What is cross sensitivity or transverse sensitivity?
An accelerometer produces a charge output when the crystal is compressed. That same crystal also produces a charge, albeit a much smaller one, when a shear load is exerted on the crystal. The accelerometer therefore produces a charge when it is vibrated in the axis 90 degrees to the main axis of measurement, which is indistinguishable from acceleration in the main axis. Conversely shear type accelerometers produce an erroneous signal when they experience cross axis acceleration only this time it loads the crystal in compressive mode. The sensitivity of the accelerometer to a transverse vibration is known as the transverse sensitivity and is typically less than 5% of the sensitivity to an “on axis” acceleration.
