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Flex Sensor

A flex sensor is a type of sensor that changes resistance when bent or flexed to detect bending. It has two pins, one for power and one for the analog output signal which changes with bending. It works by changing resistance as conductive traces move with bending, and can be used to detect bending in various applications.

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23 views

Flex Sensor

A flex sensor is a type of sensor that changes resistance when bent or flexed to detect bending. It has two pins, one for power and one for the analog output signal which changes with bending. It works by changing resistance as conductive traces move with bending, and can be used to detect bending in various applications.

Uploaded by

sanju
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BlitzTech Academy

Flex Sensor

A flex sensor is a type of sensor that changes its resistance when it is bent or flexed.
It's often used to detect the degree of bending or flexing in various applications. Flex sensors
are commonly used in electronic devices, wearable technology, robotics, and other fields
where monitoring the bending or curvature of an object is important.

Fig. Flex Sensor

Pin Description

Flex Sensor having two pins, these two can be used to retrieve data from the flex sensor.

Pin 1: This pin is used to supply power to the flex sensor. It's typically connected to a voltage
source, such as +5V or +3.3V.

Pin 2: The signal output pin provides the analog voltage or current signal that corresponds to
the resistance change of the flex sensor. The voltage or current on this pin changes as the
sensor is bent. This signal is usually connected to an analog input pin of a microcontroller or
another analog signal processing component.

Note: The pull-down resistor is connected between the pin 2 (which could be an input pin on
a microcontroller or any other digital or analog circuit) and the ground (GND) reference. One
end of the resistor connects to the signal line, and the other end connects to the ground.

Pull-down resistors are commonly used in digital circuits to ensure that input pins have a
defined voltage level when they are not actively driven by an external source. This can help
prevent false readings, noise interference, and other issues that might arise from floating
signal lines.

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Specifications

Operating Voltage 3.3 to 5V

Power Rating 0.50 watts

Size 2.2 inch

Flat Resistance 25kohms

Life Cycle >1millions

Resistance Tolerance +/- 30

Operating temperature -45ºC to +80ºC

Bend Resistance 45k to 120k ohms

Dimensions 7x5x5 cm (HxLxW)

Working

A flex sensor, also known as a bend sensor, operates based on the principle of
resistance change in response to bending or flexing. Here's how it works:

 Construction: A flex sensor is constructed using a flexible material with


conductive traces. The conductive material is usually in the form of a resistive ink
or a conductive polymer. The sensor is typically thin and can be easily integrated
into various devices and applications.

 Resistive Material: The resistive material is applied onto the flexible substrate in
a specific pattern. This pattern allows the resistance to change when the sensor is
bent or flexed.

 Resistance Change: When the flex sensor is in its neutral, unflexed position, the
conductive traces are closer together, resulting in a lower resistance. As the sensor
bends or flexes, the distance between the conductive traces changes. This
alteration in distance leads to an increase in resistance.

 Analog Output: The change in resistance corresponds to the degree of bending or


flexing. The sensor's electrical terminals are connected to a circuit, often with a
voltage source and a load, such as a microcontroller's analog input pin. As the

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resistance changes, the voltage across the sensor terminals changes. This change
in voltage is interpreted by the circuit as an analog signal.

 Signal Interpretation: The analog signal output from the flex sensor can be
converted to a measurable value using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a
microcontroller or other electronics. The degree of bending can then be
determined based on the corresponding resistance value.

 Calibration: Flex sensors might require calibration to map the resistance values
to specific bending angles accurately. Calibration involves establishing a
relationship between the resistance of the sensor and the physical bend angle.

 Applications: Flex sensors find applications in a wide range of fields. They're


used in wearable technology to monitor body movement, in robotics to create
flexible joints, in virtual reality devices for hand-tracking, in medical devices for
monitoring body movements, and in various industrial applications where bending
or flexing needs to be detected.

Flex sensor's resistance changes as it bends or flexes due to the varying distance between its
conductive traces. This change in resistance is converted into an analog signal that can be
interpreted by electronic circuits to determine the degree of bending or flexing.

Flex Sensor www.blitztechacademy.com +91-6380338373

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