Pressure profile systems enters OEM market with new line of digital tactile sensors: first capacitive tactile sensors with direct digital output

Citation

(2006), "Pressure profile systems enters OEM market with new line of digital tactile sensors: first capacitive tactile sensors with direct digital output", Sensor Review, Vol. 26 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2006.08726caf.004

Pressure profile systems enters OEM market with new line of digital tactile sensors: first capacitive tactile sensors with direct digital output

Pressure profile systems enters OEM market with new line of digital tactile sensors: first capacitive tactile sensors with direct digital output

Keywords: Tactile sensors

Pressure Profile Systems, Inc. (PPS) has announced hat for the first time it will begin offering its proprietary tactile sensors as OEM products. Previously the company's sensors had been available only in complete systems with analog to digital conversion hardware and display software tailored to test engineers.

Like PPS' earlier products, the new DigiTacts(tm) sensors are based on capacitance rather than resistance. They differ from earlier versions by providing direct digital outputs (3.3 or 5 V) rather than raw analog voltage levels. Small and flat (less than half a millimeter thick), the devices provide pressure readings from 0 to 140 kPa (0 to 20 psi) in 0.7 kPa (0.1 psi) increments.

Applications are expected to include both robotics, such as robotic hands, and human-machine interaction devices – where the reading of the pressure of the contact, not just that the contact was made, can add another dimension of information or control.

Along with the DigiTacts sensor, PPS is offering an evaluation kit that will help engineers come up to speed on capacitive tactile sensor performance for their application. The kits include a sensor, an interface board with a USB connection plus an LCD readout, and PC software, along with technical support. The sensors have I2C serial interfaces, and are available with either solder pads or a standard connector for 1 mm ribbon cable. Engineers may choose sensors formatted as 10×10 mm or 25×25 mm squares or as a 10 mm diameter circular pad.

In introducing DigiTacts, PPS President Dr Jae Son commented about entering the OEM market: “PPS' sensors have already been used to design systems for fitting custom ski boots, measure the pressure on a windshield wiper blade, and even to augment the human sense of touch in detecting breast cancer. However, there are far more potential medical, industrial and commercial applications than we can pursue ourselves – and making the sensors available as OEM components will allow designers to build them into systems we have not even envisioned yet.”

web site: www.pressureprofile.com