What is a Touch Sensor?

The human body has five sense elements that are used to interact with our surroundings. Machines also need some sensing elements to interact with their surroundings. To make this possible sensor was invented. The invention of the first manmade sensor, the thermostat, dates back to 1883. In 1940s infrared sensors were introduced. Today we have sensors that can sense motion, light, humidity, temperature, smoke, etc…Analog and digital both types of sensors are available today. Sensors have brought a revolutionary change in the size and cost of various control systems. One of such sensor which can detect touch is the Touch sensor.

 

Touch Sensors are electronic sensors that can detect touch. They operate as a switch when touched. These sensors are used in lamps, touch screens of the mobile, etc… Touch sensors offer an intuitive user interface.

Working Principle of Touch Sensor

Touch sensors work similarly to a switch. When they are subjected to touch, pressure or force they get activated and acts as a closed switch. When the pressure or contact is removed they act as an open switch.

The capacitive touch sensor contains two parallel conductors with an insulator between them. These conductors’ plates act as a capacitor with a capacitance value C0.

When these conductor plates come in contact with our fingers, our finger acts as conductive object. Due to this, there will be an uncertain increase in the capacitance.

A capacitance measuring circuit continuously measures the capacitance C0 of the sensor. When this circuit detects a change in capacitance it generates a signal.

The resistive touch sensors calculate the pressure applied on the surface to sense the touch. These sensors contain two conductive films coated with indium tin oxide, which is a good conductor of electricity, separated by a very small distance.

Across the surface of the films, a constant voltage is applied. When pressure is applied to the top film, it touches the bottom film. This generates a voltage drop which is detected by a controller circuit and signal is generated thereby detecting the touch.

Applications

Capacitor sensors are easily available and are of very low cost. These sensors are highly used in mobile phones, iPods, automotive, small home appliances, etc… .These are also used for measuring pressure, distance, etc…. A drawback of these sensors is that they can give a false alarm.

touch sensor

Resistive touch sensors only work when sufficient pressure is applied. Hence, these sensors are not useful for detecting small contact or pressure. These are used in applications such as musical instruments, keypads, touchpads, etc.. where a large amount of pressure is applied.

touch sensor

A touch sensor is mainly used to detect and record physical touch. The list of touch sensor-based Arduino projects is listed below.

Dimmer Switch Circuit using Touch Sensor

Capacitive and Metallic Touch sensor interfacing with Arduino Uno

Light Controlled through touch using Arduino

Non-contact based Capacitive Liquid Level Detecting through FDC1004

Paper Controller using Arduino & Capacitive Sensor

Keyboard Extension using Arduino Leonardo and Capacitive Touch

Capacitive touch sensor based Proximity Lamp with Arduino

Habitat using Capacitive Sensor & Arduino

Arduino Synth using Capacitive Sensor

Grid using Capacitive Touch Sensor

MeArm Controlled by Arduino Uno & TTP229-BSF Touchpad

Controlling of Home Lights using TTP223 Touch Sensor & Arduino UNO

In case  you need  any  assistance you may contact  undersigned

Dr. Pawan Whig