Usually associated with the measurement of vibration. The sensing element is called an “Accelerometer”. Piezo-electric sensing elements generating a charge signal are common, and may have built in electronics, which determines the type of signal conditioning required. The signal might be dynamic (just changes in acceleration) or static (absolute acceleration). Tri-axial accelerometers are also common to measure pitch, yaw and roll.

Micro-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS) is a technology that can be defined as miniaturised, mechanical and electro-mechanical elements (i.e. devices and structures) that are made using the techniques of microfabrication. MEMS technology is increasingly common for accelerometers.

Many transducers are manufactured with inbuilt charge to voltage conversion. These transducers operate on the constant current, Integrated Electronics Piezo Electric (IEPE) principle and are powered by the same coaxial cable that conducts the signal to the receiving amplifier.