Metamaterial absorber-based multisensor applications using a meander-line resonator

A metamaterial (MTM) absorber-based multifunctional sensor is numerically and experimentally realized using meander-line resonators. The proposed sensor device can be used to measure pressure, density, and humidity with perfect signal absorption characteristics at the frequency range of X band. The structure consists of a sensor layer sandwiched between two dielectric slabs. The sensor layer is used to detect unknown environmental parameters with respect to the electromagnetic responses of the material under test. A meander-line type resonator is chosen to achieve highly efficient electrical response at the related frequency range. It is well known that an MTM can be efficiently used for sensing purposes in a microwave regime if the absorption characteristic is approximately linear over the certain frequency band. The proposed model is numerically analyzed for pressure, density, and humidity sensing applications. In addition, the experimental study is carried out to prove the sensing ability of the suggested structure in the case of the density sensing application. The meander-line-based MTM absorber can be used in many application areas, such as the agriculture, medical, and defense industries. (C) 2017 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)