Geometry-Optimized VoltagePlanar Sensors Integrated into PCBs
Nicolas E. Gonzalez, Joshua Cooper, Jane M. Lehr · Eng—Advances in Engineering · 2025
The recent advancements in high-frequency, high-power switching devices require the development of non-invasive, cost-effective sensors for signal diagnostics. In this context, planar sensors have emerged as promising candidates for voltage and current sensing due to their compatibility with printed circuit boards (PCBs). However, previously proposed voltage planar sensors exhibit trade-offs between high bandwidths and responsivity, limiting their usage to sub-GHz applications. This study introduces a planar voltage sensor that leverages geometric optimization using software-assisted design to enhance bandwidth without compromising sensitivity. The optimized sensors demonstrate an extended bandwidth response up to 4 GHz and accurate recovery of fast transient signals validated through experimental measurements, which represents a significant step forward in broadband sensing for high-power applications.