Highly sensitive accelerometer

An in-line accelerometer, comprising:

• a mass movably suspended between inside faces of first and second frame plates separated from one another in a linear direction, the mass movable in the linear direction in response to the acceleration;
• a fixed element rigidly coupled to the second frame plate opposite the mass, the fixed element defining a first surface on an outside face of the second frame plate;
• a movable element coupled to the mass for movement therewith, the movable element disposed adjacent an outside face of the first frame plate opposite the mass and defining a second surface;
• and
• a sensing coil at least partly wrapped around the first and second surfaces, wherein a change in length of the sensing coil is indicative of the acceleration.

A method of fabricating an accelerometer, comprising:

• suspending a mass in a rigid frame;
• fixedly coupling a first element to the rigid frame;
• coupling a second element to the mass;
• and
• wrapping an optical waveguide around surfaces of the first and second elements to form a sensing coil, wherein the first element does not move relative to the rigid frame and the second element moves with the mass.