1. Definitions and general principles of vibration transducers

A vibration sensor is a transducer capable of converting into an electrical signal the level of vibration it experiences at a given moment.

It is said to be differential if it measures the relative dynamic movement between its two attachment points: this is typically the case with inductive plunger-core sensors, or laser vibrometers. If total immobility of one of the two interfaces cannot be guaranteed, it is said to be relative. The advantage that makes them the best choice is direct access to decoupling measurement (in the sense explained in the article Vibrations des structures industrielles. Notions de physique des vibrations