{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,18]],"date-time":"2026-03-18T14:30:01Z","timestamp":1773844201781,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,12,20]],"date-time":"2016-12-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1482192000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"MINECO-Spain","award":["project TEC2013-40600-R COM-SEN-RFID"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["project TEC2013-40600-R COM-SEN-RFID"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002809","name":"Generalitat de Catalunya","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["project 2014SGR-157"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["project 2014SGR-157"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"ICREA Academia Award"},{"name":"FEDER funds"},{"name":"China Scholarship Council (CSC)","award":["grant 201306950011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["grant 201306950011"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this paper, several configurations of splitter\/combiner microstrip sections loaded with stepped impedance resonators (SIRs) are analyzed. Such structures are useful as sensors and comparators, and the main aim of the paper is to show that the proposed configurations are useful for the optimization of sensitivity and discrimination. Specifically, for comparison purposes, i.e., to determine anomalies, abnormalities or defects of a sample under test (SUT) in comparison to a reference sample, it is shown that up to three samples can be simultaneously tested. Simple models of the proposed structures are presented, and these models are validated through electromagnetic simulation and experiment. Finally, the principle of operation is validated through a proof-of-concept demonstrator.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s16122195","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,12,23]],"date-time":"2016-12-23T04:09:09Z","timestamp":1482466149000},"page":"2195","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":54,"title":["Configurations of Splitter\/Combiner Microstrip Sections Loaded with Stepped Impedance Resonators (SIRs) for Sensing Applications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3962-1480","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lijuan","family":"Su","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CIMITEC, Departament d\u2019Enginyeria Electr\u00f2nica, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Javier","family":"Mata-Contreras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIMITEC, Departament d\u2019Enginyeria Electr\u00f2nica, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6502-5987","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paris","family":"V\u00e9lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIMITEC, Departament d\u2019Enginyeria Electr\u00f2nica, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ferran","family":"Mart\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIMITEC, Departament d\u2019Enginyeria Electr\u00f2nica, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,12,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1735","DOI":"10.1007\/s00542-010-1080-2","article-title":"Thin film sensor based tip-shaped splits ring resonator metamaterial for microwave application","volume":"16","author":"He","year":"2010","journal-title":"Microsyst. Technol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"043113","DOI":"10.1063\/1.3194154","article-title":"Split ring resonator sensors for infrared detection of single molecular monolayers","volume":"95","author":"Cubukcu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Lett."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"062511","DOI":"10.1063\/1.2768300","article-title":"Tuned permeability in terahertz split ring resonators for devices and sensors","volume":"91","author":"Driscoll","year":"2007","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Lett."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"011106","DOI":"10.1063\/1.3162336","article-title":"Metamaterial-based w\u00edreles strain sensors","volume":"95","author":"Melik","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Lett."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1558","DOI":"10.1088\/0957-0233\/13\/10\/308","article-title":"Microwave Microstrip ring resonador as a paper moisture sensor: Study with different grammage","volume":"13","author":"Yogi","year":"2002","journal-title":"Meas. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Pattnaik, P.K., Vijayaaditja, B., Srinivas, T., and Selvarajan, A. (2015, January 24\u201327). Optical MEMS pressure sensor using ring resonador on a circular diaphragm. Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference on MEMS, NANO and Smart Systems (ICMENS\u201905), Banff, AB, Canada."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Liu, X., Xue, C., Yan, S., Xiong, J., and Zhang, W. (2009, January 5\u20138). Integrated high sensitivity displacement sensor based on micro ring resonador. Proceedings of the 2009 4th IEEE International Conference Nano\/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems, Shenzhen, China."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Mandel, C., Kubina, B., Sch\u00fc\u00dfler, M., and Jakoby, R. (2011, January 10\u201314). Passive chipless wireless sensor for two-dimensional displacement measurement. Proceedings of the 41st European Microwave Conference, Manchester, UK."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Puentes, M., Weiss, C., Sch\u00fc\u00dfler, M., and Jakoby, R. (2011, January 5\u201310). Sensor array based on split ring resonators for analysis of organic tissues. Proceedings of the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Baltimore, MD, USA.","DOI":"10.1109\/MWSYM.2011.5972633"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Damm, C., Schussler, M., Puentes, M., Maune, H., Maasch, M., and Jakoby, R. (2009, January 25\u201328). Artificial transmission lines for high sensitive microwave sensors. Proceedings of the IEEE Sensors Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.","DOI":"10.1109\/ICSENS.2009.5398538"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naqui, J., Damm, C., Wiens, A., Jakoby, R., Su, L., and Mart\u00edn, F. (2014, January 1\u20134). Transmission lines loaded with pairs of magnetically coupled stepped impedance resonators (SIRs): Modeling and application to microwave sensors. Proceedings of the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), Tampa, FL, USA.","DOI":"10.1109\/MWSYM.2014.6848494"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3864","DOI":"10.1109\/TMTT.2016.2610423","article-title":"Transmission lines loaded with pairs of stepped impedance resonators: modeling and application to differential permittivity measurements","volume":"64","author":"Naqui","year":"2016","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sna.2014.01.030","article-title":"Two-Dimensional Alignment and Displacement Sensor based on Movable Broadside-Coupled Split Ring Resonators","volume":"210","author":"Horestani","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators A Phys."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1109\/LAWP.2014.2355035","article-title":"Modeling metamaterial transmission lines loaded with pairs of coupled split ring resonators","volume":"14","author":"Su","year":"2015","journal-title":"IEEE Ant. Wirel. Propag. Lett."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1109\/LAWP.2015.2435656","article-title":"Modeling and applications of metamaterial transmission lines loaded with pairs of coupled complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs)","volume":"15","author":"Su","year":"2016","journal-title":"IEEE Ant. Wirel. Propag. Lett."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7545","DOI":"10.3390\/s110807545","article-title":"Novel sensors based on the symmetry properties of split ring resonators (SRRs)","volume":"11","author":"Naqui","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sensors"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00edn, F. (2015). Artificial Transmission Lines for RF and Microwave Applications, John Wiley.","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119058403"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naqui, J. (2016). Symmetry Properties in Transmission Lines Loaded with Electrically Small Resonators: Circuit Modeling and Applications, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-24566-9"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11790","DOI":"10.3390\/s120911790","article-title":"Alignment and position sensors based on split ring resonators","volume":"12","author":"Naqui","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sensors"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.1109\/JSEN.2012.2231065","article-title":"Displacement sensor based on diamond-shaped tapered split ring resonator","volume":"13","author":"Horestani","year":"2013","journal-title":"IEEE Sens. J."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3014","DOI":"10.1109\/JSEN.2013.2264804","article-title":"Rotation sensor based on horn-shaped split ring resonator","volume":"13","author":"Horestani","year":"2013","journal-title":"IEEE Sens. J."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naqui, J., Dur\u00e1n-Sindreu, M., and Mart\u00edn, F. (2013, January 2\u20137). Transmission Lines Loaded with Bisymmetric Resonators and Applications. Proceedings of the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, Seattle, WA, USA.","DOI":"10.1109\/MWSYM.2013.6697368"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4700","DOI":"10.1109\/TMTT.2013.2285356","article-title":"Transmission lines loaded with bisymmetric resonators and their application to angular displacement and velocity sensors","volume":"61","author":"Naqui","year":"2013","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"939","DOI":"10.1109\/JSEN.2013.2295518","article-title":"Angular displacement and velocity sensors based on electric-LC (ELC) loaded microstrip lines","volume":"14","author":"Naqui","year":"2014","journal-title":"IEEE Sens. J."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1049\/el.2014.0572","article-title":"Two-dimensional displacement and alignment sensor based on reflection coefficients of open microstrip lines loaded with split ring resonators","volume":"50","author":"Horestani","year":"2014","journal-title":"Electron. Lett."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1109\/PROC.1979.11196","article-title":"Compact bandpass filters using stepped impedance resonators","volume":"67","author":"Makimoto","year":"1979","journal-title":"Proc. IEEE"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1336","DOI":"10.1049\/iet-map.2010.0612","article-title":"Implementation of shunt connected series resonators through stepped-impedance shunt stubs: Analysis and limitations","volume":"5","author":"Naqui","year":"2011","journal-title":"IET Microw. Antennas Propag."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3016","DOI":"10.1109\/TMTT.2015.2472019","article-title":"Design and in vitro interference test of microwave noninvasive blood glucose monitoring sensor","volume":"63","author":"Choi","year":"2015","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Choi, H., Naylon, J., Luzio, S., Beutler, J., and Porch, A. (2014, January 8\u201310). Design of continuous non-invasive blood glucose monitoring sensor based on a microwave split ring resonator. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications (IMWS-Bio), London, UK.","DOI":"10.1109\/IMWS-BIO.2014.7032398"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375201","DOI":"10.1088\/0957-4484\/27\/37\/375201","article-title":"Effect of phosphonate monolayer adsorbate on the microwave photoresponse of TiO2 nanotube membranes mounted on a planar double ring resonator","volume":"27","author":"Zarifi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nanotechnology"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"232906","DOI":"10.1063\/1.4953465","article-title":"Wide dynamic range microwave planar coupled ring resonator for sensing applications","volume":"108","author":"Zarifi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Lett."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Pozar, D.M. (2005). Microwave Engineering, John Wiley. [3rd ed.]."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/16\/12\/2195\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T19:28:56Z","timestamp":1760210936000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/16\/12\/2195"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,12,20]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,12]]}},"alternative-id":["s16122195"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s16122195","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,12,20]]}}}