SmartCharge – store & hold charge amplifier for the MFC

The measurement of static or low frequency deformations using piezoelectric strain gauges is an engineering challenge. The electric charge generated by a strained piezo electric device will dissipate in a relatively short period of time due to the finite input impedance of many of the used data acquisition circuits.

Smart Material has revisited this problem with a new approach: the Store & Hold technique. It transfers the generated charge to a high-end, leakage-free capacitor. The charge can be measured as a proportional voltage across the capacitance using a load-free, specially designed high impedance operational amplifier. This guarantees constant output signals of up to 3 minutes without any significant drift.