Quasi-Static Current Measurement with Field-Modulated Spin-Valve GMR Sensors

A non-contact current measurement device comprised of a GMR sensor and a ferrite ring core was investigated. The sensor chip employed a high-sensitivity spin-valve full-bridge GMR sensor of which the direct output has non-negligible hysteresis and a limited linear range. By applying an AC modulation...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jen-Tzong Jeng, Xuan-Thang Trinh, Chih-Hsien Hung, Chih-Cheng Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/8/1882
Description
Summary:A non-contact current measurement device comprised of a GMR sensor and a ferrite ring core was investigated. The sensor chip employed a high-sensitivity spin-valve full-bridge GMR sensor of which the direct output has non-negligible hysteresis and a limited linear range. By applying an AC modulation current to modulate the output of the GMR sensor, the hysteresis was reduced, and the linear range was over ±0.5 A. The resolution for DC and quasi-static current measurement was 0.1 mA at a 10 Hz bandwidth. The output in proportion to the measured current was obtained either by demodulating the current-sensitive AC signal or by employing the filtered output of the intrinsically nonlinear spin-valve response. The proposed current sensing scheme is suitable for quasi-static current measurement from DC to over 100 Hz.
ISSN:1424-8220