Xu, Zhengze
(2023)
Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Material-Based Touchpad Devices.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
This thesis proposes using piezoelectric material as a new form of touch detection
technology. Piezoelectric material is a material that accumulates electrical charges in response to
stress. The thesis first introduces the working principle of piezoelectric material and how it could
be implemented as a sensor. Then three ways of utilizing this material's property as a touchpad are
proposed: transverse mode, longitudinal mode, and transverse shear mode. Specific designs for all
three modes are sketched, the transverse mode is manufactured and tested, and the result is
analyzed. The material used in this thesis is lead zirconium titanate (PZT). This material is chosen
for its relatively high piezoelectric charge constant and electromechanical coupling effect. The
principle of position detection is by equilibrium moments analysis, where the sensor's data comes
from measuring the voltage output change by piezoelectric material under different stress
conditions. This method can measure the position and force of a single touchpoint. The touchpad
created with the transverse mode is very sensitive as it has various voltage outputs with pressure.
It can detect pressure as light as a slight touch with gloves on. The experiment results show that
compared to the traditional sensors used in touchpads, the piezoelectric material based touchpad
exhibits the advantages of accuracy and low energy consumption.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
19 January 2023 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
2 November 2022 |
| Approval Date: |
19 January 2023 |
| Submission Date: |
8 November 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
103 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Mechanical Engineering |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Piezoelectric material touchpad |
| Date Deposited: |
19 Jan 2024 06:00 |
| Last Modified: |
19 Jan 2024 06:00 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43801 |
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