Skin: The skin is the outer covering of the body.

In humans, it is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs.

Skin is composed of three primary layers: The epidermis, which provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection. The dermis, which serves as a location for the appendages of skin. The hypodermis (subcutaneous adipose layer).

Stress: Researchers define stress as a physical, mental, or emotional response to events that causes bodily or mental tension. Simply put, stress is any outside force or event that has an effect on our body or mind.

Components used in the circuit: Resistors Capacitors LEDs Zener Diode Diode Transistor Potentiometers IC LM3915 DC Source Battery Switch Piezo-buzzer Touchpad

IC LM3915: The LM3914 is a monolithic integrated circuit that senses analog voltage levels and drives 10 LEDs, providing a linear analog display. A single pin changes the display from a moving dot to a bar graph. Current drive to the LEDs is regulated and programmable, eliminating the need for resistors. This feature is one that allows operation of the whole system from less than 3V. Features of IC LM3915 Features Drives LEDs, LCDs or vacuum fluorescents. Bar or dot display mode externally selectable by user. Expandable to displays of 100 steps. Internal voltage reference from 1.2V to 12V. Operates with single supply of less than 3V. Inputs operate down to ground. Output current programmable from 2 mA to 30 mA. No multiplex switching or interaction between outputs.

 Input withstands 35V without damage or false outputs. LED driver outputs are current regulated, open-collectors. Outputs can interface with TTL or CMOS logic. The internal 10-step divider is floating and can be referenced to a widerange of voltages.

Pin Diagram of IC LM3915

Principle of Stress Meter

It is based on the principle that the resistance of the skin varies in accordance with your emotional states. Resistance varies inverse proportional to the stress. If if the stress level is high the skin offers less resistance, and if relaxed resistance is high. This property of the skin is used to measure the stress level. The touch pads of the stress meter sense the voltage variations across the touch pads and convey the same to the circuit. The circuit is very sensitive and detects even a minute voltage variation across the touch pads.

Circuit Diagram
The circuit comprises signal amplifier and analogue display circuits. Voltage variations from the sensing pads are amplified by the transistor BC548 (T1), which is configured as a common-emitter amplifier. The base of T1 is connected to one of the touch pads through resistor R1 and to the ground through potentiometer VR1. By varying VR1, the sensitivity of T1 can be adjusted to the desired level. Diode D1 maintains proper biasing of T1 and capacitor C1 keeps the voltage from the emitter of T1 steady.

The amplified signal from transistor T1 is given to input of IC LM3915 (IC1) through VR2. IC LM3915 is a monolithic IC that senses the analogue voltage levels at its pin 5 and displays them through LEDs providing a logarithmic analogue display.

Working Mechanism
Here we used five LEDs connected at pins 14 through 18 of IC1.LED1 glows when input pin 5 of IC1 receives 150mV.LED5 glows when the voltage rises to 650mV and LED5 flashes and buzzer PZ1 beeps when the stress level is high. R4 and R5 and C2 form the flashing elements.R3 maintains the LED current at around 20mA. C3 should be placed close to pin 3 for proper functioning of IC. Zener diode ZD1 in series with resistor R6 provides regulated 5V to the circuit.

Testing
The circuit can be made on a box. After tying the unit around your wrist slowly varies VR1 until LED1 glows (relaxed state).Adjust VR2 if the sensitivity of the IC1 is very high. The model is now ready for use.

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages: Simple Circuitry. Easy to use. Less power consumption. Portable. Disadvantage: Output is not measurable as it is an audio-visual device.

Applications
1) The mental state of a person can be known based upon the changes in the skin resistances. 2) It can be used as a lie detector. 3) It can be used in physical fitness programs.

Conclusion
We can conclude that the stress meter is used to determine the stress level of a person with the help of its skin resistance. The stress levels of a person can be determined by the oscillations of the LED dot up and down. It is a very simple process, and can be used as a lie detector, skin response meter.

Future Scopes
Use to design the devices like: a) Lie Detectors b) Skin Response Meter c) Skin Resistances Meter d) Fitness Meter e) Griposcopes It has a great future in the medical field, forensic department.