Validation of IP2C devices as touch sensors

In the paper Ionic polymer-polymer composite (IP²C) membranes are considered. They are usually addressed and studied as sensors or actuators making use of the relationship between voltage and deflection that they exhibit. Here a different use as sensor is proposed, studying some of the effects that a mechanical pressure produces on the output voltage once a constant or a alternate power supply is applied. The most relevant results obtained performing some tests, making use of an ad-hoc experimental set up developed for this purpose, are presented and discussed, putting in evidence the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed usage.