An Ultra-Sensitivity Cancellation Type Sensor Based on Microstrip Meander-Line

The analysis of dielectric properties in Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has become an important research branch since the outbreak of the epidemic in 2019. In order to detect the dielectric properties of microfluidics like virus with higher sensitivity, a radio frequency sensor model is proposed in this paper. First, based on the excellent characteristics of the microstrip meander-line such as more concentrated electric field distribution, the microstrip meander-line is introduced into the design of traditional cancellation sensor, which is called the meander sensor. Then, the relationship between transmission coefficients of the system and dielectric properties of microfluidics is given in this paper. The simulation results verify the ultra-sensitivity of the meander sensor. Even though the relative permittivity of microfluidics is changed in the order of magnitude 10−2, the measurement results of the meander sensor also change significantly. However, the straight sensor can only measure changes of relative permittivity in the order of magnitude 10−1. What’s more, there is a more concentrated measurement range for the meander sensor. This will be more practical for measuring weak changes of dielectric properties caused by the microfluidics itself and its interactions.