A Wearable Self-Driven Impulse Sensor Based on a Mechanical-Field-Coupled Thin-Film Transistor

This letter reports on an electronic device that works as a self-driven impulse sensor with high sensitivity and ultra-low power consumption. It consists of a mechanical-field-coupled thin-film transistor (TFT) formed by integrating a piezoelectric transducer with a 3-D FIN-shaped dual-gate TFT. An analytical model is presented to intricate the variation of output current in the response of the human impulse force, and an experimental study is conducted to evaluate its sensitivity and capability of acquiring impulse waveforms as well as heart rate. The proposed impulse sensor is anticipated to be pragmatic in wearable medical devices for prevention against cardiovascular abnormalities, both continuously and non-invasively.