FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Lab
03 Flexi Force Sensor using Arduino
BTE4733
Sensor Technology
Lab Objectives

By the end of this lab, students should be able to:

1. Understand the principle of force sensor

2. Measure the signal output from the sensor
3. Trigger the output based on the setting force using BJT Transistor

Student names Student ID Section

20

Delivery Date:
FlexiForce Sensor

The FlexiForce force sensor is an ultra-thin, flexible printed circuit as shown in Figure 1. The force
sensors are constructed of two layers of substrate (polyester/polyimide) film. On each layer, a
conductive material (silver) is applied, followed by a layer of pressure-sensitive ink. Adhesive is
then used to laminate the two layers of substrate together to form the force sensor. The active
sensing area is defined by the silver circle on top of the pressure sensitive ink. Silver extends from
the sensing area to the connectors at the other end of the sensor, forming the conductive leads.
FlexiForce sensors are terminated with male square pins, allowing them to be easily incorporated
into a circuit.

Figure 1: Flexiforce Sensor

The FlexiForce single element force sensor acts as a force sensing resistor in an electrical circuit.
When the force sensor is unloaded, its resistance is very high. When a force is applied to the sensor,
this resistance decreases. The resistance can be read by connecting a multimeter to the outer
two pins, then applying a force to the sensing area. In Figure 2, the plot shows both the Force vs.
resistance and Force vs. conductance (1/R). Note that the conductance curve is linear, and
therefore useful in calibration.

Figure 2: Force vs. resistance and Force vs. conductance (1/R)

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Experiment 1: Measure the output signal from Flexiforce Sensor

1. Place Flexiforce Sensor on your breadboard without any supply voltage and measure the
resistance using digital multimeter. Record this value as Rmax.
2. Apply force to the sensor and measure the resistance. Record this value as Rmin.

Table 1: Min and Max resistance

RMax
RMin

3. Discuss how flexiforce sensor works.

4. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1 using Arduino UNO board.

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Figure 1

5. Open the Arduino Software and create a program to read analog input signal at pin 0,
and switch on LED based on the following condition:
a. If the force is low, LED1 ON
b. If the force is medium, LED2 ON
c. If the force is high, LED3 ON
d. If the force is very high, LED4 ON
Note: low, med, high and very high are define by yourself

6. Connect your Arduino board to the usb port.

7. Verify and upload your programming code.
8. Observe the relation between your maximum analog value and the voltage output to A0.
9. Using the same program in step 5, modify your circuit to get the following output:
a. If the force is low, LED1 ON
b. If the force is medium, LED2 ON
c. If the force is high, LED3 ON
d. If the force is very high, 12V DC motor ON
10. Sketch and justify your circuit.