Superior Group of Technology

ASSIGNMENT
NAME: HAFIZ MUHAMMAD WASEEM
ROLL NO: BSEF1717
SEMESTER: 6th
TEACHER: NASIR NOOR SAHAB
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO
MECHATRONICS
ASSIGNMENT NO: 01
DATE: 02-06-2020
 Question: Touch Sensor
1- Definition?
2-Working principles?
3-Classification?
4-Applications?

Answer
History:

 The first touch screen was the “Elotouch” that was created by Sam Hurst in 1971.
 It was made to transform graphics to data and was originally started as a basement
business.
 They were built in three different basements one built in the sensor, one built in the
hardware, and one built in the electronics.

1- Definition of a Touch Sensor: -A touch sensor is a type of equipment that captures and
records physical touch or embrace on a device and/or object. It enables a device or object to
detect touch, typically by a human user or operator. A touch sensor may also be called
a touch detector.

A touch sensor primarily works when an object or individual gets in physical contact with it.
Unlike a button or other more manual control, touch sensors are more sensitive, and are often able to
respond differently to different kinds of touch, such as tapping, swiping and pinching. Touch
sensors are used in consumer tech devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Typically,
touch sensors are used as a means to take input from the user. Each physical stroke that a touch
sensor records is sent to a processing unit/software that processes it accordingly. For example, when
navigating through a smartphone or using an application, the touch sensor captures the human
touches or the applied pressure across the screen. Each interaction with the user across the screen
might have a different meaning for the device and/or the application.

Sensors are used in everyday objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons (tactile sensor) and
lamps, which dim or brighten by touching the base. There are also innumerable applications for
sensors of which most people are never aware. Applications include mobile phones, cars,
machines, aerospace, medicine, manufacturing and robotics

Touch sensing technology has the potential to replace most functions of the mouse and keyboard.
Thetouch sensing interface is being used in a wide variety of applications to improve human-
computer interaction. As the technology advances, people may be able to operate computers
without mice and keyboards. Because of its convenience, touch screen technology solutions has been
applied more and more to industries, applications, products and services, such as Kiosks, POS
(Point-of-Sale), consumer electronics, tablet PC, moderate to harsh Machine Control, Process
Control, System Control/Office Automation and Car PC, etc.
 
A touch sensor can be defined as:
 A touch sensor is a computer display screen that is sensitive to human touch allowing a user
to interact with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen.
 A touch sensor is an input device that allows users to operate a PC by simply touching
thedisplay screen which has a sensitive glass overplay placed on it.
 A touch screen accepts direction onscreen inputs.
 A touch screen sensor is a Clear glass panel with a touch responsive area.
 The touch sensor is placed over the display screen so that the reasonable area of the panel
covers the viewable areas of the screen.
 The sensor generally has an electric current or signal going through it and touching the
screen causes a voltage or signal screen.
 This voltage change is used to determine the location of the touch screen.
 There are several different touch sensor technologies on the market today each using a
different method to detect touch.
 A sensor is a device that measure a physical or abstract quantity and converts it into a signal
which can be read by an observer or by an instrument.

2- Working Principles of a Touch Sensor: -Touch sensors are also called as tactile sensors
and are sensitive to touch, force or pressure. They are one of the simplest and useful sensors. The
working of a touch sensor is similar to that of a simple switch. When there is contact with the surface
of the touch sensor, the circuit is closed inside the sensor and there is a flow of current. When the
contact is released, the circuit is opened and no current flows.

The working of a touch sensor is similar to that of a simple switch. When there is contact with the
surface of the touch sensor, the circuit is closed inside the sensor and there is a flow of current. ...
The measurement circuit will detect the change in the capacitance and converts it into a trigger
signal. These sensors are sensitive to any pressure or force applied or touch. The principle of touch is
similar to that of a switch. When the switch is closed, the current flows otherwise there is no chance
of the current to flow. Similarly, when the touch sensor senses the touch or proximity is captured
then it acts like a closed switch otherwise it acts as an open switch.  These sensors are also known as
‘Tactile Sensors.
A touch sensor works like a switch, where when there’s contact, touch, or pressure on the surface of
a touch sensor, it opens up an electrical circuit and allows currents to flow through it.
How Does a Touch Sensor Work?
A basic touch screen has three main components:
a. Touch Sensor
b. Controller
c. Software Driver
The touchscreen in an input device, so it needs to be combined with a display and a PC or other
device to make a complete touch input system.

a. Touch Sensor: - A touch sensor is a clear glass panel with a touch responsive surface. The
touch sensor is placed over a display screen. So that the responsive area of the panel covers the
Viewable area of the video screen. There are several different touch sensor technologies on the
market today, each using a different method to detect touch input. The sensor generally has an
electrical current or signal going through it and touching the screen can cause a voltage or signal
change. This change is used to determine the location of the touch to the screen.

b- Controller: -The controller connects between the touch sensor and the PC. It takes
information from the touch sensor and translate into information that PC can understand.
The controller determines what type of interface you will need on the PC. Controllers are available
that can connect to a serial / COM port (PC) or to a USB port. Specialized controllers are also
available that work with DVD players and other devices.

c- Software Driver: -The driver allows the touchscreen and computer to work together. It tells
the computer’s operating system how to interpret the touch event information that is sent from the
controller. Most touch screen drivers today are a mouse emulation type driver. This makes
touching the screen as same as clicking your mouse at the same location on the screen. This allows
the touchscreen to work with the existing software and allows new applications to be developed
without the need of touchscreen specific programing.

In the present scenario, touch sensors are also known as tactile sensors. The basic working
principle of a touch sensor is that it detects near proximity (also known as touch) without depending
on physical contact. In simple words, you can understand that its working is the same as a simple
switch or circuit.
When any physical medium comes in contact with the touch surface. The internal circuit will be
closed inside the sensor and current starts flowing. On the other hand, when this physical contact is
broken or released, the circuit will be opened.Hence, there will be no flow of current. 
The partially conductive material opposes the flow of current. The main principle of the linear
position sensor is that the current flow is more opposed when the length of this material that must be
travelled by the current is more. As a result, the resistance of the material is varied by changing the
position at which it makes contact with the fully conductive material.
Generally, software’s are interfaced to the touch sensors. In such a case, a memory is being offered
by the software. They can memorize the ‘last touched position’ when the sensor is deactivated.
They can memorize the ‘first touched position’ once the sensor gets activated and understand all
the values related to it. This act is similar to how one moves the mouse and locates it at the other
end of mouse pad in order to move the cursor to the far side of the screen.

3- Classification of a Touch Sensor: -

The touch sensors are classified into two categories.

 Capacitive touch sensor

 Resistive touch sensor.

Capacitive Touch Sensor:

In capacitive touch sensors, the electrode represents one of the plates of the capacitor. The sensor
electrode is connected to a measurement circuit and the capacitance is measured periodically. The
output capacitance will increase if a conductive object touches or approaches the sensor electrode.
Since these sensors can be produced very easily at a very large scale can be made at very less cost
and are very attractive in design. These are widely used in iPods, mobile phones, home
appliances,automotive, and many other industrial applications. They are used in applications
such as measuring pressure, acceleration, distance, etc.

Working of Capacitive touch sensor:

If the parallel plates have a larger area and the thickness of the insulator is very less then there
would be the greater value of the touch capacitance. Therefore the difference of the capacitance
value when the plate is touched and the plate is untouched will be greater.
So, by controlling the size of the parallel plate and the thickness of the insulator we can control the
sensitivity of the capacitive touch sensor. The Capacitive touch sensor, however, has few drawbacks
such as there could be a false trigger since all it needs is to be in a contact with a conducting
material and does not require a pressure to operate.

Resistive Touch Sensor:

A resistive touch sensor consists of two conductive layers separated by small spacer dots. The
bottom layer is made up of either glass or film and the top layer is made up of film. When any probe
like a finger, stylus pen, pen, etc. It is used to apply pressure on the top film of the sensor, it
activates the sensor.Resistive Touch Sensor requires an amount force to operate, so they are used in
applications such as Foot pronation monitoring, musical instrument, keypads (mostly used in old
mobile phones), resistive touch-pads, and many other applications.

Working of Resistive Touch Sensor

The above circuit shows the basic working of the touch sensor which consists of the touch electrode
or the surface.

The resistive touch sensor operates when an object with some resistivity such as our finger touches
the surface. Touch of the object with a little resistance forms a close circuit which allows a small
amount of current to flow.

In the above circuit the touch causes a very little current to flow.

 The transistor amplifies the voltage to some significant value.

 Resistance is used to protect the transistor from the high current. It is useful In case if there is
a fault occurs in the electrodes.
 Resistance is used to keep the base of the transistor grounded. There is no current when there
is an open circuit or if there is no pressure applied.

4. Application of a Touch Sensor: -

Following are the applications of a Touch sensor:

  Used in automation engineering to define operating states in process engineering plants,
production systems and automating plants
 Used in windows, and the alarm is activated when the window opens
 Used in machine vibration monitoring to calculate the difference in distance between a shaft
and its support bearing

Application of several types of sensors are given below:

(I). IR Sensors: -

This device emits and/or detects infrared radiation to sense a particular phase in the environment.
Generally, thermal radiation is emitted by all the objects in the infrared spectrum. The infrared
sensor detects this type of radiation which is not visible to human eye.

Advantages
· Easy for interfacing
· Readily available in market

Disadvantages
· Disturbed by noises in the surrounding such as radiations, ambient light etc.

Working
The basic idea is to make use of IR LEDs to send the infrared waves to the object. Another IR diode
of the same type is to be used to detect the reflected wave from the object. The diagram is shown
below. When IR receiver is subjected to infrared light, a voltage difference is produced across the
leads. Less voltage which is produced can be hardly detected and hence operational amplifiers (Op-
amps) are used to detect the low voltages accurately. Measuring the distance of the object from the
receiver sensor: The electrical property of IR sensor components can be used to measure the
distance of an object. The fact when IR receiver is subjected to light, a potential difference is
produced across the leads.

Applications:
· Thermography – According to the black body radiation law, it is possible to view the
environment with or without visible illumination using thermography
· Heating – Infrared can be used to cook and heat food items. They can take away ice from the
wings of an aircraft. They are popular in industrial field such as, print dying, forming plastics, and
plastic welding.
· Spectroscopy – This technique is used to identify the molecules by analyzing the constituent
bonds. This technique uses light radiation to study organic compounds.
· Meteorology – Cloud heights, calculate land and surface temperature is possible when
weather satellites are equipped with scanning radiometers.
· Photobiomodulation – This is used for chemotherapy in cancer patients. This is used to treat
anti-herpes virus.
· Climatology – Monitoring the energy exchange between the atmosphere and earth.
· Communications – Infra red laser provide light for optical fiber communication. These
radiations are also used for short range communications among mobiles and computer peripherals.
(ii) UV Sensor:

These sensors measure the intensity or power of the incident ultraviolet radiation. This form of
electromagnetic radiation has wavelengths longer than x-rays but is still shorter than visible
radiation. An active material known as polycrystalline diamond is being used for reliable ultraviolet
sensing. UV sensors can discover the exposure of environment to ultraviolet radiation.

Working:
The UV sensor accepts one type of energy signal and transmits different type of energy signals.
To observe and record these output signals they are directed to an electrical meter. To create graphs
and reports, the output signals are transmitted to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and then to a
computer with software.

Applications
· Measures the portion of the UV spectrum which sunburns human skin
· Pharmacy
· Automobiles
· Robotics
· Printing industry for solvent handling and dyeing processes
· Chemical industry for the production, storage, and transportation of chemical

(iii)Touch Sensor: -

A touch sensor is made of:

· Fully conductive substance such as copper
· Insulated spacing material such as foam or plastic
· Partially conductive material

Principle and Working

The partially conductive material opposes the flow of current. The main principle of the linear
position sensor is that the current flow is more opposed when the length of this material that must be
travelled by the current is more. As a result, the resistance of the material is varied by changing the
position at which it makes contact with the fully conductive material.

Generally, software’s are interfaced to the touch sensors. In such a case, a memory is being offered
by the software. They can memorize the ‘last touched position’ when the sensor is deactivated. They
can memorize the ‘first touched position’ once the sensor gets activated and understand all the
values related to it. This act is similar to how one moves the mouse and locates it at the other end of
mouse pad in order to move the cursor to the far side of the screen.

Applications:

The touch sensors being cost effective and durable are used in many applications such as
  Commercial – Medical, vending, Fitness and gaming
 Appliances – Oven, Washing machine/dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators
 Transportation – Cockpit fabrication and streamlining control among the vehicle
manufacturers
 Fluid level sensors
 Industrial Automation – Position and liquid level sensing, human touch control in automation
applications.
 Consumer Electronics – Provides a new feel and level of control in various consumer
products

(IV) Proximity Sensor: -

A proximity sensor detects the presence of objects that are nearly placed without any point of
contact. Since there is no contact between the sensors and sensed object and lack of mechanical
parts, these sensors have long functional life and high reliability. The different types of proximity
sensors are Inductive Proximity sensors, Capacitive Proximity sensors, Ultrasonic proximity
sensors, photoelectric sensors, Hall-effect sensors, etc.

Working
A proximity sensor emits an electromagnetic or electrostatic field or a beam of electromagnetic
radiation (such as infrared), and waits for the return signal or changes in the field. The object which
is being sensed is known as the proximity sensor’s target.

Inductive Proximity sensors – They have an oscillator as input to change the loss resistance by the
proximity of an electrically conductive medium. These sensors are preferred for metal targets.

Capacitive Proximity sensors – They convert the electrostatic capacitance variation flanked by the
detecting electrode and the ground electrode. This occurs by approaching the nearby object with a
variation in an oscillation frequency. To detect the nearby object, the oscillation frequency is
transformed into a direct current voltage which is compared with a predetermined threshold value.
These sensors are preferred for plastic targets.

Applications

 Used in automation engineering to define operating states in process engineering plants,

production systems and automating plants
 Used in windows, and the alarm is activated when the window opens
 Used in machine vibration monitoring to calculate the difference in distance between a shaft
and its support bearing

Conclusion:
 Touch system represents a rapidly growing subset of the display market.
 The majority of touch system include touch sensors relying on vacuum-deposited coatings, so
touch coatings presents opportunity of the supplies of vacuum coating equipment’s.
 Touch sensor manufacturers currently require thin films in the areas of transparent
conductor’s optical interference coating and the mechanical protective coatings.