SBIR Phase II: Energy Storage, Electrical Distribution, and Packaging for Wireless Sensor Networks

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This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Project targets development of a new approachto building wireless sensor infrastructure ? energy storage systems, electrical distribution, andpackaging - that allows dramatic miniaturization of wireless sensor nodes, eliminates mostrestrictions on their shape and is environmentally-friendly. Accomplishing these goals requiresdevelopment of innovative new approaches to fabrication of mesoscale electronic circuitry andthin film energy storage batteries. Laser-based approaches to making very fine featureconductor patterns, vias, and mechanical structures in a variety of organic and inorganic materialscommonly used in the electronics industry will be utilized. New battery chemistry will also berefined to allow fabrication of miniature, flexible, thin film batteries with energy storage densitiessubstantially exceeding those of any battery currently on the market. Together these innovationswill allow nearly an order of magnitude reduction in volume of wireless sensing devices.Combination of the laser processing and battery technologies developed in this project will offeran approach to miniaturization of almost any wireless sensor that is easily adaptable to mostsensor designs.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be found in many areas of everydaylife. After an extended incubation period, wireless sensing networks are experiencing a surge ofmarket growth. A market opportunity for more than 100 million sensor nodes is projected for2019. Potential applications come from areas as diverse as infrastructure monitoring for bridges,roadways and pipelines, lighting and HVAC control in buildings, electrical metering, parkingmanagement, patient monitoring, elderly care, seismic sensors, industrial process control, cropwater management, and home automation. In the health care area alone, wireless sensor networkscould potentially produce and estimated $25 billion savings world wide. Feasibility of manypotential applications will be strongly influenced by the availability of miniaturized sensor nodeswith suitable form factors that can be operated without maintenance for extended periods.Targeting miniaturization and power sources, the proposed project addresses and solves keyhistorical bottlenecks in sensor network implementation. It will have a significant impact onthese large developing markets, as well as spin-off applications in medical and consumerelectronics.