TOPIC

lnvestigatory Project on Touch Sensor

 INTRODUCTON

Touch sensor has beencommon nowadays for displays and loT projects with
Arduino. They can be found in lamps, touch screens of smartphones,
andotherwidearrays of applications aswell.
However, doyouunderstand theworkingprinciple ofa touch sensor and
how to make a simple touch sensor?

What is touch sensor?

Atouch sensor is anelectronic sensor used indetecting and
recording physical touch. Also known as tactile sensors, it’s a small,
simple, low-costsensor made toreplaceoldmechanical switches we seen
in the past.
 TOUCH SENSOR WORKING PRINCIPAL

The Touch Sensor is sensitive totouch, pressure as well asforce. The

Touch Sensor works similar to that of a simple switch.

When there is contact or a touch on the surface of the Touch Sensor. It acts
like a closed switch and allows the current toflow through it. When
the contact is released it acts similar to the opened switch and hence there is
no flow of current.

From below diagram you can understand how the touch

sensor works

No contact

Touch Sensor

No Flow of current Flow of current

 APPLICATIONS OF TOUCH SENSOR

Asmentioned in introduction, atouch sensor isused for a wide array of

applications, with those being:

• Touch sensor in robotics; a touch sensor is commonly used in robots,

enabling basic movement and the ability to detect touch in its
surroundings (E.g. When the robot runs into something, the touch sensor
can have it to stop moving)

Smartphones, automotive, industrial applications

• Touch sensor faucet inkitchens; allowing for control ofrunning

water without having to physically turn the knob

• Touch sensor switches are used in place of physical press switch

Most other applications that require pressure/distance measurement

 TYPES OF TOUCH SENSOR

As per their functions, the Touch Sensors are classified into two types
which areused in different circumstances and utilities.

1. Capacitive touch sensor

2. Resistive touch sensor

Capacitive Touch Sensor

A Capacitive touch sensor measures touch based on electrical
disturbance from a change incapacitance. It consists of an electrode film
on top of the glass panel that’s conductively coated with a printed
circuit pattern around the outer viewing area.

How capacitive touch sensor work:

1. The user applies touch on the glass panel

2. Theprinted circuit panelaround theouter viewing area ofthe

glass panel creates an electrical charge across the surface

3. It results in a decrease in capacitance and allows the system to

determine the touchpoint

4. Multiple touchpoints can be detected as well, allowing for touch

pinch and spread
Capacitive touch sensor applications:
& Portable devices suchassmartphones andtablets (iPhones, iPad, etc.)

6 Home applications such as touch lamps &

Automotive

6 Industrial

Advantages of a capacitive touch sensor:

6 Doesn’t require pressure to be applied since
it’s built on the glass itself, hence making force insignificant to
sensing requirements

6 Support for multi-touch

6 High responsiveness

Disadvantages of a capacitive touch sensor:

& Vulnerable to abrasion

6 Reliability concerns when used in harshenvironments 6

Doesn’t work with gloves or stylus

Resistive touch sensor
Resistive touch sensor measures touch through responding to the pressure
applied to their surface. It consists of two conductive layers and a non-
conductiveseparator. Unlike the capacitive touch sensors, it’s not multi-touch
compatible. And also, these sensors can’t sense the small contact or touch.
Resistive Touch Sensor requires an amount force to operate.

How resistive touch sensor work:

1. The user applies pressure against the surface

2. The outside conductive layer is then pressed against the inner layer,
resulting in voltage changes

3. The voltage changes are then compared to the starting voltage,

allowing for the point at which the touch took place to be
calculated

Resistive touch sensor applications:

& Musical instruments, touchpads, etc.

6 Older music players, game consoles, etc. 6

Office equipment
Advantages of a resistive touch sensor:
6 Cost-effective and durable to be used in harsh environments

6 Able to be used with stylus and gloves 6

Less complex

6 Low power consumption

Disadvantages of a resistive touch sensor:

6 Theinability for multi-touch technology unlike the capacitive
touch sensors

& Dependent onpressure, require more pressure tobe applied for

sensing to take place
 Capacitive vs Resistive Touch Sensor

Capacitive touch Resistive touch

Factors sensor sensor

Electrical disturbance
Amount of pressure
Howit measures from a change in
applied to the surface
capacitance

Not multi touch

Multi touch Multi touch capable
capable

Pressure Does not require Require andrelies on

Requirement pressure to be applied pressure to be applied

Compatibility with Doesn’t work with Work with gloves or

gloves/stylus gloves orstylus stylus

Portable devices; Musical instruments,

smartphones and tablets touchpads, etc.
Applications Home applications Older musicplayers,
Automotive and game consoles
industrial usages Office equipment
 MAKING OF A TOUCH SENSOR

Hopefully! You are quitefamiliar withthethingslike What istouch

sensor, Types of touch sensor, It’s application in real life etc
Now it’s time to make it practical, So you can make a simple working model of
touch sensor by following below steps.

MATERIAL REQUIRED

1. Cardboard

2. 9V Battery

3. Battery Clip

4. 3V LED

5. 1Kh Resistor

6. BC547 Transistor

7. 6-12V Buzzer

8. Connecting Wire

9. Metal pin
 PROCEDURE

& First of all, draw below circuit diagram on cardboard

6 Nowfixallthecomponents at their respective places as shownin circuit

diagram

6 And then connect thewire across the components withhelp of

circuit diagram

6 Now Connect the battery and your model is ready to test

 OBSERVATION

Whenweplace finger onbothtouchsensor (Metalpin), LED

and Buzzer gets ON
When we place finger on both pins, due to high resistance of our body
very low positive current signal passes through base of transistor
and thetransistor gets ON or it acted as close circuit. As shown
in figure 1.

When we remove finger from both touch sensor

(Metal pin), LED and Buzzer gets OFF
When we remove finger from both touch sensor (Metal Pins) no current
passes to base and due to zero signal in base, transistor gets OFF or
acted as open circuit. As shown infigure 2

Figure 1 Figure 2
 PRECAUTION

1. All the connection should be neat andtight.

2. Connect the transistor in correct way considering its Collector, Base

and Emitter.

3. Becareful while connecting LED and Buzzer asthey haveto

connect with correct polarity

4. Don’t Avoid using Resistor because it protects LED from high

power

5. This model does not work with very dry hand so make sure your
hand is little bit moist

6. Do not use any insulated/coated metal pin as touch sensor

7. Remove the battery from after testing your working model

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Wikipedia.com

• Google search engine

• WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

• https://eeeproiect.com