| WHAT IS AN ACCELEROMETER?An accelerometer is | | | | used in aerospace and many military applications, such |
| an instrument for measuring acceleration, detecting | | | | as missile launch, weapon fire system, rocket |
| and measuring vibrations, or for measuring | | | | deployment etc. Many a times these accelerometers |
| acceleration due to gravity (inclination). | | | | are used to protect fragile equipment during cargo |
| Accelerometers can be used to measure vibration on | | | | transportation, and report any strain that might cause |
| vehicles, machines, buildings, process control systems | | | | a possible damage. Some companies have also |
| and safety installations. They can also be used to | | | | managed to develop a wireless 3-axis accelerometers |
| measure seismic activity, inclination, machine vibration, | | | | which are not only low in cost but are also shock |
| dynamic distance and speed with or without the | | | | durable. This 3-axis accelerometer has sensors that |
| influence of gravity.HOW DOES AN | | | | are used to protect mobiles and music players. Also |
| ACCELEROMETER WORK?Used for calculating | | | | these sensors are used in some of the devices used |
| acceleration and measuring vibrations, the | | | | for traffic navigation and control.PIEZOELECTRIC |
| accelerometer is capable of detecting even the | | | | SENSORDepending upon the kind of work, the |
| slightest movements, from the tilting of a building to | | | | accelerometers vary in the way they are prepared |
| smallest vibration caused by a musical instrument. | | | | and how they work. Some accelerometers use |
| Inside the accelerometer sensor minute structures | | | | piezoelectricity, these are man-made. In such |
| are present that produces electrical charges if the | | | | accelerometers the acceleration is calculated based |
| sensor experiences any movement. | | | | upon the charges derived from the microscopic |
| Accelerometers need to be placed on the surface | | | | crystalline structures when they are accelerated due |
| of the object in order to determine the vibrations. It | | | | to motion.MEMS ACCELEROMETERAnother kind |
| is not capable of work in isolation or apart from the | | | | works with the capacitance and the changes initiated |
| object it is required to assess, it must be firmly | | | | within it as a result of some accelerative force. This |
| attached to the object in order to give precise | | | | technology is used from automotive industry to |
| readings.KINDS OF ACCELEROMETERThe two kinds | | | | agriculture industry and from NASA to military |
| of basic accelerometers are:1. ANALOG | | | | researches and operations.STRAIN GAUGEThis |
| ACCELEROMETERAt times Inputs and output | | | | device is used to measure strain in an object, which |
| readings also matter especially when it comes to | | | | is detected by a foil strain element. If the object, to |
| determining the kind of accelerometer that needs to | | | | which the gauge is attached is some how deformed |
| be placed on a certain object. If the output is digital | | | | that creates electrical charges and is known as the |
| then a digital accelerometer must be placed and vice | | | | gauge factor.ACCELEROMETER IS USED |
| versa. The main feature of this accelerometer is that | | | | IN:AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRYDue to high demand and |
| the output tends to change when there is even a | | | | wide spread use of accelerometers in the automotive |
| slight change in the input. | | | | industry and new hi-tech technology, these sensors |
| The most common type of this accelerometer is | | | | are now light weight and are available at low cost |
| used in airbags of automobiles, to note the sudden | | | | and reduced prices.MICROPHONESMicrophones also |
| drop in the speed of the vehicle and to trigger the | | | | carry accelerometers. That is how they are able to |
| airbag release. Even laptops are now being equipped | | | | detect the minute frequencies.ROBOTICSThe forces |
| with accelerometers in order to protect the hard | | | | that can cause vibrations which are detected by the |
| drive against any physical dangers, caused mainly due | | | | accelerometer can be static, dynamic or gravitational. |
| to accidental drops.2. DIGITAL ACCELEROMETERThe | | | | Certain accelerometers are rated G. G stands for |
| digital accelerometer is more sophisticated than the | | | | Gravity. Such accelerometers are used mostly in |
| analog. Here the amount of high voltage time is | | | | robotics. They are more sensitive to motion and can |
| proportional to the acceleration. One of its major | | | | be triggered at the slightest changes in gravitational |
| advantages is that it is more stable and produces a | | | | pulls.Read more about Accelerometer.copyrights - |
| direct output signal. Accelerometers are now also | | | | RiekerInc. |