Design and Implementation of a High-Frequency Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor Array for Pheromone Detection in an Insect-inspired Infochemical Communication System

摘要

This paper reports on the design and development of a novel pheromone detection biosensor module that forms part of an infochemical communication system. Infochemical communication in insects is based upon the use of sex pheromones for the tenacity of attracting conspecific mates. Our system involves three functional blocks: a chemoemitter module comprising a high-precision syringe pump and a micro-machined artificial gland; a chemoreceiver module comprising an array of four polymer-coated dual Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator (SAWR) sensors with associated oscillator drive circuitry; located inside a small odour chamber. Chemical information takes the form of insect pheromone compounds that are released inside the odour chamber by a silicon-based micro-evaporator and then detected by the sensor array. The design and fabrication of a high frequency 262 MHz oscillator circuit is described giving stable Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) signals with reference SAWRs used to offset drift.