Abstract: A low impedance touch sensor detects manual contact of a dielectric substrate by a human user. The touch sensor includes a first conductive electrode pad having a closed, continuous geometric form and a second conductive electrode which substantially co-planarly surrounds the first electrode and is spaced from the first electrode by a channel. The first and second electrodes are disposed on the same surface of the substrate. An active electrical component, such as a transistor is located on the substrate proximate the first and second electrodes, and is electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes.