This paper proposes a novel seismometer-type absolute displacement sensor aimed at detecting earthquake waves with a large magnitude and long period. However, since the measuring range of the displacement sensor is higher than the natural frequency of itself, it is difficult to detect a low frequency vibration below 1 Hz using conventional seismic-type displacement sensors.
In order to provide an absolute displacement detection which is capable of lowering the natural frequency and enlarging the detectable amplitude without causing a structural defect, the relative signals of displacement, velocity, and acceleration between a detected object and the auxiliary mass of the sensor are fed back into the sensor. In addition, phase lag compensation is inserted to adjust phase angles, which are below a frequency lower than 1Hz.
It has been demonstrated that a developed sensor with a small size and lightweight has a detecting range from 0.2 Hz to 10Hz for absolute displacement and velocity. As an additional advantage, the measurement displacement amplitude has been expanded to about 40dB (100 times) for detecting earthquake waves with large magnitude and long period.
