Force Sensing Technology

How it Works

Force-sensing resistors are an evolution of membrane switch technology, based on similar design principals and manufacturing techniques. The force sensor is essentially an analog, multi-position switch, while the membrane switch is simply ON/OFF.
What defines a force-sensing resistor is its unique characteristic of dynamic conductance / resistance relative to the amount of pressure applied to the device. In general, the more pressure applied to the surface of the sensor, the greater the conductance / the lower the resistance.

Force-sensing resistors are used for qualitative rather than quantitative or precision measurements. More information can be found in our FSR data sheets & integration guides.

Shunt Mode force sensors are the most frequently used design. They are constructed in two layers of flexible polymer. One layer is p