Dielectric accelerometer

An accelerometer, comprising:

• a voltage source;
• and
• a fixture electrically connected to the voltage source, the fixture including:
• a fluid container;
• a low dielectric fluid disposed within the fluid container;
• a high dielectric element suspended in the fluid;
• and
• a pair of electrode plates that can be charged by the voltage source through the electrical connection to center the high dielectric element therebetween at least until an acceleration is applied.

A sensor, comprising:

• a housing;
• a wafer disposed with the housing;
• and
• a plurality of cells in the wafer, each cell comprising a fixture including:
• a fluid container defining a fluid chamber;
• a low dielectric fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;
• a high dielectric element suspended in the fluid;
• and
• a pair of electrode plates that can be charged through the electrical connection to center the high dielectric element therebetween at least until an acceleration is applied.

An apparatus, comprising a plurality of sensors oriented to measure acceleration in a plurality of axes, each sensor comprising:

• a housing;
• a wafer disposed with the housing;
• and
• a plurality of cells in the wafer, each cell comprising a fixture including:
• a fluid container defining a fluid chamber;
• a non-conducting, low dielectric fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;
• a high dielectric element suspended in the fluid;
• and
• a pair of electrode plates that can be charged by the voltage source through the electrical connection to center the high dielectric element therebetween at least until an acceleration is applied.

A method for measuring acceleration, comprising:

• positioning a high dielectric element suspended in a low dielectric fluid contained between a pair of charged electrode plates;
• determining a change in capacitance across the charged electrode plates as an acceleration is applied;
• and
• determining from the capacitance change a magnitude of the acceleration.