## Dynamics of a piezoelectric force sensor {#dynamics-of-a-piezoelectric-force-sensor}
Piezoelectric force sensors provide a high sensitivity and bandwidth with low noise at high frequencies.
If a **single wafer** of piezoelectric material is sandwiched between the actuator and platform:
\\[ D = d\_{33} T \\]
- \\(D\\) is the amount of generated charge per unit area in \\([C/m^2]\\)
- \\(T\\) is the stress in \\([N/m^2]\\)
- \\(d\_{33}\\) is the piezoelectric strain constant in \\([m/V] = [C/N]\\)
The generated charge is then
\\[ q = d\_{33} F\_s \\]
If an **n-layer** piezoelectric transducer is used as a force sensor, the generated charge is then:
\\[ q = n d\_{33} F\_s \\]
---
We can use a **charge amplifier** to measure the force \\(F\_s\\).
{{<figuresrc="/ox-hugo/fleming10_charge_ampl_piezo.png"caption="Figure 2: Electrical model of a piezoelectric force sensor is shown in gray. Developed charge \\(q\\) is proportional to the strain and hence the force experienced by the sensor. Op-amp charge amplifier produces an output voltage \\(V\_s\\) equal to \\(-q/C\_s\\)">}}
## Noise of a piezoelectric force sensor {#noise-of-a-piezoelectric-force-sensor}
As piezoelectric sensors have a capacitive source impedance, the sensor noise density \\(N\_{V\_s}(\omega)\\) is primarily due to current noise \\(i\_n\\) reacting the capacitive source impedance:
<aid="org37731c2"></a>Fleming, A.J. 2010. “Nanopositioning System with Force Feedback for High-Performance Tracking and Vibration Control.” _IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics_ 15 (3):433–47. <https://doi.org/10.1109/tmech.2009.2028422>.