Touch Button Sensor

[中文]

Overview

The touch_slider_sensor component provides enhanced touch slider detection functionality for ESP32 series chips.

Note

  • ESP32/ESP32-S2/ESP32-S3 touch-related components are intended for testing or demo purposes only. Due to the poor anti-interference capability of the touch functionality, it may not pass EMS testing, and therefore, it is not recommended for mass production products.

  • This component is currently applicable to ESP32, ESP32-S2, and ESP32-S3, and requires an IDF version greater than or equal to v5.3.

Key Features

  • FSM-based touch detection with configurable thresholds

  • Support for slider gesture detection

  • Callback-based event notification

Dependencies

  • touch_sensor_fsm

  • touch_sensor_lowlevel

Configuration Parameters

Touch Slider Configuration Structure

The touch button can be configured via the touch_slider_config_t structure:

typedef struct {
    uint32_t channel_num;         /*!< Number of touch slider sensor channels */
    uint32_t *channel_list;       /*!< Touch channel list */
    float *channel_threshold;     /*!< Threshold for touch detection for each channel */
    uint32_t *channel_gold_value; /*!< (Optional) Reference values for touch channels */
    uint32_t debounce_times;      /*!< Number of consecutive readings needed to confirm state change */
    uint32_t filter_reset_times;  /*!< Number of consecutive readings to reset position filter */
    uint32_t position_range;       /*!< Maximum position value of touch slider, range [0, position_range]. Higher values provide better position resolution */
    uint8_t calculate_window;    /*!< Window size for position calculation (should be <= channel_num). Set to 0 for auto-default: 2 for 2-channel, 3 for 3+ channels */
    float swipe_threshold;        /*!< The threshold for identifying swiping */
    float swipe_hysterisis;       /*!< The hysterisis for identifying swiping */
    float swipe_alpha;            /*!< Filter parameter for estimating speed */
    bool skip_lowlevel_init;      /*!< Skip low level initialization when working with existing touch driver */
} touch_slider_config_t;

Parameter Descriptions

Parameter

Description

Default Value

channel_num

Number of touch slider sensor channels

channel_list

Array of touch channel numbers to use

channel_threshold

Array of threshold values for each channel

channel_gold_value

Reference values for touch channels (optional)

NULL

debounce_times

Consecutive readings for state change

3

filter_reset_times

Consecutive readings to reset position filter

position_range

Maximum slider position value (higher = better resolution)

calculate_window

Window size for position calculation

Auto (0)

swipe_threshold

Speed threshold for identifying swiping

swipe_hysterisis

Speed hysteresis for identifying swiping

swipe_alpha

Filter parameter for estimating swipe speed

skip_lowlevel_init

Skip touch driver initialization if exists

false

Calculate Window Configuration

The calculate_window parameter determines how many adjacent touch channels are used for position calculation. This affects the precision and noise immunity of the slider.

Default Values (when set to 0):

  • 2 channels: calculate_window = 2 (uses all available channels)

  • 3+ channels: calculate_window = 3 (optimal balance between precision and noise immunity)

Manual Configuration:

  • You can explicitly set any value from 2 to channel_num

  • Smaller values (2): Higher sensitivity but more susceptible to noise

  • Larger values (3+): Better noise immunity but potentially lower resolution

  • For high-precision applications: Recommended value is min(3, channel_num)

  • Note: Minimum value is 2, as slider position calculation requires at least 2 adjacent channels

Backward Compatibility:

  • Setting calculate_window = 0 enables automatic default selection

  • Existing code that doesn’t initialize this field will use optimal defaults

  • Explicitly set values continue to work as before

API Usage Examples

Create and Initialize

uint32_t channel_list[] = {2, 4, 6, 12, 10, 8};
float threshold[] = {0.005f, 0.005f, 0.005f, 0.005f, 0.005f, 0.005f};
touch_slider_config_t config = {
    .channel_num = 6,
    .channel_list = channel_list,
    .channel_threshold = threshold,
    .filter_reset_times = 5,
    .position_range = 10000,
    .swipe_alpha = 0.9,
    .swipe_threshold = 50,
    .swipe_hysterisis = 40,
    .channel_gold_value = NULL,
    .debounce_times = 0,
    .calculate_window = 0,  // Use default value (auto-selected as 3 for 6 channels)
    .skip_lowlevel_init = false
};

// Test successful creation
TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(ESP_OK, touch_slider_sensor_create(&config, &s_touch_slider, touch_slider_position_callback, touch_slider_event_callback, NULL));
TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(s_touch_slider);

Event Callback

The callback function is called when slide is detected. Gesture may be determined based on the swiping speed or displacement.

static void touch_slider_event_callback(touch_slider_handle_t handle, touch_slider_event_t event, int32_t data, void *cb_arg)
{
    if (event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_RIGHT_SWIPE) {
        printf("Right swipe (speed)\n");
    } else if (event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_LEFT_SWIPE) {
        printf("Left swipe (speed)\n");
    } else if (event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_RELEASE) {
        printf("Slide %ld\n", data);
        if (data > 1000)
        {
            printf("Right swipe (displacement)\n");
        }
        else if (data < -1000)
        {
            printf("Left swipe (displacement)\n");
        }
    } else if (event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_POSITION)
    {
        printf("pos,%" PRId64 ",%lu\n", get_time_in_ms(), data);
    }
}

Event Handling

The touch button sensor component provides an event handling mechanism to process touch events in a non-blocking way. Events should be handled periodically in your application’s main loop or in a dedicated task.

// In your main loop or task
while (1) {
    // Process any pending touch events
    touch_slider_sensor_handle_events(s_touch_slider);

    // Add delay to prevent tight loop
    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(20));  // 20ms interval is typically sufficient
}

Examples

API Reference

Header File

Functions

esp_err_t touch_slider_sensor_create(touch_slider_config_t *config, touch_slider_handle_t *handle, touch_slider_event_cb_t cb, void *cb_arg)

Create a touch slider sensor instance.

This function initializes the touch sensor hardware (unless skip_lowlevel_init is true), sets up FSM instances for touch detection, and registers callbacks for touch events.

Note

The calculate_window parameter determines how many adjacent channels are used for position calculation. For backward compatibility, if set to 0, default values will be used:

  • 2 channels: window_size = 2 (use all channels)

  • 3+ channels: window_size = 3 (optimal balance between precision and noise immunity)

  • For high-precision applications: window_size = min(3, channel_num)

Parameters
  • config – Touch slider sensor configuration

  • handle – Pointer to receive the created touch slider sensor handle

  • cb – Callback function for touch slider events

  • cb_arg – User data to pass to callback function

Returns

  • ESP_OK on success

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG if config, handle, or required config fields are NULL, or if calculate_window is less than 2 or greater than channel_num (0 is acceptable for auto-default)

  • ESP_ERR_NO_MEM if memory allocation fails

  • ESP_FAIL if touch sensor or FSM initialization fails

esp_err_t touch_slider_sensor_delete(touch_slider_handle_t handle)

Delete a touch slider sensor instance.

Stops all FSMs, unregisters callbacks, frees resources, and optionally deinitializes the touch sensor hardware.

Parameters

handle – Touch slider sensor handle to delete

Returns

  • ESP_OK on success (or if handle is NULL)

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE if sensor state is invalid

esp_err_t touch_slider_sensor_get_data(touch_slider_handle_t handle, uint32_t channel, uint32_t channel_alt, uint32_t *data)

Get touch sensor data for a specific channel and frequency.

Retrieves the smoothed touch sensor reading from the specified channel and frequency instance.

Parameters
  • handle – Touch slider sensor handle

  • channel – Touch channel number

  • channel_alt – Frequency instance index (0 to SOC_TOUCH_SAMPLE_CFG_NUM-1)

  • data – Pointer to store the smoothed touch sensor data

Returns

  • ESP_OK on success

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG if handle or data is NULL

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE if sensor not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND if channel not configured

void touch_slider_sensor_get_state(touch_slider_handle_t handle, bool *pressed, uint32_t *pos, float *speed)

Get touch sensor data for a specific channel and frequency.

Retrieves the smoothed touch sensor reading from the specified channel and frequency instance.

Parameters
  • handle – Touch slider sensor handle

  • pressed – Touch slider is pressed or not

  • pos – Touch slider speed

  • speed – Touch slider speed

esp_err_t touch_slider_sensor_handle_events(touch_slider_handle_t handle)

Handle pending touch sensor events.

Processes events from all FSM instances. This function should be called periodically to update touch states and trigger callbacks.

Parameters

handle – Touch slider sensor handle

Returns

  • ESP_OK on success

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG if handle is NULL

  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE if sensor not initialized

Structures

struct touch_slider_config_t

Configuration structure for touch slider sensor.

Public Members

uint32_t channel_num

Number of touch slider sensor channels

uint32_t *channel_list

Touch channel list

float *channel_threshold

Threshold for touch detection for each channel

uint32_t *channel_gold_value

(Optional) Reference values for touch channels

uint32_t debounce_times

Number of consecutive readings needed to confirm state change

uint32_t filter_reset_times

Number of consecutive readings to reset position filter

uint32_t position_range

Maximum position value of touch slider, range [0, position_range]. Higher values provide better position resolution

uint8_t calculate_window

Window size for position calculation (should be <= channel_num). Set to 0 for auto-default: 2 for 2-channel, 3 for 3+ channels

float swipe_threshold

The speed threshold for identifying swiping

float swipe_hysterisis

The speed hysterisis for identifying swiping

float swipe_alpha

Filter parameter for estimating speed

bool skip_lowlevel_init

Skip low level initialization when working with existing touch driver

Type Definitions

typedef struct touch_slider_sensor_t *touch_slider_handle_t
typedef void (*touch_slider_event_cb_t)(touch_slider_handle_t handle, touch_slider_event_t event, int32_t data, void *cb_arg)

Touch slider sensor event callback function type.

Param handle

Touch slider sensor handle

Param event

Touch slider event

Param data

Touch slider data. Position if event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_POSITION, displacement if event == TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_RELEASE

Param cb_arg

User data passed to the callback

Enumerations

enum touch_slider_event_t

Touch slider event.

Values:

enumerator TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_NONE

Touch slider is stationary

enumerator TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_RIGHT_SWIPE

Touch slider is swiped right (from 0 to position_range)

enumerator TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_LEFT_SWIPE

Touch slider is swiped left (from position_range to 0)

enumerator TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_RELEASE

Touch slider is released

enumerator TOUCH_SLIDER_EVENT_POSITION

Touch slider position is calculated