1120 User Guide

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Getting Started

Checking the Contents

You should have received: A FlexiForce adapter board A sensor cable A FlexiForce interface cable Two round plastic discs for the FlexiForce sensor sensing pad		In order to test your new Phidget you will also need: A PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 or PhidgetTextLCD A USB Cable A FlexiForce sensor

Connecting the Pieces

Connect the FlexiForce Adapter Board to an Analog Input on the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 board using the sensor cable. Attach the FlexiForce sensor into the Flexiforce Interface cable. Insert the other end of the Interface cable into the terminal block on the Adapter Board. The polarity of the FlexiForce sensor does not matter. Connect the PhidgetInterfaceKit to your PC using the USB cable.

Testing Using Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7

Make sure you have the current version of the Phidget library installed on your PC. If you don't, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Quick Downloads section on the Windows page
2. Download and run the Phidget21 Installer (32-bit, or 64-bit, depending on your system)
3. You should see the icon on the right hand corner of the Task Bar.

Running Phidgets Sample Program

Double clicking on the icon loads the Phidget Control Panel; we will use this program to ensure that your new Phidget works properly.

The source code for the InterfaceKit-full sample program can be found in the quick downloads section on the C# Language Page. If you'd like to see examples in other languages, you can visit our Languages page.

Updating Device Firmware

If an entry in this list is red, it means the firmware for that device is out of date. Double click on the entry to be given the option of updating the firmware. If you choose not to update the firmware, you can still run the example for that device after refusing.

Double Click on the icon to activate the Phidget Control Panel and make sure that the Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly attached to your PC.
Double Click on Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Control Panel to bring up InterfaceKit-full and check that the box labelled Attached contains the word True. Make sure that the Ratiometric box is Ticked. When no force is applied to the sensor, the value in the corresponding Analog-In box is 0. As more force is applied to the sensor, the value will increase. When the value increases to 975 to 1000, the output of the sensor is saturated and additional force will not affect the value in the box. You can adjust the input sensitivity by moving the slider pointer. Click on the Sensors button to bring up the Advanced Sensor Form.
In the Sensor 6 box, select the 1120 - FlexiForce Adapter Board from the drop down menu. The force measured by the sensor is shown here. Formula used to convert the analog input SensorValue into force, either in lbs. A drop-down menu to select the force range of the FlexiForce sensor being used. In this case, a 25-pound rated sensor is used.

Testing Using Mac OS X

1. Go to the Quick Downloads section on the Mac OS X page
2. Download and run the Phidget OS X Installer
3. Click on System Preferences >> Phidgets (under Other) to activate the Preference Pane
4. Make sure that the is properly attached.
5. Double Click on in the Phidget Preference Pane to bring up the Sample program. This program will function in a similar way as the Windows version.

Using Linux

For a step-by-step guide on getting Phidgets running on Linux, check the Linux page.

Technical Details

Formulas

The FlexiForce Force sensor is a piezoresistor that has a very large resistance when it is not loaded (in the range of MegaOhms). The resistance decreases as more and more force is applied to it. Tekscan offers sensors with standard force ranges, such as 0-1 lb, 0-25 lbs, and 0-100 lbs. The same adapter board can be used for all three ranges. Because the expected part-to-part variance between FlexiForce sensors is as high as 40%, it is imperative that you calibrate your sensor and determine the specific formula which applies to your sensor. For information on how to calibrate your sensor, refer to the FlexiForce User Manual from Tekscan.

FlexiForce Sensors

The FlexiForce sensors are easy to interface to the adapter board. They can be plugged into the Interface cable that is included. The other end of the cable has been stripped and tinned so that they can be easily inserted into the terminal block. This is useful if a longer cable is needed, as wires can be soldered to the stripped ends. The polarity of the FlexiForce sensors does not matter. If a larger force range is desired, a resistor on the Adapter board can be replaced. This resistor is designated as RGAIN on the board and has a default value of 15 kiloOhms. When the RGAIN resistor value is reduced, the sensor becomes less sensitive and more force can be applied before saturating the output. Conversely, if the RGAIN value is increased, the sensitivity increases and the output saturates at a lower applied force. If RGAIN is changed, calibration with known forces will have to be done to determine the proper formula. Based on limited testing, RGAIN=5 kilo-ohms will give enough range to measure up to 1000 lbs with the 100 lb. Flexiforce sensor. Changing the gain by much larger amounts can cause sensor instability and is not recommended. Also note that adjusting the gain is not a substitute for calibrating and conditioning the sensor. You should look at the manual for the sensor you are using and follow all calibration procedures contained therein before resorting to adjusting the gain value to achieve accurate results.

Measurement Accuracy

To obtain the most accurate results, it is recommended that the sensor rests on a smooth surface and the object is only on the sensing pad and centered as much as possible. This can be achieved by using a small disc (included) that is just large enough to cover the sensing pad, and then placing the full force on the disc. Without the disc, the object may rest on the surrounding surface and record the force inaccurately. Care must also be taken to avoid jagged or sharp edges on the sensing pad, as it can affect the measurement as well as potentially puncture the pad. The pad at the end of the strip is the only place where force is sensed. Any force along the rest of the strip is ignored. The longer the object rests on the sensing pad, the more the SensorValue will drift and vary slowly in value. It is very difficult to compensate for the drift since different constant forces will produce different drift rates. For this reason, the average accuracy of this sensor is approximately 5%. The formula above was determined after the object of known force was resting on the sensing pad for 15 seconds.

Phidget Cable

The Phidget Cable is a 3-pin, 0.100 inch pitch locking connector. Pictured here is a plug with the connections labelled. The connectors are commonly available - refer to the Analog Input Primer for manufacturer part numbers.