Seismic Intensity Meters Equipped with Epson's M-A352 Accelerometer Certified by the Japan Meteorological Agency - Epson acceleration sensing technology contributes to safer civil infrastructure -

Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, "Epson") has learned that the "Yure Mon Hyper" seismic intensity meter manufactured by Tokyo-based Knowledge Foresight Inc. and equipped with Epson's M-A352 high-performance three-axis accelerometer passed the seismic intensity meter certification testing of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in early June. Knowledge Foresight's seismic intensity meter is the second seismic intensity meter equipped Epson's M-A352 accelerometer to earn certification, the first being the LA-352 seismic intensity meter manufactured by Tokyo-based Clovertech Inc., which was certified in January 2022.

Epson's accelerometers, first launched in 2014, have been used in an array of applications, earning an excellent reputation for outstanding performance and quality. In recent years, the need for better, more accurate systems for observing and monitoring events such as tsunamis and frequent earthquakes has grown. This has fueled demand for solutions that use seismic intensity meters equipped with high-precision accelerometers.

The JMA employs only certified meteorological instruments1 in its meteorological observation facilities, and these instruments require reporting under Japan's Meteorological Service Act. This latest seismic intensity meter is not classified as a meteorological instrument, but the JMA will put other devices through the same tests as meteorological instruments if a device user needs certification to ensure accuracy. Instruments used in meteorological observation and measurement must satisfy strict criteria. Two types of tests are performed, depending on the type of instrument. Structural testing is used to determine whether materials, components, and combinations therefore are suitable. Instrumental error testing (performance testing) is used to determine the accuracy of individual instruments.

Clovertech and Knowledge Foresight's seismic intensity meters passed the JMA's seismic measurement certification tests. They offer excellent usability and precision combined with high-level durability. Meanwhile, the M-A352 accelerometer provides the necessary noise performance of 1 μG/√Hz or better (servo accelerometer2 class) that seismic intensity meters require along with outstanding durability and productivity.

Epson will help to make communities safer by refining its efficient, compact, and precision technologies to enable extraordinarily precise and accurate sensing in a wide range of applications, including seismic and environmental vibration measurements, health monitoring of large structures, and bridge monitoring.

Epson's sensing solutions are built around high-performance quartz crystal sensor elements that are produced from Epson's own high-quality synthetic crystals in a proprietary microfabrication process. Epson accelerometers equipped with these high-performance quartz crystal sensor elements feature the outstanding characteristics of low noise, high resolution, wide dynamic range and high stability.