Capacitance touch switch?

[SurferGeek]

I've been working on a replica PADD from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The hero versions had small brass studs that were used to actuate small lights on the prop. They worked essentially like the touch lamps. They used the same system on the tricorder and the wrist communicator. I even think they even used a similar setup on the first season of TNG, on the transporter console as I recall (used to have a picture but can't seem to find it)


Does anyone know of a simple circuit to do this? On and off, simple flip flop.

 

[SurferGeek]

Anyone?

 

[exoray]

Lots of different versions of this, some dual pad some single pad...

Just Google up "touch switch circuit" or "touch switch schematic"

You can also Google up "touch switch kit" and find some build yourself kits...

 

[SurferGeek]

I guess I'll have to do more reading. All of the ones that I saw had one or more ICs within the circuitry. I was hoping to do something a bit more simple with minimal components.

 

[exoray]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SurferGeek @ Jan 29 2007, 07:45 PM) [snapback]1407457[/snapback]</div>

I guess I'll have to do more reading. All of the ones that I saw had one or more ICs within the circuitry. I was hoping to do something a bit more simple with minimal components.
[/b]

Well results will vary from design to design...

One * edit MOSFET and 2 resistors, you won't get much easier... 3 parts that total in at just over $1

http://www.discovercircuits.com/DJ-Circuits/fingersw.htm

 

[SurferGeek]

Me like simple...

Thanks.