Passive Wireless Wallpaper Humidity Sensor for Building Monitoring

Environmental sensors are needed for the control of systems and appliances in both commercial and residential buildings, in order to increase energy efficiency and indoor life quality. In particular, wireless sensor suites are needed to minimize the cost of retrofitting buildings, especially in places where wiring would be difficult. This project will employ passive, wireless sensing technology and humidity-sensitive materials to develop a low-cost, passive, wireless, wallpaper humidity sensor, which can be used for the battery-free monitoring of indoor humidity. Phase I will develop an innovative, radio-frequency-powered wireless sensing mechanism, based on a flexible thick film resonant circuit, which can be integrated into wallpaper. Two prototypes of the wireless wallpaper humidity sensor, along with associated electronics (e.g., remote power and sensor reader), will be designed and fabricated. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: It has been estimated that the potential productivity gain, through improved indoor environmental quality, is over $40 billion to $250 billion per year in the U.S. alone. In addition to improving the indoor environment, this technology should lead to large energy savings and enable the use of multifunctional, passive wireless sensors for homeland security and military applications.