Will this module work for x/y coordinate input? (Photoshop canvas panning)

Projects General Guidance
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Hello there! First post.

I'm in the depths of learning development board projects (actually working with a teensy 2.0 but will probably move to Arduino for a final prototype) and I have a hardware question.

I'd like a user to be able to place and drag their finger on a trackpad style mat which would deliver x/y coordinates from the trackpad to the dev board to the pc, and have the code equate that to panning around a canvas in Photoshop and other art programs.

The modules I've been looking up look promising, but in some of the literature it looks like they could simply be fancy on/off switches instead of providing continuous x/y input. I'm also looking for a very small solution, like a 1"x1" square mat even.

Would this function like I need? http://www.amazon.com/TTP223B-Digital-Capacitive-Arduino-Raspberr/dp/B00NKWMSAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444369597&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+capacitive+sensor

Does such a module exist at all?

I thought something like this might serve for rotation down the line (rotating the canvas) but again I don't know if it's just a button without coordinate capability: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSECH98/ref=pd_luc_rh_sbs_02_01_t_img_lh?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm also ordering this joypad unit to experiment with xy functions: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P7QBGD2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=AKU6PB9W05OXH

Would I see any problems in compatibility with these modules and teensy/arduino?

I was actually hoping to find more of a trackpad membrane solution (like a small potentiometer slider but in a square format capable of 2 axis) but I haven't run across anything. If anyone knows about a solution for that please let me know.

I appreciate any help!

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It looks to me like http://www.amazon.com/TTP223B-Digital-Capacitive-Arduino-Raspberr/dp/B00NKWMSAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444369597&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+capacitive+sensor is a touch on/off switch. To be sure you can look up the specifications of the TTP223B chip.

The second one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSECH98) uses the same chip so the answer there would be the same.

The third one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P7QBGD2) is a game controller joystick. It will give you X and Y analog voltages and a button press. You could probably use that for rotation but it would not be as easy as some kind of rotating knob like a shaft encoder

For continuous movement in X and Y you might want to consider a trackball. They are available in small sizes.

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johnwasser:
For continuous movement in X and Y you might want to consider a trackball. They are available in small sizes.

Thank you for the reply! A track ball is definitely an interesting idea. However that (and even the joystick) will eventually be bulkier than what I'd like to achieve. The build I have in mind lies very flat to keep the lowest profile possible. I'm going for about about the size of 2 quarters stacked max for the input portions like the buttons and axis controllers.

I wonder, does anyone know a small trackpad that they are certain would work like I described? I'm pretty new to these hardwares buys so even the correct terminology would be good. Took me a while to find "potentiometer" XD

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For very thin devices you could use a 4-wire resistive touch screen: [https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/HOW%20DOES%20IT%20WORK.pdf](http://"https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/HOW DOES IT WORK.pdf")

I don't know if they are available down to 1" square. You may be able to take material from a larger panel and create a small panel. You need a conductive strip at opposite sides of both sheets so you can't just cut a larger one to size.