Touch Sensor (U)

Physics Investigatory Project
NAME:
CLASS: XII
ROLL N0:
SESSION: 2023-24
1|Page
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that
Student Name
has successfully completed his/her Physics
project titled
TOUCH SENSOR
under the supervision and guidance of

PHYSICS TEACHER
in the partial fulfillment of the Physics

practical
assessment conducted during
the academic year
2023-2024.
E XAMINE R TEACHER
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my immense gratitude to
my physics teachers ____________________ for the

help and guidance she provided for completing
this project.
I also thank my parents who gave their ideas

and inputs in making this project. Most of all I
thank our school management, for providing us
the facilities and opportunity to do this project.
Lastly, I would like to thanks my classmates

who have done this project along with me.
Their support made this project fruitful.
- Student Name
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INDEX
CONTENT PAGE NO.

Certificate 2
Acknowledgement 3
Topic 5
Introduction 6
Working Principal 7
Application 8
Types of touch sensor 9-13
Making of touch sensor model 14
Procedure 15
Observation 16
Precautions 17
Bibliography 18
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TOPIC
Investigatory Project on Touch Sensor
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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.
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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
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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
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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:

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 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
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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
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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
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Capacitive vs Resistive Touch Sensor
Capacitive touch Resistive touch

Factors sensor sensor
Electrical disturbance
Amount of pressure
How it measures from a change in
applied to the surface
capacitance
Not multi touch

Multi touch Multi touch capable
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
Portable devices; Musical instruments,

smartphones and tablets touchpads, etc.
Applications Home applications Older music players,
Automotive and game consoles
industrial usages Office equipment
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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. 3V LED
5. 1K Ω Resistor
6. BC547 Transistor
7. 6-12V Buzzer
8. Connecting Wire
9. Metal pin
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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 wire across the components with help
of circuit diagram
 Now Connect the battery and your model is ready to test
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OBSERVATION
When we place finger on both touch sensor (Metal pin),

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 the transistor 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 in figure 2
Figure 1 Figure 2
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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 and Buzzer as they have to

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
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Wikipedia.com
 Google search engine
 WWW.YOUTUBE.COM
 https://eeeproject.com
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Physics Investigatory Project

This is to certify that

under the supervision and guidance of

in the partial fulfillment of the Physics

I would like to express my immense gratitude to

my physics teachers ____________________ for the

I also thank my parents who gave their ideas

Lastly, I would like to thanks my classmates

CONTENT PAGE NO.

Types of touch sensor 9-13

Making of touch sensor model 14

Investigatory Project on Touch Sensor

What is touch sensor?

The Touch Sensor is sensitive to touch, pressure as well as force.

When there is contact or a touch on the surface of the Touch Sensor.

From below diagram you can understand how the

As mentioned in introduction, a touch sensor is used for a wide array

 Touch sensor in robotics; a touch sensor is commonly used in

 Smartphones, automotive, industrial applications

 Touch sensor faucet in kitchens; allowing for control of running

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

 Most other applications that require pressure/distance measurement

1. Capacitive touch sensor

Capacitive Touch Sensor

How capacitive touch sensor work:

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

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

Capacitive touch sensor applications:

 Home applications such as touch lamps

Advantages of a capacitive touch sensor:

 Support for multi-touch

Disadvantages of a capacitive touch sensor:

 Reliability concerns when used in harsh environments

 Doesn’t work with gloves or stylus

How resistive touch sensor work:

2. The outside conductive layer is then pressed against the

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

Resistive touch sensor applications:

 Older music players, game consoles, etc.

 Able to be used with stylus and gloves

 Low power consumption

Disadvantages of a resistive touch sensor:

 Dependent on pressure, require more pressure to be applied

Capacitive touch Resistive touch

Not multi touch

Pressure Does not require Require and relies on

Compatibility with Doesn’t work with Work with gloves or

Portable devices; Musical instruments,

 First of all, draw below circuit diagram on cardboard

 Now fix all the components at their respective places as shown in

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

When we place finger on both touch sensor (Metal pin),

When we remove finger from both touch sensor

1. All the connection should be neat and tight.

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

3. Be careful while connecting LED and Buzzer as they have to

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

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

7. Remove the battery from after testing your working model

 Google search engine