CHAPTER 2

FLEX SENSOR
The flex sensor pictured below changes resistance when bent. It will only change resistance
in one direction (out of the screen in relation to the picture below). An unflexed sensor has a
resistance of about 10,000 ohms. As the flex sensor is bent, the resistance increases to 30-40 kohms
at 90 degrees. The sensor measures 1/4 inch wide, 4-1/2 inches long and 0.19 inches thick.

Fig. 2.1 Flex Sensor

2.1 Flex sensor circuit

 Fig. 2.2 Flex Sensor circuit

If R2 = 33 kohm, and the input voltage is 5 volts, then the output voltage will be in
the range from 2.8 to 4 volts. The positive power to the op-amp can be 5 volts and the
negative power to the op-amp can be 0 volts.

2.2 Features

 Angle Displacement Measurement

 Bends and Flexes physically with motion device
 Possible Uses
 Robotics
 Gaming (Virtual Motion)
 Medical Devices
 Computer Peripherals
 Musical Instruments
 Physical Therapy
 Simple Construction
 Low Profile

2.3 Operation of Flex Sensors

Flex Sensors are sensors that change in resistance depending on the amount of bend in the
sensor. They convert change in bend to electrical resistance-the more the bend, the more the
resistance value. They are usually in the form of thin strips from 1”-5” long that vary in resistance
from approximately 10 to 50 kilo ohms. They are often used in gloves to sense finger movements.
Flex sensors are analog resistors. They work as variable analog voltage dividers. Inside the flex
sensors carbon resistive elements with in a thick flexible substrate. more carbon means less
resistance. when a substrate is bent the sensor produces a resistance output relative to the bend
radius. With a typical flex sensor a flex of 0 degrees will give 10K resistance with a flex of 90
degrees will give 30-40 K ohms. The bend sensors lists resistance of 30-250K ohms.

Fig. 2.3 Variation in Resistance of Flex Sensors

2.4 Available in three resistance ranges

 FLX-01-L Low resistance range, nominal resistance between 1K - 20K
 FLX-01-M Medium resistance range, nominal resistance between 20K - 50K

 FLX-01-H High resistance range, nominal resistance between 50K - 200K

2.5 The application of the Flex Sensor are

 Collision detection on mobile robots
 VR Gloves and VR suits

 Physics applications and experiments

for those modules which require negative biasing).

All the switches should be connected so that they are “on” when in the “down” position, so that
“down” generates a logic 0 (low) and “up” provides a logic 1 (high). The switches should also be
arranged so that data bit D7 is on the left, and data bit D0 is on the right. In this way, binary
numbers can be entered the right way round. Initially, the contrast control should be adjusted fully
clockwise, so that the contrast control input (Vee) is connected to ground. The initial settings of the
switches are unimportant, but it is suggested that the RS switch (S10) is “up” (set to logic 1), and
the E switch (S9) is left unpressed. The data switches, S1 to S8, can be set to any value at this
stage. All is now prepared to start sending commands and data to the l.c.d. module.
Fig-FLEX SENSORS UNIT