Improved Sensitivity and Noise in Magneto-Electric Magnetic Field Sensors by Use of Modulated AC Magnetostriction

Author

Gillette, S.M. ; Geiler, A.L. ; Gray, D. ; Viehland, D. ; Vittoria, C. ; Harris, V.G.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA, USA

Volume

2

fYear

2011

fDate

7/3/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2500104

Lastpage

2500104

Abstract

A magnetic field sensor based on the nonlinear nature of the magnetostrictive response of a magneto-electric (ME) heterostructure has two orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio compared with a conventional dc-biased configuration. The sensor consists of a longitudinally magnetized and transversely poled lamination of iron-cobalt-boron (Metglas) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT). The ac-modulated sensor has enhanced environmental noise immunity and does not require a dc magnetic bias field. Combined, these advantages hold promise for the development of miniature ME sensor elements for applications with size and weight limitations.

Keywords

magnetic sensors; magnetoelectronics; magnetostrictive devices; sensitivity; magnetic field sensors; magneto-electric sensors; magnetostrictive response; modulated AC magnetostriction; noise immunity; sensitivity; signal-to-noise ratio; Amorphous magnetic materials; Magnetic sensors; Magnetoelectric effects; Magnetometers; Magnetostriction; Magneto-electronics; magneto-electric sensor; modulation technique; sensitivity enhancement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1949-307X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMAG.2011.2151178

Filename

5784364