Foot Step Counter Using Piezo Sensor and Digital ICs

Walking is one of the most common physical activities, and counting footsteps is useful for basic fitness monitoring and activity analysis. This project demonstrates the design and implementation of a Foot Step Counter using purely hardware-based electronics, without any microcontrollers or software.

The system detects footsteps using a piezoelectric sensor, conditions the signal using a 74HC14 Schmitt trigger IC, and counts the steps using CD4026 decade counter ICs that directly drive seven-segment displays. This makes the project simple, reliable, low-cost, and suitable for academic learning and beginners in digital electronics.

Piezoelectric sensor

74HC14 Schmitt Trigger IC

CD4026BE Decade Counter IC (1 or more, depending on digits)

Common cathode seven-segment display(s)

Resistors (as required)

Capacitors (for signal conditioning)

Breadboard/Dot board / PCB

Connecting wires

Power supply (5V–9V DC)

1. Counts human footsteps accurately
2. No microcontroller or programming required
3. Uses easily available digital ICs
4. Real-time display using seven-segment LEDs
5. Low power consumption

When a person steps on the piezoelectric sensor, mechanical pressure generates a small AC voltage pulse. This signal is weak and noisy, so it cannot be used directly for counting.

The signal is first passed to the 74HC14 Schmitt trigger IC, which cleans the noisy analog waveform and converts it into a stable digital pulse using hysteresis. Since the Schmitt trigger inverts the signal, an additional NOT gate(74HC04) is used to restore the correct polarity.

The conditioned digital pulse is then applied to the clock input of the CD4026 IC, which increments the count and drives the connected seven-segment display.

Assemble the circuit on a dot board.

Ensure correct pin connections for:

1. Piezo sensor
2. 74HC14 IC
3. 74HC04 IC
4. CD4026 IC
5. Seven-segment display

Use short wires to reduce noise.

Secure the piezo sensor firmly on the walking surface.

Apply power to the circuit.

Step on the piezo sensor gently.

Observe the seven-segment display.

Each footstep should increment the count by 1.

Verify stable operation with repeated steps.

Step counting systems.

Crowd entry monitoring.

Educational digital electronics projects.

Demonstration of sensor-based counting.

Fitness and activity monitoring.

The Foot Step Counter successfully demonstrates how human motion can be converted into digital counts using basic electronic components. By combining a piezoelectric sensor with a Schmitt trigger and decade counter, the system achieves reliable footstep detection and display without any programming.