Hitech Sensors Limited
Newbie level 5
Accelerometer – what is an accelerometer and how it works
What is an accelerometer? Which one of the four types, MEMS Accelerometer, Piezoelectric Accelerometer, Piezoresistive Accelerometer, or Quartz Accelerometer is the best for your application or projects?
A G-sensor is also named accelerometer, so what are those? How do they work? Where to find them?
A G sensor or accelerometer is a device that allows you to measure and analyze linear and angular acceleration. This function is essential for many basic devices and systems used in every area of life. Whether it is to detect if a system is falling, to detect seismic activity or to flip your phone to snooze. The operation principle of an accelerometer is simple. It measures the acceleration force in g and takes measurements in one, two, or three planes. If the threshold is exceeded it can trigger a routine. Currently, the mostly common accelerometers are 3-axis ones, which are designed as a system of three separate accelerometers. Each of which measures the acceleration in a different direction in X, Y, and Z planes.
Types of Accelerometers:
MEMS Accelerometer
Piezoelectric Accelerometer
Piezoresistive Accelerometer
Quartz Accelerometer
The MEMS capacitive accelerometers are the cheapest and smallest among the four. As the name states it’s a micro-electro-mechanical-system and it is made of component between 1 and 100 micrometers. The principle of its operation bolis down to changing the position of a known mass suspended by the springs. One end of the springs is attached to the capacitor, while the other end is attached to the mass. Under the force acting on the sensor, the mass moves, which cause a change in the distance between the plates and thus changes the capacitance. One of their advantages is the possibility to mount them on a PCB. However, their accuracy is lower than other types of accelerometers, especially in the case of high amplitude signal s and frequencies. But if you have a bigger budget and your need a wider measurement range with a high accuracy, please try the Piezoresistive accelerometers and Quartz acceleromters.
Piezoelectric Accelerometer-Those accelerometers use the piezoresistive effect which is a change in the electrical resistivity of a semiconductor or metal when mechanical stress is applied. The accelerometer that converts the change into an electrical signal. Although they give you a wider measuring range and a possibility to measure slow changing signals, they require temperature compensation and have problems with detecting weak signals.
However, for low amplitude signals we have the Piezoelectric Acceleroemters. The working principle is similar to the piezoresistive acceleromets. Under the influence of acceleration in the material, usally PZT, deforms and generates a change. However, in this case, it is not resistance but electric charge. Piezoelectric Acceleroemters are highly sensitive and accurate, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, from extremely advanced and precise seismic measurements to crash and impact tests under adverse conditions.
If needed for more high accuracy and stability of accelerometer, pls kindly consider the Quartz Accelerometers. Quartz accelerometers which are used in inertial guidance, navigation or driving systems need to meet very demanding performance requirements in terms of accuracy, stability and linearity. Usually these requirements must be achieve under strict conditions (at sea, on land, in the air and throughout the life of the system). So far, only two technologies have been able to meet the challenge and demonstrate correct functionality: vibrating beam accelerometer technology and quartz pendulum accelerometer technology. Since their introduction in the 1990s, quartz pendulum accelerometers quickly became the most widely used accelerometers in advanced navigation applications.
For more details, pls. kindly contact us as following.
Hitech Sensors Limited
Address: Room 412,Unit 2,Block B, Shenglong Plaza, Weiyang Road , Xi'an ,China
Web: http://hitechsensors.net/
Email: info@hitechsensors.net
What is an accelerometer? Which one of the four types, MEMS Accelerometer, Piezoelectric Accelerometer, Piezoresistive Accelerometer, or Quartz Accelerometer is the best for your application or projects?
A G-sensor is also named accelerometer, so what are those? How do they work? Where to find them?
A G sensor or accelerometer is a device that allows you to measure and analyze linear and angular acceleration. This function is essential for many basic devices and systems used in every area of life. Whether it is to detect if a system is falling, to detect seismic activity or to flip your phone to snooze. The operation principle of an accelerometer is simple. It measures the acceleration force in g and takes measurements in one, two, or three planes. If the threshold is exceeded it can trigger a routine. Currently, the mostly common accelerometers are 3-axis ones, which are designed as a system of three separate accelerometers. Each of which measures the acceleration in a different direction in X, Y, and Z planes.
Types of Accelerometers:
MEMS Accelerometer
Piezoelectric Accelerometer
Piezoresistive Accelerometer
Quartz Accelerometer
The MEMS capacitive accelerometers are the cheapest and smallest among the four. As the name states it’s a micro-electro-mechanical-system and it is made of component between 1 and 100 micrometers. The principle of its operation bolis down to changing the position of a known mass suspended by the springs. One end of the springs is attached to the capacitor, while the other end is attached to the mass. Under the force acting on the sensor, the mass moves, which cause a change in the distance between the plates and thus changes the capacitance. One of their advantages is the possibility to mount them on a PCB. However, their accuracy is lower than other types of accelerometers, especially in the case of high amplitude signal s and frequencies. But if you have a bigger budget and your need a wider measurement range with a high accuracy, please try the Piezoresistive accelerometers and Quartz acceleromters.
Piezoelectric Accelerometer-Those accelerometers use the piezoresistive effect which is a change in the electrical resistivity of a semiconductor or metal when mechanical stress is applied. The accelerometer that converts the change into an electrical signal. Although they give you a wider measuring range and a possibility to measure slow changing signals, they require temperature compensation and have problems with detecting weak signals.
However, for low amplitude signals we have the Piezoelectric Acceleroemters. The working principle is similar to the piezoresistive acceleromets. Under the influence of acceleration in the material, usally PZT, deforms and generates a change. However, in this case, it is not resistance but electric charge. Piezoelectric Acceleroemters are highly sensitive and accurate, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, from extremely advanced and precise seismic measurements to crash and impact tests under adverse conditions.
If needed for more high accuracy and stability of accelerometer, pls kindly consider the Quartz Accelerometers. Quartz accelerometers which are used in inertial guidance, navigation or driving systems need to meet very demanding performance requirements in terms of accuracy, stability and linearity. Usually these requirements must be achieve under strict conditions (at sea, on land, in the air and throughout the life of the system). So far, only two technologies have been able to meet the challenge and demonstrate correct functionality: vibrating beam accelerometer technology and quartz pendulum accelerometer technology. Since their introduction in the 1990s, quartz pendulum accelerometers quickly became the most widely used accelerometers in advanced navigation applications.
For more details, pls. kindly contact us as following.
Hitech Sensors Limited
Address: Room 412,Unit 2,Block B, Shenglong Plaza, Weiyang Road , Xi'an ,China
Web: http://hitechsensors.net/
Email: info@hitechsensors.net
