LILAWATI VIDYA MANDIR SR. SEC.
SCHOOL
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
TOUCH SENSOR
BY: SANJANA RATHORE
CLASS: XII-E
ROLL NO. : 12212
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that SANJANA RATHORE , a student
of class XII-E has successfully completed the research on
the below mentioned project under the guidance of MS.
MANISHA SHARMA (Subject Teacher) during the year
2022-23 in partial fulfillment of physics practical
examination conducted by AISSCE, New Delhi.
__________________
__________________
Signature of External Examiner Signature of Physics Teacher
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people
have best owned upon me their blessings and heart pledged
support, this time I am utilizing to thank all the people who have
been concerned with this project.
I would like to thank my principal Mrs. Sangeeta Sharma &
physics teacher Mrs. Manisha Sharma , whose valuable guidance
has been the one that helped me patch this project & make it
successful. Her suggestions & her instructions have served as the
major contributor towards the completion of the project.
Then I would like to thank my parents who have helped me with
their valuable suggestions & guidance that has been helpful in
various phases of the completion of the project.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank my classmates, who
have helped me a lot.
INDEX
1. OBJECTIVE
2. INTRODUCTION
3. WORKING PRINCIPAL
4. APPLICATION
5. TYPES OF TOUCH SENSOR
6.MAKING OF TOUCH SENSOR
7. PROCEDURE
8.OBSERVATION
9.PRECAUTIONS
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
OBJECTIVE
TO STUDY THE WORKING MODEL OF A TOUCH
SENSOR
INTRODUCTON
Touch sensor has been common nowadays for displays and IOT
projects with Arduino. They can be found in lamps, touch screens of
smartphones, and other wide arrays of applications as well. However,
do you understand the working principle of a touch sensor and how to
make a simple touch sensor?
What is touch sensor?
A touch sensor is an electronic sensor used in detecting and recording
physical touch. Also known as tactile sensors, it's a small, simple,
low-cost sensor made to replace old mechanical switches we seen in
the past.
TOUCH SENSOR WORKING
PRINCIPAL
The Touch Sensor is sensitive to touch, pressure as well as force. 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 to flow 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
No flow of current Flow of current
APPLICATIONS OF TOUCH SENSOR
As mentioned in introduction, a touch sensor is used 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 in kitchens; allowing for control of
running 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 are used 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 in capacitance. 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. The printed circuit panel around the outer viewing area of the 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 such as smartphones and tablets (iPhones, iPad, etc.)
Home applications such as touch lamps
Automotive
Industrial
Advantages of a capacitive touch sensor:
Doesn't require pressure to be applied since it's built on the glass
itself, hence making force insignificant to sensing requirements
Support for multi-touch
High responsiveness
Disadvantages of a capacitive touch sensor:
Vulnerable to abrasion
Reliability concerns when used in harsh environments
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-
conductive separator. 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.
Older music players, game consoles, etc.
Office equipment
Advantages of a resistive touch sensor:
Cost-effective and durable to be used in harsh environments
Able to be used with stylus and gloves
Less complex
Low power consumption
Disadvantages of a resistive touch sensor:
The inability for multi-touch technology unlike the capacitive touch
sensors
Dependent on pressure, require more pressure to be applied for
sensing to take place
Capacitive vs Resistive Touch Sensor
Capacitive touch Resistive touch
Factors sensor sensor
How it measures Electrical disturbance Amount of pressure
from a change in applied to the surface
capacitance
Multi touch Multi touch capable
Not multi touch
capable
Pressure Does not require Require and relies on
Requirement pressure to be applied pressure to be
applied
Compatibility with Doesn't work with Work with gloves or
gloves/stylus gloves or stylus stylus
Applications Portable devices; Musical instruments,
smartphones and tablets touchpads, etc.
Home applications Older music players,
Automotive and game consoles
industrial usages Office equipment
MAKING OF A TOUCH SENSOR
Hopefully! You are quite familiar with the things like What is touch
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. LED
5. 680 ohm Resistor
6. BC547 Transistor
7. Connecting Wire
8. Metal Pin
PROCEDURE
First of all, draw below circuit diagram on cardboard
Now fix all the components at their respective places as shown in
circuit diagram.
And then connect the wires across the components with the help of
circuit diagram
Now Connect the battery and your model is ready to test.
OBSERVATION
When we place finger on both touch sensor (Metal pin),
LED 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
the transistor gets ON or it acted as close circuit.
When we remove finger from both touch sensor
(Metal pin), LED 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.
PRECAUTION
1. All the connection should be neat and tight.
2. Connect the transistor in correct way considering its collector, base
and emitter.
3. Be careful while connecting LED.
4. Don’t avoid using resistor because it protects LED from high power.
5. Remove the battery after testing your working model.
