Prototype milli gauss meter using giant magnetoimpedance effect in self biased amorphous ribbon

In our present work, we developed a GMI (giant magnetoimpedance) sensor system to detect magnetic fields in the milli gauss range based on the asymmetric magnetoimpedance (AGMI) effect in Co-based amorphous ribbon with self bias field produced by field-annealing in open air. The system comprises magnetoimpedance sensor probe, signal conditioning circuits, A/D converter, USB controller, notebook computer, and program for measurement and display. Sensor probe was constructed by wire-bonding the cobalt based amorphous ribbon with dimensions 10 mm × 1 mm × 20 μm on a printed circuit board. Negative feedback was used to remove the hysteresis and temperature dependence and to increase the linearity of the system. Sensitivity of the milli gauss meter was 0.3 V/Oe and the magnetic field resolution and environmental noise level were less than 0.01 Oe and 2 mOe, respectively, in an unshielded room.