| 摘要 |
A Micro-Powered Flux-Gate Magnetometer (100) is provided for measuring the strength and direction of external magnetic fields. The magnetometer (100) includes a saturable core inductor (104), or flux-gate positioned in an area where the magnetic flux due to external will enter the inductor core (104) and alter the inductance of the coil. The inductor is driven by an alternating input signal sufficient to magnetically saturate the inductor core (104) during each cycle. A saturation detecting circuit (106, 108) determines when the core (104) reaches saturation, and provides a saturation output signal indicating when, relative to the input signal, the core (104) reaches saturation on each cycle of the input waveform. A comparison circuit (116, 118) compares the saturation signal and the alternating input signal and measures a propagation delay through the inductor. Finally, an output circuit (124, 126) provides an analog output voltage signal proportional to the propagation delay through the inductor.
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