Enhancing Signal Quality: Charge Amplifiers and Signal Conditioning for Piezoelectric Accelerometers and other piezoelectric sensors.

Charge amplifiers and signal conditioning play crucial roles in optimizing the performance of dynamic devices such as piezoelectric accelerometers, hydrophones, microphones and other similar sensors. Piezoelectric sensors are widely utilized across various industries for their durability and ability to withstand high temperatures. Fundamentally a piezoelectric accelerometer or other sensor will output a signal without the need for any internal electronics, making them perfect for a wide range of challenging dynamic measurement conditions. Mastering the technology for charge to voltage conversion and amplification is essential for obtaining accurate, noise-free signals from these sensors.

One of the key factors with charge amplifier design is ensuring a low noise floor within the electronics to minimise issues when applying signal amplification. Our lineup of charge amplifiers is engineered to deliver minimal noise amplification while accommodating diverse package configurations, catering to applications ranging from industrial condition monitoring to field and laboratory testing.
One of the little understood issues of using piezoelectric sensors is triboelectric noise, this is caused by cable movement generating additional charge within the cable due to cable layers rubbing together. This can be minimized using low noise cables, Kemo offer a range of high-quality low noise cable assemblies which provide the highest level of reduction in triboelectric noise.

At Kemo, we offer comprehensive training programs focused on noise reduction techniques and the selection of appropriate cables to mitigate triboelectric noise associated with piezoelectric accelerometer outputs. We also have a very useful video on our Youtube page which shows how low noise cables can reduce triboelectric noise. For more complex signal conditioning needs, where noise from cables, external sources or installation cannot be removed by good engineering practice, some of our charge amplifiers are equipped with integrated filters to provide the perfect elimination of noise at the appropriate affected frequencies. Additionally, we provide versatile instruments that combine charge and IEPE amplifiers in a single unit, offering enhanced flexibility and convenience.