Printed Wi-Fi sensors turn everyday objects into "smart" devices

Engineers from the United States have developed printed passive tags that can be attached to household items, turning them into "smart" Internet devices.

Even stand-alone sensors that operate on their own batteries need to be recharged from time to time. New metal tags are made of copper foil, printed on thin paper substrates and capable of operating at the frequency of Wi-Fi signals. The tags work like "mirrors", which reflect the radio signals from the Wi-Fi router. When the user finger touches these marks, it overlaps the reflected Wi-Fi signal in such a way that it can catch a Wi-Fi receiver.

Tags can be attached to everyday things that people interact with each day (for example, water bottles, walls or doors). During the interaction with the user, these objects can signal this to the Wi-Fi device. Creators want to expand the ability to connect to the Internet of different things, to go beyond working with one smartphone. Passive tags are designed only to reflect certain signals within the frequency range of Wi-Fi. But by changing the type of material from which they are made and the shape of the print, researchers can redesign the tags so that they reflect the signals of Bluetooth, LTE or cellular signals. Labels also do not have batteries, silicon chips or any discrete electronic components, so they do not need much maintenance.

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