Surface acoustic wave sensor and package

A wireless and batteryless sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a printed circuit board;
• a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor package including a SAW sensing element, said SAW sensor package mounted on said printed circuit board for receiving an interrogating radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein a resonant frequency of the SAW sensing element changes with at least one of pressure and temperature;
• an RFID device mounted on said printed circuit board with said SAW sensor package;
• at least one antenna electrically in communication with said SAW sensor element and/or said RFID device that permits wireless and batteryless interrogation by a remote transceiver;
• a package base for mounting said printed circuit board;
• and
• a package cover coupled to the package base, wherein the package cover and the package base together define a cavity that houses the SAW sensor package, the RFID device, the printed circuit board and the at least one antenna.

A method for wirelessly sensing conditions, comprising:

• providing a printed circuit board having a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor package including a SAW sensing element, the SAW sensor package configured for receiving an interrogating radio frequency (RF) signal wherein a resonant frequency of the SAW sensing element changes with an applied pressure and/or temperature;
• providing at least one antenna electrically in communication with said SAW sensor element that permits wireless and batteryless interrogation by a remote transceiver;
• and
• providing a package base for mounting said printed circuit board and a package cover, wherein the package cover and the package base together define a cavity that houses the printed circuit board including the SAW sensor package, and the at least one antenna.