All inkjet printed system for strain measurement

Usually low cost approaches for the direct printing of flexible electric components require two different technologies for conductive patterns and functional areas. The realization of metal structures (wires, coils, capacitor electrodes) requires screen printing technology while polymer components (piezo-resistive layer, resistor, functional layers) can be printed by low cost inkjet systems. In this paper the realization of strain gauge sensors by inkjet printing of metal based ink is discussed as a general approach for the rapid prototyping of low cost sensors by direct inkjet printing techniques.