What is Accelerometer?
A sensor that detects acceleration from the movement of a small spring-supported mass. It is used for detecting smartphone orientation, in airbags and elsewhere.
Field: MEMS and sensors
Accelerometer in the explanations
An accelerometer measures proof-mass displacement from inertial forces, so even at rest it reports gravity as about 1 g (9.8 m/s²), pointing upward.
Why does a MEMS accelerometer detect about 1 G of accelerat…An electronic compass measures Earth's magnetic field (about 25–65 µT) on three axes with Hall or magnetoresistive (AMR, TMR) sensors to determine heading, using tilt from the accelerometer to stay accurate at any orientation.
What does the sensor used in a smartphone's electronic comp…In an accelerometer, proof-mass displacement is acceleration ÷ (2πf)², so higher resonance lowers sensitivity, while bandwidth and shock tolerance improve.
How can the resonant frequency of a MEMS structure consisti…
Questions that mention Accelerometer (8)
- What is the principle by which a capacitive MEMS accelerometer detects acceleration?
- Why does a MEMS accelerometer detect about 1 G of acceleration even when stationary?
- When choosing the measurement range of a MEMS accelerometer (for example, ±2 g versus ±16 g), which reasoning is correct?
- What does the sensor used in a smartphone's electronic compass detect?
- How can the resonant frequency of a MEMS structure consisting of a spring and a mass be raised?
- Which MEMS sensor has been used to decide when to deploy car airbags?
- Which is the most appropriate scale for the movable structures made by MEMS?
- What is the principle of the optical sensor that measures heart rate at the wrist in smartwatches and similar devices?
Related terms
MEMS Photodiode Anodic bonding Bosch process (deep RIE) Capacitive sensing Coriolis force Gyroscope Hall-effect sensor Piezoresistive effect Sacrificial layer etching