The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 1990
Filed:
Mar. 11, 1988
Marc D Mermelstein, Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Geo-Centers, Inc., Newton Centre, MA (US);
Abstract
A highly-sensitive, physically small and rugged magnetometer employs a magnetostrictive amorphous metal ribbon core. A piezoelectric driver induces stress variations in the ribbon of a magnitude determined by an external magnetic field. The amplitude of the variations in magnetization is sensed by a pick-up winding disposed around the ribbon core. The dynamic range of the device is improved by employing a nulling field winding around the core to continuously null out the magnetization of the core. In contrast to the non-linear characteristic of the conventional fluxgate magnetometer, the invention provides a linear response to magnetic field strength which simplifies the processing circuitry. In addition, the ribbon may be field-annealed to improve the sensitivity of the device. Still further, low-frequency stresses in the ribbon (due to thermal expansion and the like) are relieved with a viscous fluid interface between the ribbon and support to thereby reduce low-frequency noise in the output signal and drifts in the calibration.