NV Diamond Sensor for 3D Magnetic Field Vector Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring a full three-dimensional external magnetic field are cumbersome and time-consuming, often requiring multiple sensors or a single sensor to measure one direction at a time, limiting their applicability in various industrial and scientific applications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material with a controller that calculates and generates a control magnetic field to separate optical responses, allowing for the determination of a full magnetic field vector from a single sensor, including orientation calculations and sign value assignment to achieve accurate magnetic field detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to measure the full 3-D magnetic field vector, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing capabilities into a single NV center-based sensor that can measure all three components of the magnetic field vector simultaneously. The NV center's spin states respond to magnetic fields along different crystallographic axes, allowing a single sensor to capture the full 3-D magnetic field information that would otherwise require multiple separate sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The NV center sensor achieves multi-functionality by detecting magnetic field components along multiple directions (x, y, z axes) through its four equivalent crystallographic orientations. This universal sensing capability allows one sensor to perform the work of multiple specialized sensors, measuring the complete magnetic field vector in three-dimensional space.
2Device complexity
If a single sensor measures one direction at a time, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement directions into a single simultaneous measurement process. The NV center sensor's four crystallographic orientations provide sensitivity to magnetic fields along x, y, and z directions concurrently, enabling the system to acquire the complete magnetic field vector in one measurement cycle rather than sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration to determine the orientation of the NV center crystallographic axes relative to the measurement coordinate system. This pre-established orientation information allows the system to rapidly calculate the magnetic field vector components without requiring real-time rotational measurements, thus improving measurement speed while maintaining accuracy.
3Device complexity
If a single sensor measures one direction at a time, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the measurement of all three magnetic field vector components into a single simultaneous measurement using the NV center sensor. The sensor's four equivalent orientations provide concurrent sensitivity to fields along different spatial directions, eliminating the time required to sequentially measure each component with a single-direction sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the NV center orientation relative to the measurement axes. This pre-calibrated orientation data enables rapid computation of the magnetic field vector from the sensor output without requiring time-consuming rotational measurements or sequential scanning, thus minimizing time loss while maintaining system simplicity.
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
Enables rapid and accurate measurement of a full three-dimensional magnetic field using a single NV diamond sensor, improving efficiency and applicability across diverse applications such as communications, navigation, and geological sensing.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detector configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, the optical signal being a fluorescence intensity having a plurality of reduced responses across a frequency range of the RF excitation
Implementation Method 2
a radio frequency (RF) excitation source configured to provide RF excitation to the NV diamond material
Implementation Method 3
an optical excitation source configured to provide optical excitation to the NV diamond material
Implementation Method 4
a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A system for magnetic detection of an external magnetic field is disclosed. The system includes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers, a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetic field, a radio frequency (RF) excitation source that provides RF excitation, an optical excitation source that provides optical excitation, an optical detector that receives an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a control magnetic field, control the magnetic field generator to generate the control magnetic field, receive a light detection signal from the optical detector based on the optical signal due to the sum of the generated control magnetic field and the external magnetic field, store measurement data based on the received light detection signal, and calculate a vector of the external magnetic field based on the stored measurement data.