Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design, fabricate and test devices based on transformers integrated with low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) modules with isolation between primary and secondary windings at the level between 6 and 12 kV. Design/methodology/approach: Insulating properties of the LTCC were examined. Dielectric strength and volume resistivity were determined for common LTCC tapes: 951 (DuPont), 41020, 41060 (ESL), A6M (Ferro) and SK47 (KEKO). According to the determined properties, three different devices were designed, fabricated and tested: a compact DC/DC converter, a galvanic separator for serial digital bus and a transformer for high-voltage generator. Findings: Breakdown field intensity higher than 40 kV/mm was obtained for the test samples set, whereas the best breakdown field intensity of about 90 kV/mm was obtained for 951 tape. The materials 41020 and 951 exhibited the highest volume resistivity. Fabricated devices exhibited safe operation up to a potential difference of 10 kV, limited by minimum clearance. Long-term stability was assured by over 20 kV strength of inner dielectric. Practical implications: This paper contains description of three devices made in the LTCC technology for application in systems with high-voltage isolation requirement, for example, for power or railway power networks. Originality/value: The results show that LTCC is a suitable material for fabrication of high-voltage devices with integrated passives. Technology and properties of three examples of such devices are described, demonstrating the ability of the LTCC technology for application in reliable high-voltage devices and systems.

The Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) technology has proven to be highly suitable for 3D microstructures manufacturing in electronic devices due to its excellent electrical and mechanical properties. In this paper, a novel idea of implementing the LTCC structures into high-energy particle detectors technology is proposed. It can be applied in High Energy Physics (HEP) laboratories, where such sophisticated sensors are constantly exposed to particles of the TeV energy range for many years. The most advanced applications of the concept are based on dedicated gas amplifier systems coupled with readout microstructures. Typically, the readout microstructures are made in the Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) technology and processed in a sophisticated and patent-protected way. This article presents the manufacturing process and parameters of the novel microstructures made in the LTCC technology. The structures were implemented into the high-energy particle detector, and the first results are presented.

A novel portable excitation microsource for optical emission spectrometry (OES) based on atmospheric pressure glow discharge with a liquid drop anode (LDA-APGD), generated in a ceramic microchip (mch), was developed. This excitation microsource uses low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) microchips to provide electrical contact and fabricate a hollow to hold a microsample solution. Optimization of this new excitation source was performed for the quantification of Hg in liquid samples and discussed. Optimal parameters for Hg determination were: polarized liquid drop – anode, discharge current – 80 mA, solution drop volume – 15 μL, He flow rate – 300 mL min⁻¹, chip hollow dimensions: diameter 3.0 mm and depth 0.6 mm, HNO₃ concentration – 0.10 mol L⁻¹. The addition of low molecular weight organic compounds (LMWOCs) to the solution was also tested. The linearity range for mch-LDA-APGD was up to 30 mg L⁻¹, and the limit of detection (LOD) of Hg was 47 μg L⁻¹. Precision of this method was within 0.65–8.7% (as the relative standard deviation of repeated measurements). Recoveries obtained for tap water samples spiked with Hg(II) ions at 100, 200, and 300 μg L⁻¹ were within the range of 96–122%.

The miniaturisation of manual systems is reported in this paper. The whole system was based on microfluidic cartridge heated up by a unique contactless system. The presented device utilised fully passive cartridge with required reagents.

This paper describes experiments on measurement of dielectric properties stability of LTCC (Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics) material after exposure to ionizing radiation, as electron stream and gamma ray. The exposure of ceramic structures was carried out by means of electron linear accelerator "Lillyput 3" at various total doses of irradiation corresponding to equivalent ionizing radiation on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in specified lifetime. The aim of the experiment was to verify stability of the LTCC material for application in devices operating in LEO. Tests were performed on flat capacitor samples with partially exposed dielectric layer at one of the capacitor’s electrode made as a meshed structure. Results of electrical measurements, both low voltage AC analysis using an impedance analyzer as well as DC leakage at high voltage, haven’t revealed any deterioration of dielectric properties of the ceramics after exposure at selected irradiation doses. Experiments confirmed the LTCC material is suitable for fabrication of the components for the gas electron multiplier device operating in LEO.

In this paper results of investigation on low-cost force sensors with geometry and load ability suited for testing specific systems with pressing actuators matrix are described. The sensors’ transducers are fabricated in thick-film technology, whereas its package is made of stainless steel. Electronic circuits for signal conditioning are made in printed board circuit technology. Such modular approach fulfills terms of rapid prototyping by using flexible methods of fabrication. Moreover, the approach serves simple and low-cost ability to build platforms with multiple sensors suited to any system incorporating actuators requiring determination of pressing force in expected range. In this paper results of basic analytical calculations on maximum allowable force for chosen dimension range, as well as results of numerical simulations on sensor sensitivity and impact of temperature change due to mismatch of transducer and base/package materials’ coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) are presented. The simulation shows that for some specific dimensions and materials combination, the impact of temperature on output signal may be significantly reduced, even if materials are not thermally matched.Results of numeric simulations allows the author to choose suitable sensors geometry and configuration for use in sensor matrix tailored for validation of mechanical actuators in Genomtec ID analyzer developed at Genomtec S.A. (Wrocław, Poland), that consists of actuators producing forces in range of low values from 2 N to 10 N and medium values from 20 N to 200 N.