Sub-mA current measurement by means of GMR sensors and state of the art lock-in amplifiers

Electric current measurement at the range of μA in integrated circuit has been traditionally carried out by micro-electronically engineered systems, such as current mirrors or charging capacitors. However, off-line, i.e., non-intrusive methods provide advantages related to size and power consumption. In this sense, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) magnetic sensors are optimal due to their sensitivity and CMOS compatibility. In this work, we make use of specifically designed CMOS GMR-based current sensors in combination with a custom electronic interface based on a low-voltage low-power lock-in amplifier, demonstrating the capability of this combination for current measurement in the range of μA.