Overview

|

Sensor Types

|

Sensor Comparison

|

Systems

|

Custom Capabilities

|

Video

ConTacts Discrete Tactile Sensors - Overview

ConTacts are discrete tactile sensors that can be placed in the locations of your choosing -- on fingers, around the head, or on tool handles. The pads are attached with elastic or adhesive bands for positive locating and easy removal. Each individual pad is constructed using our patented capacitive-
based pressure sensing technology, ensuring the high sensitivity needed for tactile applications.

ConTacts sensors output a 0-5VDC analog signal that can be captured with most commercial data acquisition systems. For a complete turnkey solution, we also offer a USB DAQ kit with wiring harness and basic data acquisition software.

ConTacts pads are typically used in one of two different approaches: Object Centered, where sensors are used to instrument the surface of the object itself (such as a tool handle or videogame controller), or User Centered, where sensors are mounted on the user herself, such as fingertips on a hand.

ConTacts - 3 Sensor Types

Conformable Tactile Pad Discrete tactile pressure sensors, conformable to most any surface with unsurpassed sensitivity and reliability. Our Standard Tactile Pads are a simple but powerful sensing tools for a wide variety of applications. Our small (10x10 mm) and medium (25x25 mm) pads are conformable squares that can easily be applied in a multitude of test setups. Our large (50x50 mm) pads include relief cuts to allow for additional conformability around multiply-curved surfaces such as knees and elbows. Standard Tactile Pads are available in pressure ranges of up to 50psi and are especially suitable for applications involving human grasping of objects. Built from a flexible, conductive cloth, the tactile pads can accommodate moderate flexing without adversely affecting sensor performance. Standard Tactile Pads are sold in conjunction with our ConTacts C500 signal conditioning system.

Industrial Tactile Pad A durable, high-temperature and high-pressure sensor suited for exacting measurements in demanding environments. Our Industrial Tactile Pads extend the pressure and temperature thresholds of the Standard Tactile Pads. Available in small (10x10 mm), medium (25x25 mm) and large (50x50mm) pads, they are available in pressure ranges of up to 2000psi and retain their performance characteristics in temperatures up to 200C . Industrial Tactile Pads are unique in meeting the needs of  demanding manufacturing environments. They are sold in conjunction with our ConTacts C500 signal conditioning system.

Hybrid Tactile Pad A hybrid sensor that combines durability with conformability. Our Hybrid Tactile Pads combine the sensitivity of our conformable sensors with the ruggedness of our industrial pads. Hybrid sensors maintain the sensitivity of our standard tactile pads in a thinner package, while sacrificing some of the flexibility for curved surfaces.  Hybrid Tactile Pads are available in small (10x10mm) and large (25x25mm) sizes and in pressure ranges up to 50psi. They are constructed from conductive cloth on one side and copper-clad Kapton on the other. Hybrid Tactile Pads are sold in conjunction with our ConTacts C500 discrete tactile pressure measurement systems.

ConTacts - 3 Sensor Types

C500 The C500 signal conditioning unit drive a single discrete tactile sensor with a 0-4.5 VDC output. Our simplest and most inexpensive tactile sensing system, the C500 includes one ConTacts tactile padsignal conditioning electronics. and Simply connect a 5V power source (not supplied) and begin taking data. Max number of elements 1 Minimum response bandwith 2 kHz Electronics output 0-4.5 VDC Enclosure Size 6cm x 3.5cm x 1.7cm

C500 Spec Sheet

ConTacts Starter Kit A complete turnkey solution - USB DAQ kit with wiring harness and PPS's data acquisition software. A great way to get started using the ConTacts sensors is using our starter kit. While many of our customers connect the ConTacts sensors to their own data acquisition systems,  PPS will, when asked, provide our customers with a complete turnkey solution featuring National Instruments hardware. PPS’s ConTacts C500 USB DAQ System is a complete turnkey solution, including four standard ConTacts C500 sensors, a USB DAQ module with wiring harness, and ConTacts software. The ConTacts Software allows real-time visualization and export of accurate and quantifiable applied forces, and the DAQ kit needs no additional power supply or equipment – only an open USB port. Custom designs are available upon request. NI USB-6009 - 14-Bit, 48 kS/s Multifunction Data Acquisition for USB The National Instruments USB-6009 provides basic data acquisition functionality for applications such as simple data logging, portable measurements, and lab experiments.

ConTacts Discrete Tactile Sensor Custom Capabilities

When a standard tactile pad doesn't meet your needs, PPS can build a custom tactile sensing pad for instrumenting complex systems or embedding into a product. The flexibility in our capacitive sensing design allows us to build a sensor in essentially any shape you can draw. Tactile pads can be molded to fit complex surfaces or withstand the harshest environmental conditions.

PPS engineers have a great deal of experience in developing custom instrumentation solutions. Call us with your application and we can help you determine the ideal sensor configuration.

ConTacts Discrete Tactile Sensor Videos

Contacts Sensors

Contacts Repeatability