Fabrication of a thick film sensor employing an ultrasonic oscillator

The paper describes the design and fabrication of a sensor using a thick film acoustic wave oscillator. The development of a screen printable piezoelectric paste is discussed and an account is given of the fundamental operation of acoustic wave resonant sensors, devices which have traditionally found application in higher-cost, precision applications. The electronic circuitry is also described and experimental results are presented to illustrate how a thick film delay-line oscillator can be used as a force sensor