HOW to Detect Pressure with Microbit

Overview

In the previous projects, you have learned various external information detected by different sensors, such as temperature, light, sound, gas, and so on. Now, let’s use the keyestudio thin-film pressure sensor and micro:bit to detect external stress. Show the analog value of pressure on the micro:bit LED matrix or on the serial monitor.

Components Required

• Micro:bit main board*1

• Keyestudio Micro bit Sensor V2 Shield*1

• USB Cable*1

• keyestudio Thin-film Pressure Sensor*1

• DuPont jumper wire*3

• Premium Battery Holder 6-cell AA*1

• 1.5V AA Battery*6

Component Introduction

Thin-film Pressure Sensor:

This sensor adopts the flexible nano pressure-sensitive material with an ultra-thin film pad. It is water-proof and pressure-sensitive.

When the sensor detects the outside pressure, the resistance of sensor will change. Then through the circuit can convert the resistance changes into the voltage changes, output it on the signal end.

In this way, we can get the conditions of pressure changes by detecting the signal changes.

Connection Diagram

Test Code

Test Results

Wire up components，plug in external power and upload code to micro:bit，open CoolTerm, click Options and select SerialPort, set COM port and baud rate(115200). Click OK and Connect.

The stronger the pressure is on the thin film, the larger the analog value is, as shown on CoolTerm monitor: