as force sensors: they were used on human wrists to monitor heart rates. The device was experimentally found to maintain its performance level even after 10 000 cycles of bending or pressing. The digital output of our devices allows a higher tolerance for device fabrication to be set. Furthermore, our devices can be engineered for desired specifications in various potential applications.