https://github.com/daawesomep/prox-sense
Robust and discreet capacitive proximity and touch sensors
https://github.com/daawesomep/prox-sense
List: prox-sense
capacitive capacitive-touch-sensor creative-coding electronics kicad pcb pcb-design proximity proximity-sensor touch
Last synced: 5 months ago
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Robust and discreet capacitive proximity and touch sensors
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/daawesomep/prox-sense
- Owner: DaAwesomeP
- License: other
- Created: 2022-03-10T17:52:44.000Z (over 4 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2022-11-17T05:53:32.000Z (over 3 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-11-05T17:01:45.447Z (7 months ago)
- Topics: capacitive, capacitive-touch-sensor, creative-coding, electronics, kicad, pcb, pcb-design, proximity, proximity-sensor, touch
- Homepage: https://perrynaseck.com/work/prox-sense/
- Size: 2.3 MB
- Stars: 3
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
prox-sense
==========
[prox-sense](https://github.com/DaAwesomeP/prox-sense) is a series of printed
circuit board (PCB) designs for designed to bring robust and discreet
capacitive proximity and touch sensing to artists and makers.
**Video demonstration and poster: [Hidden Touch: Open Source Sensors for New
Interaction](https://perrynaseck.com/work/prox-sense/)**
This repository contains the KiCAD schematics, boards, and Gerber files
required to produce the sensing boards. License notice below.
## Premise
**Existing systems for creating interactive experiences:**
- Expensive
- Can be difficult to use or understand
- Limited or nonexistent proximity detection (existing capacitive options)
- Dense arrangements of proximity sensors may not function (existing
capacitive options)
- Connectivity options do not scale up to large systems of sensors
- Equivalent/alternative optical systems are intrusive, expensive, or
predictable (cameras, vision systems)
- Require large amounts of processing or setup
- Existing tactile systems are predictable (buttons, knobs, touchscreens,
etc.)
**prox-sense promotes discoverable and new interactions:**
- Inexpensive
- Focus on proximity detection
- Proximity through solid and opaque objects (sensors can be entirely hidden)
- Directional proximity detection options allow for dense arrangements
- Interaction is led by the objects the sensors are hidden in and the
resulting interactions, not the sensors and sensor limitations
- Small sensors allow for small detection areas and objects
- Simple connectivity scales up to large systems without limiting the maximum
number of easily-connected sensors
- Open source and free to produce
## Boards
Currently all boards are based around the [Microchip
MTCH105](https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/MTCH105)
- Simple GPIO interface for detection and sensitivity adjustment. The standard
logic output can be used directly with microcontrollers, logic circuits,
transistors, muxes, and port expanders
- Rejects liquids and other uncertain signal sources
- Supports guard reference signal for solid interference mitigation
- All boards currently use the same schematic but vary the copper/trace layout
to achieve different detection patterns
### Directional board
- Detects proximity and touch only directly in front of the sensors
- Rejects rear and off-axis (side) detection using guard signal
- Guard signal on edge allows for close-packing of sensors
### Omnidirectional board
- Detects proximity and touch from all directions
- Guard signal on edge allows for close-packing of sensors
## License Notice
Copyright Perry Naseck 2022.
This source describes Open Hardware and is licensed under the CERN-OHL-S v2.
You may redistribute and modify this source and make products using it under
the terms of the CERN-OHL-S v2 (https://ohwr.org/cern_ohl_s_v2.txt).
This source is distributed WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY,
INCLUDING OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Please see the CERN-OHL-S v2 for applicable conditions.
Source location: https://github.com/DaAwesomeP/prox-sense
As per CERN-OHL-S v2 section 4, should You produce hardware based on this
source, You must where practicable maintain the Source Location visible
on the external case of the prox-sense or other products you make using this
source.