Method and device for sensing a magnetic field with use of a magneto-resistive property of a superconductive material.

摘要

There is disclosed a method and device for sensing or responding to a magnetic field using a magneto-resistive property of a superconductive material. A magnetic field (56) is applied to a superconductive material (51) having grain boundaries and the magnetic field produces a change in the resistance of said superconductive material which change is accompanied by a phase transition of said superconductive material from the superconductive phase to the normal conductive phase. This basic technique is employed in the different embodiments of the invention in a variety of different applications. For example in a disclosed position sensor a permanent magnet is arranged to move relative to a piece of the superconductive material and the resulting variation in the magnetic flux causes the resistance change. Other embodiments include one and two dimensional potentiometers, a pick-up head for a record player, a sensor for rotational displacement, a rotary encoder, a microwave controller etc.