What is a charge output accelerometer?
All piezo-electric accelerometers work by measuring the charge generated by a crystal that is being compressed or shear loaded by a mass influenced by acceleration. In most applications this high impedance charge output is converted to a low impedance voltage output by the use of integral electronics. However in some applications integral electronics are not appropriate such as high temperature or high radiation applications. Charge output accelerometers are self-generating and would typically have amplifying electronics mounted several feet away from the local heat or local radiation source.
