Looks great Dan. I wonder if the touch area material would affect the sensitivity. If the mesh was replaced with a piece of thin copper - would it be more touch sensitive?
Tired of manual switches? Simple Touch switch pass thru for under $15.00
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Good question, I think the conductivity would be to great and activate the switch. I found if I use anything other that the mesh the circuit turns on. I have redesigned my circuit to incoperated the 100nf CAP between pin 2 and 5 to prevent latching. Here is a copy:
Still waiting on the chips to show up, oh I went with the 1206 chips for the 1k and 10nf chips for easier soldering. And the S1 and S2 pads are for the sensor.
Dan
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Hey,
I changed out the 2.2nf chip for a 10nf chip and testing it in the open (not taped to anything) when my finger got close to the mesh it seemed more sensitive but still had to touch slightly to make it work. Well as a test I put a piece of plastic over it and when touching the plastic it turned on. So I though hmmm lets tape it to the back of a cover and see what happens. Sure enough, if I am close to the sensor the light flashes, when I am dead on it turns the circuit on! Seems as the plastic resonates the static electricity in my finger somwhat to produce a field it can sense.
Have a look:
Dan
I changed out the 2.2nf chip for a 10nf chip and testing it in the open (not taped to anything) when my finger got close to the mesh it seemed more sensitive but still had to touch slightly to make it work. Well as a test I put a piece of plastic over it and when touching the plastic it turned on. So I though hmmm lets tape it to the back of a cover and see what happens. Sure enough, if I am close to the sensor the light flashes, when I am dead on it turns the circuit on! Seems as the plastic resonates the static electricity in my finger somwhat to produce a field it can sense.
Have a look:
Dan
Dan, would a load like the atty, change the effect of the touch sensor?
No, the AT42QT1010 chip only sends a small ma charge to the mosfet switch which handles the ground side of the circuit. So once the gate is closed it can handle up to 18A, 30V. Since the pos leg of the circuit itself is direct to the atty and the ground is controlled by the mosfet switch, the only thing the sensor circuit does is sense a change in field and send a small ma charge to the mosfet collapsing the gate. Load should not matter. I will hook an atty up to it and test it out for you.
Dan
Well that was interesting, worked flawlessly with one note. The flashing you saw in the video disapeared when a load was attached, the only time the circuit turned on and stayed on was when the finger was over the sensor, and a couple time where the lead wires connected to the sensor! When the atty was removed it resumed its flashing when the finger was close to the sensor. I think we might have a working proximity touch switch!
The atty fired with out a problem, ran it for a couple minutes cycling on and off, IT WORKS! YeeHaw!
Dan
The atty fired with out a problem, ran it for a couple minutes cycling on and off, IT WORKS! YeeHaw!
Dan
I dont think so, the mesh acts like an atenna looking for a change in static electricity. When it senses it it turns on the circuit. I am working on an updated circuit layout that gives me more copper to solder to. Since the last version pulled up from the board. Here is the new layout, I should have a working model in a couple days and will test it in multiple enviroments and give you guys some feedback.
Dan
Dan
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And now for you viewing pleasure, and operational Porximity Touch Switch E-Cig!
Dan
Dan
That looks really cool Dan. I can't think of a better way to operate a vaping box.
I wish someone would make and sell this. It looks a bit more involved than I originally hoped - as a DIY project.
I've just found this device on sale for $5.50 and I wonder if it could be adapted to work within a box? (eg the plastic socket could be removed and/or the touch pad cut off and repositioned).
http://www.robotshop.com/eu/seeedstudio-electronic-brick-digital-touch-switch.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=GoogleUK
I wish someone would make and sell this. It looks a bit more involved than I originally hoped - as a DIY project.
I've just found this device on sale for $5.50 and I wonder if it could be adapted to work within a box? (eg the plastic socket could be removed and/or the touch pad cut off and repositioned).
http://www.robotshop.com/eu/seeedstudio-electronic-brick-digital-touch-switch.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=GoogleUK
Yes it will work with just two contact point, but it is REALLY sensitive. Dry fingers no problem!
After using this for awhile I have also notice that ANY metal object will also activate the sensor. So people with gloves in the winter with a ring over their glove would activate it
Dan
I have one change to the circuit, I mislabeled the - (negitive) and s2 (sensor) pad, those should be reversed, and you do not need the 100nf (C3) capacitor, so leave that off your shopping list. Here is the final circuit:
Dan
Dan
Yes it will work with just two contact point, but it is REALLY sensitive. Dry fingers no problem!
After using this for awhile I have also notice that ANY metal object will also activate the sensor. So people with gloves in the winter with a ring over their glove would activate it
Dan
Dan, what about the metal plate in my head... will it effect the sensitivity?
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