Patent ID: 8627721

Claim:
An accelerometer, comprising: a sealed housing having an interior surface which defines a cavity; a piezoelectric sensor located within the sealed housing, the piezoelectric sensor comprising a piezoelectric plate rigidly attached to the interior surface of the sealed housing and having a conductive surface having a first dielectric permittivity; a first mass located within the sealed housing and having a conductive surface having a second dielectric permittivity, the first mass being attached to the interior surface of the sealed housing in proximity to the conductive surface of the piezoelectric plate to produce a Casimir effect between the conductive surface of the first mass and the conductive surface of the piezoelectric plate which causes a proportional force to be exerted on the piezoelectric plate when the first mass accelerates; voltage detection circuitry connected to opposite sides of the piezoelectric plate which detects and measures electrical output of the piezoelectric plate in terms of a voltage generated by forces exerted on the piezoelectric plate.