3D-Printed Jig for Rapid Interconnecting and One-Port Measurement of Microwave (Bio)Sensors

This paper presents a low-cost 3D-printed jig designed to enable fast single-port measurements of microwave sensors, especially in scenarios with high number of test units. The jig integrates an interconnecting board that host a coaxial connector on one end and spring loaded pogo pins on the other with mechanical construction ensuring proper alignment and contact force to the corresponding contact pads on the sensor board. The use of pressure based galvanic interfacing instead of classing coax connectors allows for rapid sensor exchange with material-under-test pre-applied or dosed on the fly. The printed part of the jig can be easily adapted to sensors of various geometries and test scenarios making the construction very flexible. A setup demonstrator was developed and validated using resonator-based sensors and different test substances. Comparable results were obtained to a standard coax-connected setup, demonstrating jig`s practical usefulness in microwave sensing applications.