Magnetic Sensor Segmented Soft Magnetic Layer SN Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic sensors employing soft magnetic material layers for magnetic impedance effects often experience a reduction in signal-to-noise (SN) ratio due to the laminate structure, leading to decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
The magnetic sensor design incorporates plural sensitive elements with soft magnetic material layers and conductor layers, featuring uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and diffusion inhibiting layers to prevent the formation of closure magnetic domains, thereby maintaining or improving the SN ratio. Each sensitive element includes a conductor layer with higher conductivity than the soft magnetic material, extending through the soft magnetic material layer in the longitudinal direction, and a connecting portion to connect adjacent elements in series.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a soft magnetic material layer is used for magnetic impedance effect, then the magnetic sensor can detect magnetic fields, but the SN ratio decreases due to closure magnetic domains forming in the laminate structure
Solution Approach 1:
The soft magnetic material layer is divided into multiple segments along the longitudinal direction, with conductor layers inserted between them. This segmentation prevents the formation of continuous closure magnetic domains while maintaining magnetic sensitivity, thereby improving the SN ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
Conductor layers are introduced as intermediary elements between soft magnetic material layers. These conductor layers have higher conductivity and different magnetic properties, acting as mediators that disrupt the formation of closure magnetic domains and reduce noise while allowing magnetic field detection.
2Measurement precision
If conductor layers are added to improve conductivity and reduce noise, then the SN ratio improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor layers serving multiple functions are merged into the laminate structure: they provide electrical connectivity between segmented soft magnetic layers, act as diffusion barriers, and serve as noise-reducing elements. This integration reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor layers are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: electrical conduction, magnetic domain control, diffusion inhibition, and structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of layers needed and simplifies the device architecture while maintaining improved SN ratio.
3Stability of the object's composition
If diffusion inhibiting layers are added to prevent element diffusion between conductor and soft magnetic layers, then material stability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion inhibiting function is merged with the conductor layer by forming a composite structure where the conductor layer includes both highly conductive material and diffusion barrier properties. This eliminates the need for separate diffusion inhibiting layers while maintaining material stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite materials with both high electrical conductivity and diffusion barrier properties are used for the conductor layers. These composite materials integrate multiple functions into a single layer, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring material stability and preventing element diffusion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces noise and maintains or enhances the SN ratio, preventing the formation of closure magnetic domains and thus improving the magnetic sensor's output performance.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plural sensitive elements being configured to sense a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect
Implementation Method 2
the diffusion inhibiting layer being configured to inhibit diffusion of elements between the conductor layer and the soft magnetic material layer
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic sensor includes: plural sensitive elements 31 each including a soft magnetic material layer 105 having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a conductor layer having higher conductivity than the soft magnetic material layer 105 and extending through the soft magnetic material layer 105 in a longitudinal direction, the sensitive element 31 having uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction and being configured to sense a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect; and a connecting portion 32 continuous with the conductor layer of the sensitive element and configured to connect transversely adjacent sensitive elements 31 in series.