Passive sensor networks based on multi-element ladder filter structures

This work explores a novel acoustic resonator sensor system in a departure from the standard approach requiring an oscillator circuit to drive the resonance. The work is motivated by the need to monitor multiple sensors simultaneously in a near real-time manner. The system employs an arrangement of discrete resonators in a ladder network filter configuration. This arrangement establishes a passive structure in which the overall frequency response reports perturbations to individual resonators within the network. Here, we focus on the contribution of individual resonators to the overall response and explore methods for designing a passband response which has useful features for sensor experiments. It is concluded that an arrangement in which the resonant frequencies of the series and shunt resonators are offset results in a response that can be tracked during sensor experiments.