Piezo Sensors Charge Amplifier for Quasi-Static and Single Measurements

Authors

  • I. M. Kyrpatenko National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” image/svg+xml
  • A. V. Movchaniuk National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” image/svg+xml
  • B. O. Parkhomenko National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64915/RADAP.2026.105.%25p

Keywords:

charge amplifier, piezoelectric transducer, quasi-static measurement, low-frequency signal conditioning, offset voltage compensation, common-mode noise rejection, measurement electronics

Abstract

A charge amplifier is a key component of measurement systems based on piezoelectric transducers, as the accuracy of signal acquisition largely depends on its performance. While effective solutions exist for high-frequency applications, the implementation of charge amplifiers for quasi-static and single-shot measurements of signals containing a DC component remains challenging due to charge leakage from the storage capacitor, operational amplifier offset voltage drift, and sensitivity to common-mode interference.

This paper proposes a novel charge amplifier architecture intended for quasi-static and single-shot measurements. The storage capacitor is placed outside the negative feedback loop, eliminating the need for a parallel discharge resistor and reducing charge losses during long measurement intervals. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the development of a charge amplifier architecture that separates the processes of piezoelectric sensor current amplification and charge storage, as well as in the proposed method for compensating offset-voltage-induced drift in the measurement circuit. In addition, the symmetrical input stage improves immunity to common-mode interference.

A theoretical analysis of the major error sources, including capacitor self-discharge and operational amplifier offset effects, was carried out. Experimental validation of the proposed solution confirmed its suitability for quasi-static measurements and demonstrated improved performance compared with conventional charge amplifier topologies. The shortcomings of the prototype amplifier are also analyzed. Ways to overcome these shortcomings are proposed, and the prospects for the development of piezoelectric transducer charge amplifiers built on this principle are noted. In particular, implementing the amplifier as part of a specialized integrated circuit for piezoelectric measuring systems will significantly improve its characteristics.

References

1. Starecki T. (2014). Analog Front-End Circuitry in Piezoelectric and Microphone Detection of Photoacoustic Signals. Int. J. Thermophys., Vol. 35, pp. 21240–2139. DOI: 10.1007/s10765-014-1715-0.

2. Alnasser E. (2020). A Novel Low Output Offset Voltage Charge Amplifier for Piezoelectric Sensors. IEEE Sensors J., Vol. 20, Iss. 10, pp. 5360–367. DOI: 10.1109/JSEN.2020.2970839.

3. He W., Niu S., Luo M., Liu S. (2023). A non-resonant piezoelectric sensor for measuring 50 Hz or 60 Hz electric currents. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser., Vol. 2496, 012008. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/2496/1/012008.

4. Pyun J. Y., Kim Y. H., Kwon S. W., Choi W. Y., Park K. K. (2020). Comparison between Resonance and Non-Resonance Type Piezoelectric Acoustic Absorbers. Sensors, Vol. 20, 47. DOI: 10.3390/s20010047.

5. Du Z., Zhang T., Deng L., Zhou C., Cao Z., Wang S. (2017). A charge-amplifier based self-sensing method for measurement of piezoelectric displacement. ICMA. DOI: 10.1109/ICMA.2017.8016124.

6. Giannelli P., Calabrese G., Frattini G., Granato M., Capineri L. (2019). A Buffered Single-Supply Charge Amplifier for High-Impedance Piezoelectric Sensors. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 368–376. DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2018.2849521.

7. Wang H., Britton C., Quaiyum F. et al. (2018). A Charge Sensitive Pre-Amplifier for Smart Point-of-Care Devices Employing Polymer-Based Lab-on-a-Chip. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II, Exp. Briefs, Vol. 65, No. 8, pp. 984–988.

8. Kos T., Rojac T., Petrovcic J., Vrancic D. (2019). Control system for automated drift compensation of the stand-alone charge amplifier used for low-frequency measurement. AIP Advances, Vol. 9, Iss. 3, 035133. DOI: doi.org/10.1063/1.5064631.

9. Durdaut P., Penner V., Kirchhof C., Quandt E., Kn"ochel R., H"oft M. (2017). Noise of a JFET Charge Amplifier for Piezoelectric Sensors. IEEE Sensors J., Vol. 17, No. 22, pp. 7364-7371. DOI: 10.1109/JSEN.2017.2759000.

10. Blumen A. R., Knowles K. R. (2008). Apparatus for reduc-ing offset voltage drifts in a charge amplifier circuit. U.S. Patent 7 414 466 B2, August 19, 2008.

11. Gu Z., Bi X. (2019). A charge amplifier with noise peaking suppression and gain drop compensation utilizing a Quasi-Miller RC network. Int. J. Electron. Commun., Vol. 107, pp. 252–256. DOI:10.1016/j.aeue.2019.05.029.

12. Ratti L., Manghisoni M., Re V., Speziali V., Traversi G. (2007). Minimum noise design of charge amplifiers with CMOS processes in the 100 nm feature size range. IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference, Honolulu, USA. DOI: 10.1109/NSSMIC.2007.4436661.

13. Pinna L., Valle M. (2013). Charge Amplifier Design Methodology for PVDF-Based Tactile Sensors. J. Circuit Syst. Comp., Vol. 22, No. 08, 1350066. DOI: 10.1142/S0218126613500667.

14. Cao Y., Cao J., Wang Z., Li S. (2013). Design of charge amplifier for the accelerometer. Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on Measurement, Information and Control, Harbin, China, pp. 266-270. DOI: 10.1109/MIC.2013.6757962.

15. Laurila M. M. et al. (2019). A fully printed ultra-thin charge amplifier for on-skin biosignal measurements. IEEE J. Electron Devices Soc., Vol. 7, pp. 566--574. DOI: 10.1109/JEDS.2019.2915028.

16. C0G (NP0) Dielectric General Specifications. AVX Corporation. Available at: https://sy-dep-epc-lpc.web.cern.ch/components/datasheets/epc-lpc(converters)/COG%20Ceramic%20Capacitor%20(AVX).pdf.

17. CD4066B CMOS Quad Bilateral Switch. Texas Instruments.

Downloads

Published

2026-09-30

Issue

No. 105 (2026)

Section

Radio Circuits and Signals

License

Copyright (c) 2026 І. М. Кирпатенко, А. В. Мовчанюк, Б. О. Пархоменко

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

How to Cite

“Piezo Sensors Charge Amplifier for Quasi-Static and Single Measurements” (2026) Visnyk NTUU KPI Seriia - Radiotekhnika Radioaparatobuduvannia, (105), pp. 5–11. doi:10.64915/RADAP.2026.105.%p.

Most read articles by the same author(s)