Should I choose quartz flexible accelerometer or MEMS accelerometer?
Feb 21, 2025
Key Points
Quartz Accelerometer
Pros: High accuracy, stable, wide range, robust
Cons: Larger, expensive, high power
Best for: Precision applications (e.g., aerospace)
MEMS Accelerometer
Pros: Compact, low cost, low power
Cons: Lower accuracy, limited range
Best for: Consumer electronics, portable devices
Conclusion
Quartz: For high precision
MEMS: For cost-effective, compact solutions
Choosing between a quartz flexible accelerometer and a MEMS accelerometer depends on specific application requirements. Here are some key factors to consider:
1. Quartz Flexible Accelerometer
Advantages:
1) High Accuracy and Stability: Quartz accelerometers are known for their high precision and long-term stability, making them suitable for applications requiring precise measurements over extended periods.
2) Wide Dynamic Range: They can measure a wide range of accelerations, from very low to very high.
3) Robustness: They are generally robust and can operate in harsh environments, including high temperatures and high vibration conditions.
4) Low Noise: They typically have low noise levels, which is crucial for sensitive measurements.
Disadvantages:
1) Size and Weight: Quartz accelerometers are generally larger and heavier compared to MEMS accelerometers.
2) Cost: They are usually more expensive due to the complex manufacturing process and high-quality materials.
3) Power Consumption: They tend to consume more power, which might be a concern for battery-operated devices.
2. MEMS Accelerometer
Advantages:
1) Compact Size: MEMS accelerometers are small and lightweight, making them ideal for applications where space and weight are critical, such as in consumer electronics and portable devices.
2) Low Cost: They are generally less expensive to produce, making them cost-effective for high-volume applications.
3) Low Power Consumption: MEMS accelerometers consume less power, which is beneficial for battery-powered devices.
4) Integration: They can be easily integrated with other electronic components on a single chip, enabling multifunctional devices.
Disadvantages:
1) Lower Accuracy: MEMS accelerometers may have lower accuracy and stability compared to quartz accelerometers, especially over long periods.
2) Limited Dynamic Range: They may not perform as well in measuring very high or very low accelerations.
3) Environmental Sensitivity: They can be more sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature and vibration, which might affect performance.
3. Application Considerations
Ø High-Precision Applications: If your application requires high precision, stability, and wide dynamic range (e.g., aerospace, defense, or seismic monitoring), a quartz flexible accelerometer might be the better choice.
Ø Consumer Electronics: For applications where size, weight, cost, and power consumption are critical (e.g., smartphones, wearables, IoT devices), a MEMS accelerometer is likely more suitable.
4. Performance comparison
Micro-Magic Inc provides a series of high-precision quartz accelerometers and a series of MEMS accelerometers. Taking quartz accelerometer AC-5B and MEMS accelerometer ACM-300-8 as examples, some typical parameter comparisons are as follows:
Parameters
AC-5
ACM-300
Measuring range
±50 g
±8 g
Resolution
<5μg
<5 mg
Bias
<7 mg
<50 mg
Bias thermal coefficient
< ±30μg/℃
0.5 mg/℃
Scale factor thermal coefficient
<50 ppm/℃
100 ppm/℃
Bandwidth
>300Hz
0~400 Hz
5. Conclusion
Choose Quartz Flexible Accelerometer for high-precision, high-stability applications where size, weight, and cost are less critical. Choose MEMS Accelerometer for compact, cost-effective, low-power applications where high precision is not the primary concern.
ACM-300
High Performance Industry Current type MEMS Accelerometer Sensor Factory
AC-5
Large Measurement Range 50g Quartz Pendulum Accelerometer Quartz Flex Accelerometer