Presentation On : Flex Sensor

INDUSUNIVERSITY

Welcome !
Electronics & Presented By Vatsal
Communication Dept. Shah
th
What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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 A Flex and Force sensor. This is a flexible sensor which changes its output when
it is bent or when force is applied on it.

 This sensor has two output wires.

 The resistance between these two wires varies when the sensor is bent or
when subjected to a force. Hence, this sensor can be used as a flex or force
sensor.

 When the sensor is kept straight with no force acting on it, it has a resistance of
around 10 K Ohms.

Flex Sensors
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 When the sensor is bent in either way, or when force is applied on the sensor, the
resistance between these two wires increases proportionally to the amount of
bending.

 They convert the change in bend to electrical resistance - the more the bend, the
more the resistance value.

 They are usually in the form of a thin strip from 1"-5" long that vary in resistance
from approximately 10 to 50 kilohoms.

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What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Problems

Characteristics Application

Project
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Basic Circuit:

 Flex Sensor as Voltage Divider - Output voltage increases with the bend.
 The impedance buffer in the circuit reduces error due to source impedance of
the flex sensor as voltage divider.
 Suggested op amps are the LM358 or LM324.
 We can also test our flex sensor using simple test, and skip op-amp.

Schematics
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 Voltage vs Resistance

2.5
Voltage (V)
1.5
0.5

9 14 19 24
Resistance (Kohm)

R (Flex Sensor) Vout

9.48 kΩ 1.78 V
15.3 kΩ 1.69 V
17.0 kΩ 1.59 V
21.2 kΩ 1.36 V
22.7 kΩ 1.32 V

Flex Sensor – Test & Data

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What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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 Flex sensors are analog resistors. They work as variable analog voltage dividers.
 Inside the flex sensor are carbon resistive elements within a thin flexible substrate.
 When the substrate is bent the sensor produces a resistance output relative to the
bend radius.
 With a typical flex sensor, a flex of 0 degrees will give 10K resistance will a flex of 90
will give 30-40 K ohms.
 The Bend Sensor lists resistance of 30-250 K ohms.
.

How they Work

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What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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  Size: approx. 0.28" wide and
Electrical 1"/3"/5" long
 Resistance Range:1.5-40K Ω
Characteristics  Temperature Range: -35 to +80°C
 Voltage: 5 to 12 V

Characteristics VATSAL N SHAH 12

What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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 Used copper tape to fix the problem
 Only one working flex sensor
 Reduced accuracy to differentiate between gestures
 Broke due to heat

Problems
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What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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 5. Horn Switch
…………………..

………………………
1. Toys
……………...

………………………………………

4 . Gaming Glove
2 . Auto Control……………………………..

3 . Fitness Products
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What is Flex Sensor
Schematics
?

How they Work? Characteristics

Problems Application

Project
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 The parts required:
 Arduino UNO
 10 x Red LEDs
 9 x 330 Ohm resistors for the LEDs
 1 x 10K Ohm resistors for the flex sensor.
 1 x Flex sensor
 Wires and Breadboard to connect it all together

Project
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 http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?PHPSESSID=los7pd7c6mjj40j78bcm5vudp6&topic=7088
3.msg527105#msg527105
 http://sensorwiki.org/doku.php/sensors/flexion
 http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/sensors/Reports.Flex
 http://www.flexpoint.com/companyInfo/about.htm
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJiwaAKHMNw
 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10264
 http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Bi-Directional-Flex-Sensors/
 http://www.imagesco.com/sensors/flex-sensor.html
 http://infusionsystems.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/54
 http://www.digikey.com/us/en/ph/SpectraSymbol/flex_sensor.html
 http://www.adafruit.com/products/182
 https://www.inventables.com/technologies/bend-sensor
 http://devices.sapp.org/component/flex/
 http://www.nskelectronics.com/flex_sensor.html
 http://arduinobasics.blogspot.in/2011/05/arduino-uno-flex-sensor-and-leds.html

References:
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Thank You
For Your
Attention !

VATSAL N SHAH
INDUS UNIVERSITY