NEW TRENDS IN DESIGN AND CALIBRATION OF ACCELEROMETERS

conference paper

English

Accelerometers are gaining ground in many military, aerospace and automobile applications thanks to reductions in price and size, greater operating ranges, higher resonant frequencies, lower amplitude ranges, MEMS technology, and integral electronics, but several challenges remain. A knock sensor is an acceleration transducer for ignition systems of automobile engine, which incorporate knock control. A knock sensor uses a piezoelectric element to measure the inertial forces exerted upon seismic mass. Knock sensors play a dual role on engines. Like other sensors, knock sensors monitor engine operation to optimize performance. In addition, knock sensors protect the engine against power-robbing, and potentially destructive, engine knock. The main goal of calibration is to measure the frequency response of the sensors. The typical frequency range and vibration amplitude are from 5 kHz to 15 kHz and approximately 100 m/s2. Calibration techniques of knock sensors may be divided into two sections: Mechanical methods and electrical method. Mechanical methods use to exited shaker or modal hammer. This calibration method is characterized by excellent accuracy and repeatability. Principle of electrical method lies in short electrical pulse excitation. The pulse is fed into the transducer via transformer, which decouples the excitation and the response signal. The advantages of this method are in the simplicity, testing is very fast and possibility automated testing. Testing methods can be extended to other types of transducers such as accelerometers.

Accelerometer, calibration, diagnostics

Stanislav Klusáček

2005

30. 6. 2005

Kielce University of Technology

Kielce

83-88906-26-7

Proceedings of Spring School - Engineering for the Future

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