A sensor housing with multiple touch sensors. There are models with two or four sensors, and the sensors can also differ. There is a 'closed' version so that the (red) indicator light is visible through a diffuser, and an 'open' version where the entire contact area lights up. This can be equipped with sensor surfaces that light up in different colors (red, green, blue, yellow or 'rainbow').
In addition, there are versions with fischertechnik connections and a supply voltage and output level of 9 volts, and versions that can be connected with three-pole Dupont cables. The connection side of both versions is shown schematically below.
The solid lines schematically show the connections of the two-sensor version. The dotted lines represent the version with four internal sensors. Because the sensors share the supply voltage internally, theoretically only one 3-pin connector needs to be fully wired. For the other outputs, connecting only the signal output would suffice. But redundantly connecting the power supply voltage to all connectors does not hurt and allows the use of standard cables.
The signal levels of the outputs follow negative logic. This means that the output signal without detection is actually about the supply voltage. This level drops to zero volts when the sensor is touched or 'activated' (toggled).
The version with the fischertechnik busses must be supplied with a supply voltage of 9 volts. The output levels here are also about 9 volts. The version with the Dupont plugs is supplied with 5 volts and has a corresponding signal level.
The lid can be removed. This makes the 'Toggle' jumpers accessible inside the housing. With a jumper in place, the sensor in question acts as a toggle switch (on/off). By removing the jumper, this behavior of the sensor changes to an impulse push button.
The sensors with 5 volt supply and output voltage can also be used in the ‘fischertechnik 9 volt domain’. However, the 5 volt supply voltage will have to be guaranteed (do not connect the sensors to 9 volts, this will destroy them irrevocably) but to provide this supply voltage there are of course many possibilities. I built my own power supply for it (see here), but of course this is not necessary. A simple extra 5 volt mains adaptor will do.
However, the output signal is also max 5 volts. This is sufficient in terms of signal level for use as an input signal on the (9 volt) fischertechnik TX and TXT controllers. If you want to use the classic fischertechnik ‘Silberlingen’, then a ‘Grundbaustein’ can be switched in between. How the detection level of the ‘Grundbaustein’ can be reduced is described here.