A Four-Channel, ±36 V Piezo Driver Chip for a Densely Integrated SHM System

Interface electronics represent the middle layer in the structural health monitoring (SHM) system architecture, bridging the physical sensors and the computational algorithms. In order to push SHM systems from the lab into practical deployments, it is necessary to construct this layer with application-specific silicon chips to achieve a high degree of integration. This paper describes a four-channel piezo driver chip for ultrasonic SHM, which is our first contribution towards the above goal. We have successfully fabricated the chip, validated its functionality and electrical performance, and demonstrated its usage within an SHM test bed. The paper further discusses plans to improve and enhance the chip, and proposes constructing a densely integrated SHM system by combining the chip with piezo elements on a flexible substrate.