Particulate matter impact sensor

A particulate matter impact sensor for sensing impacts of particles comprises:

• a support layer;
• and
• a sensing media layer having a first surface (304) that faces a direction of flow of grain particles and a second surface on the opposite side of the sensing media layer bonded to a first surface of the support layer;
• and
• a protective layer that is fixed to the sensing media layer and located between the grain particles impacting the particulate matter impact sensor and the sensing media layer,
• wherein the sensing media layer comprises an impact responsive layer comprising a pressure sensitive media adapted to change its electrical characteristics upon the impact of a grain particle traveling in the direction of flow of grain particles and to produce an electrical signal at one or more electrical connections electrically coupled to the sensing media layer,
• wherein the sensing media layer further has an upper conductive layer on its first surface, the upper conductive layer coupled to one of the electrical connections and a lower conductive layer on its second surface, the lower conductive layer coupled to another one of the electrical connections, and
• wherein the protective layer is a flexible film layer and that the lower conductive layer and the upper conductive layer each comprise a film base to which a conductive media is deposited by a sputter-, vapor- or plasma deposition process.