Development of an optical accelerometer with a DVD pick-up head

A low-cost highly sensitive optical accelerometer is developed based on the pick-up head of a commercially available DVD. The proposed accelerometer detects the focus error signal (FES) generated by a moving object using a built-in four-quadrant photodiode. The linear range of the FES curve is employed to indicate the displacement of the seismic mass relative to the base of the accelerometer. The acceleration acting on the base is then determined on the basis of the measured displacement.