Hey everyone! I'm working on a project using the Pi Pico to create a controller with four buttons, and I'm planning to use a Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) switch to trigger these buttons. Here's my dilemma: I only want the FSR to send an on/off signal when pressed, similar to a regular micro switch. I don't care about detecting varying pressure levels—just a simple activation when the switch is pressed down. Given that, can I connect the FSR to a regular GPIO pin, or is it necessary to use an ADC pin? If ADC is required, that might complicate things since I'd need multiple ADC pins for my controller setup. Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Just to clarify, you're using the FSR so you can register hits anywhere on the drum pad, right? A traditional piezo can be hit or miss with detecting strikes, especially with cross talk issues. Using the FSR seems like a solid choice for your setup.
You should be able to connect your FSR to a regular digital GPIO pin, especially since you're just looking for an on/off signal. It’s good to check the output voltage of the FSR though, just to make sure it’s within the range that the GPIO pin can handle. If needed, you can use a comparator to convert the varying signal to a clear on/off state as well!
Exactly! A comparator is a nice way to ensure you only get a clear signal from your FSR. That way, you won’t have to worry about weird voltage levels messing things up.