Interlink Electronics FSLP Sensor - Manual (Page 4)

www.interlinkelectronics.com
2
Force Sensing Linear Potentiometer (FSLP)
Integration Guide
3.0 Theory of Operation
The most basic Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) consists of two membranes separated by a thin air
gap. The air gap is maintained by a spacer around the edges and by the rigidity of the two
membranes. One of the membranes has two sets of fingers which are interdigitated and
electrically distinct; each set connects to one trace on the tail. The other membrane is coated with
FSR ink. When the two layers are pressed together, the FSR ink shorts the two traces together
with a resistance that depends on applied force.
Figure 1: Exploded view of a standard single-zone FSR