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Capacitive touch sensor

Samuel Zuk (Department of Technologies in Electronics, Technicka univerzita v Kosiciach, Kosice, Slovakia)
Alena Pietrikova (Department of Technologies in Electronics, Technicka univerzita v Kosiciach, Kosice, Slovakia)
Igor Vehec (Department of Technologies in Electronics, Technicka univerzita v Kosiciach, Kosice, Slovakia)

Microelectronics International

ISSN: 1356-5362

Article publication date: 2 July 2018

690

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the possibilities of mechanical switch replacement by capacitive film touch sensor in applications requiring high reliability and short response time. Advantage of replacing mechanical switch by capacitive touch sensor is no mechanical wear and possible implementation of sensor in application where the switch could not be used or where the flexibility of the sensor substrate is required. The aim of this work is to develop a capacitive touch sensor with the advantage of maximum mechanical resistance, short response time and high sensitivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on various possible sensors layouts, the authors realized 18 different (14 self-capacitance and four mutual capacitance) topologies of capacitive sensor for touch applications. Three different technologies – PCB, LTCC and polymer technology – were used to characterize sensor’s behaviour. For precise characterization of different layouts realized on various substrates, the authors used integrated circuit FDC2214 capacitance-to-digital converter.

Findings

Sensing range of the capacitive touch (proximity) sensor is affected by the per cent of area covered by the sensor, and it does not depend on topology of sensor. The highest sensing range offers PCB technology. Flexible substrates can be used as proper substituent to rigid PCB.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work lies in finding the touch capacitive sensors that allow shorter switching times compared to standard mechanical switches.

Keywords

Citation

Zuk, S., Pietrikova, A. and Vehec, I. (2018), "Capacitive touch sensor", Microelectronics International, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/MI-12-2017-0071

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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