The paper-based MEMS technology has four advantages:
(i) It represents a simple, fast, and low-cost solution for
constructing certain types of MEMS devices. (ii) Paper, as
the major material for device construction, is readily
available, light-weight, easy to manufacture. It can be safely
disposed of by incineration. (iii) Manufacturing of
paper-based MEMS devices has the potential to be fairly
simple and to involve low-cost tooling; prototyping can be
carried out using simple tools (a paper cutter and a painting
knife), and has the potential for mass production (by
automatic paper cutting and screen printing). (iv) Paper can
also be used as a substrate for laying out electrical circuits,
permits electrical circuits for signal processing to be readily
integrated with the paper-based sensor to form monolithic
paper-based chips. The paper-based sensor presented in this
paper is suitable for force sensing applications that require
moderate sensing capabilities and where the device cost is a
major concern.