Aerospace-grade quartz sensor technology now available through ASC
German sensor specialist ASC is broadening its portfolio of innovative sensor solutions to include quartz-based accelerometers and digital IMUs manufactured by Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd (JAE). In February 2024, the companies signed a collaboration agreement to ensure access to JAE’s technology for customers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, in addition to ASC’s own portfolio of highly innovative inertial sensor solutions.
Cutting-edge technology and customer focus For almost 70 years, JAE has been researching, developing and manufacturing quartz-based sensor technology for aviation, aerospace, automotive, railway, semiconductor, energy, construction engineering and other demanding applications.
“Our products are in high demand globally and we were looking for a competent, like-minded regional partner to represent JAE in the German-speaking markets,” says Yuichi Kocha, General Manager Aerospace at JAE Europe Ltd. “Our team is proud of our highly innovative, research-driven heritage. Solving customer needs is the absolute center of our attention. In ASC, we found that same customer focus, a high degree of flexibility and, above all, terrific technical skills that ensure the best utilization and service of JAE sensors where they can create most value.”
High-performance servo balanced quartz accelerometers The German-Japanese team is now collaborating to integrate JAE’s Motion Sense & Control solutions to ASC’s portfolio. The first JAE product category available to customers are high-quality, reliable servo balanced quartz accelerometers.
Their key features are high resolution (low noise) and excellent long-term stability. The analog accelerometers are based on proven quartz technology from JAE. Available with different measurement ranges from ±2 g to ±30 g, they have a resolution of less than 1 µg as well as provide excellent long-term stability of the scale factor and the bias. Due to their outstanding properties, they are used in diverse applications from structural health monitoring, drilling and conveying systems to the automotive sector and inertial navigation systems in the aviation and aerospace industry.
ASC will offer customers an initial range of ten JAE accelerometer models falling into three categories:
- Navigation and guidance (commercial aviation, space): focus on long-term stability, bias and scale factor
- Inclination and vibration (industrial, seismic, semiconductor, railway): focus on resolution (less than 1 µg)
- Inclination and orientation (oil, gas, geothermal, drilling): combination of excellent resolution paired with maximum temperature range (+150-200 °C depending on sensor type). This wide temperature range is a critical requirement for deep drilling applications that JAE’s specialized sensors meet.
Digital interface IMUs
In addition, ASC will incorporate two types of digital interface inertial measurement units (IMU) to complement its own analog range:
- JIMS-80S, a compact and light-weight MEMS (micro electro-mechanical system) based IMU utilizing JAE’s proprietary inertial navigation technology originally developed for the aerospace industry (construction, railway, ships, drones)
- JCS-7603, a high-performance IMU leveraging industry leading MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers (construction, railway, ships, drones, motion sensing, flight control, autonomous vehicles land/air/water)
“Meeting challenging requirements, JAE’s sensor products are a perfect match to complement our own range of highly innovative inertial sensor solutions,” states Renate Bay, ASC General Manager. “We look forward to doing great things together to help customers progress their business based on the best available sensor solution to fit their unique needs, regardless of where it originates from.”