Device for sensing a magnetic field

US7342396B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR
• Elekta Neuromag Oy · FI

Inventors

• Myriam Pannetier · Gif-sur-Yvette, FR
• Claude Fermon · Damiette, FR
• Juha Simola · Helsinki, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2008
• Expiry date: May 23, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/035
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The device for sensing a magnetic field comprises a closed superconducting pick-up loop (1) having a path width (d) etched out of a single layer superconducting thin film and provided with a constriction (15) having a width (w) of narrow dimension smaller than the path width (d). The closed superconducting pick-up loop (1) constitutes a flux-to-field transformer (FFDT). At least one magnetoresistive element (2) is placed on top of or below the superconducting thin film, is isolated from the superconducting thin film by a thin insulating layer and is located so that an active part of the magnetoresistive element (2) is at the location of the constriction (15) and has a width equal to or less than the width of the constriction (15). The active part of the magnetoresistive element (2) is oriented so that the bias current in this active part is directed essentially along the constriction (15), orthogonally to the width of narrow dimension.