INVESTIGATION OF LOW-COST PIEZOELECTRIC FORCE SENSOR

The use of piezoelectric force sensors is well-established in industrial systems and devices, but their adoption in consumer products has been limited due to the high cost of implementation as well as complex peripheral electronics. This paper proposes an alternative approach to force sensing using commonly available piezoelectric buzzer elements, which could potentially reduce the cost of such sensors and promote their integration into consumer products. The paper represents experimental investigations of output characteristics of two different piezoelectric force sensors, which are based on disc-shaped buzzers. The goal of the investigation is to indicate and experimentally confirm electromechanical characteristics of proposed piezoelectric sensors under different sensing and signal management conditions. The results of the investigations showed that piezo buzzers have the potential to serve as cost-effective force sensors in consumer products as well as in different mechatronic systems.