The circuit uses a two-transistor
direct-coupled oscillator that has a frequency determined by C1, R2, and the (skin)
resistance across the touch pads. Since C1 and R2 are fixed values, only the skin
resistance across the touch pads can vary the sound of the oscillator. To sustain
oscillations, C1 feeds a portion of the output from Q2 back to the input of Q1 through
resistor R1. Transistor Q1 is an npn type and transistor Q2 is pnp type. The output of Q2
is fed into small speaker. The circuit relies on the fact that the human skin conducts
electricity. |