Design and simulation of planar microwave sensor for food industry

Abstract

Microwave sensor technology has transformed the food sector by providing fast and non-destructive methods to check food quality parameters. The present research provides a detailed investigation of the design and simulation of a flat microwave sensor specifically customized for use in the food industry. Initially, a thorough literature survey on the development of a robust and reusable ring resonator Sensor is performed for the Microwave frequency of L (1–2 GHz) and S (2–4 GHZ) bands. Then, the simulation of the microwave planar sensor with the different geometry and dimensions was done and dimensions were finalized having a maximum Return loss of − 20.177 dB at 2.377 GHz. Further, the structure was simulated on an FR4 with a Cu thickness of 0.4 mm and 1.6 mm substrate height. These simulations were performed to observe the change of resonant frequency by changing the material with their varied dielectric permittivity from 1 to 33.4 for varied food samples. Later, by conducting an electromagnetic performance analysis, the dielectric characteristics of different food samples are examined, providing insight into the sensor’s effectiveness in detecting electromagnetic signals. The sensor’s precision in detecting minute changes in food attributes is highlighted by sensitivity and accuracy assessments, establishing it as a promising tool for real-time monitoring and quality control. Finally, the limitations of the study and the scope for future research are explained, which are crucial for driving innovation in sensor technology across various industrial domains.