Current and magnetic field sensors, control method and magnetic core for said sensors

The invention relates to a magnetic field sensor comprising at least one magnetic core (10) in which the magnetic cycle of the magnetic core is characterised in that the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic flux density in relation to the magnetic field is maximum for a zero magnetic field.

The present invention relates to magnetic field and current sensors, a control method and a magnetic core for these sensors.

Magnetic field sensors find numerous applications in industry. For example, they are used to carry out measurements of current in the automobile or aeronautics sector.

Field sensors often use a magnetic core to concentrate the magnetic flux on the transducer so as to amplify the signal.

In general the magnetic material from which the core is made introduces undesirable non-linearities of hysteresis types which perturb the measurement and require zero-field operation, through the conventional technique of flux feedback.

Certain magnetic cores are also used as magnetic-field transducers or modulators. These cores must then exhibit strong non-linearities, characterized by a relative permeability which varies as a function of the magnetic field. The materials conventionally used to make these cores are soft magnetic alloys. To control hysteresis problems, isotropic alloys (for example mu-metals®) or anisotropic alloys of the oriented nanocrystalline strip type are used. Whatever the material, an excitation field which will more or less saturate the material is used. Specifically, the saturation of the magnetic material creates a significant point of inflection in the magnetic cycle B(H) of these materials. This point of inflection is the non-linearity which is used to modulate the magnetic field. More precisely, the presence of an external field to be measured will increase the saturation and thus generate harmonics which will be detected. It is also possible to say that the external field is used to modulate the excitation field.

There therefore exist magnetic field sensors having:at least one magnetic core able to modulate the amplitude of a magnetic excitation field as a function of the amplitude of the magnetic field to be measured, this magnetic core exhibiting a magnetic cycle of the magnetic induction as a function of the magnetic field devoid of hysteresis in an operating span [Hmin; Hmax] andan electronic circuit tied to the magnetic core and able to measure the magnetic field induced in the magnetic core, this induced magnetic field resulting from the combination of the magnetic field to be measured and the magnetic excitation field.

When the material is saturated, the relative permeability drops abruptly and the core then loses its flux concentration capability.

The invention is aimed at remedying this drawback by proposing a magnetic field sensor using a magnetic core to modulate the excitation field as a function of the magnetic field to be measured without it being necessary to saturate the magnetic core.

The subject of the invention is therefore a magnetic field sensor in which the magnetic cycle of the magnetic core is characterized in that the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic induction with respect to the magnetic field is a maximum for a zero magnetic field.

It has been discovered that the magnetic cores exhibiting the property of the magnetic cycle hereinabove exhibit a sufficiently significant non-linearity about the zero magnetic field to make it possible to modulate the amplitude of the magnetic excitation field by the amplitude of the magnetic field to be measured without it being necessary to saturate the magnetic core for this purpose.

The embodiments of this sensor can comprise one or more of the following characteristics:the electronic circuit is able to generate a magnetic excitation field and/or a feedback magnetic field suitable for permanently maintaining the amplitude of the induced magnetic field in the operating span [Hmin; Hmax] situated around 0 and in which the magnetic core is never saturated.the magnetic core is a superparamagnetic core.the electronic circuit comprises at least one transducer suitable for converting the magnetic field induced in the magnetic core into an electrical voltage or current, this transducer comprising for this purpose a sensitive surface intended to be exposed to the flux of the magnetic field induced, and the magnetic core is devised so as to concentrate the magnetic flux of the magnetic field to be measured on this sensitive surface;the transducer is embedded inside the magnetic core;the electronic circuit comprises at least one excitation winding able to create the excitation field, this or each of the excitation windings being embedded inside the magnetic core;the core comprises:a magnetic body in which is made a housing suitable for receiving an electrical conductor radiating the magnetic field to be measured,a magnetic clasp displaceable between an open position in which the conductor can be introduced into the housing, and a closed position in which the conductor is maintained in the housing, anda closing mechanism suitable for maintaining the clasp in its closed position, this mechanism being integral on one side with the clasp and on the other side with the body;a through-housing and an access passage to this housing are formed in the magnetic core, the housing being able to receive an electrical conductor radiating the magnetic field to be measured, and the access passage being sufficiently narrow in the absence of exterior loading to retain the conductor inside the housing, and under the action of an exterior force, the core is deformable elastically so as to allow the enlargement of the passage by reversible elastic deformation when the conductor has been fully introduced inside the housing;the superparamagnetic core is formed of a solid matrix in which are dispersed superparamagnetic particles spaced sufficiently far apart so that the core is superparamagnetic;the superparamagnetic particles represent at least 5% of the volume of the matrix in which they are incorporated;the matrix is a plastic;the electronic circuit is able to extract the amplitude of one or more of the harmonics of the field induced which is a multiple (are multiples) of the frequency of the excitation field, these extracted amplitudes being representative of the magnetic field to be measured.

These embodiments of the magnetic field sensor furthermore exhibit the following advantages:the fact of preventing the saturation of the magnetic core ensures that the core permanently fulfills the flux concentrator function and allows the transducer to operate in its linear response zone;the magnetic properties of a superparamagnetic core are highly non-linear although not exhibiting any hysteresis and even when the magnetic field is much less than the saturation field;the magnetic properties of a superparamagnetic core are less sensitive to mechanical deformations than a magnetic core made from oriented nanocrystalline strips, thereby facilitating their fabrication;concentrating the magnetic flux on the sensitive surface of the transducer improves the sensitivity of the sensor,embedding the transducer inside the magnetic core makes it possible to isolate this transducer from exterior spurious magnetic fields and protects the transducer,embedding the excitation winding inside the magnetic core protects this winding and limits the significance of the magnetic excitation field radiated outside the superparamagnetic core;making a closing mechanism integral with the core decreases the fabrication costs and limits the number of pieces of the field sensor;providing an elastically deformable magnetic core makes it possible to avoid recourse to hinges in order to allow the introduction of an electrical conductor inside a housing passing through the core;introducing more than 5% by volume of superparamagnetic particles into the matrix improves the magnetic properties of the core, consequently improving the performance of the sensor;using a plastic material matrix facilitates the fabrication of the superparamagnetic core and lightens its weight.

The invention also relates to a magnetic core adapted for being implemented in the field sensor hereinabove.

The invention also relates to a current sensor comprising:the magnetic field sensor hereinabove for measuring the magnetic field radiated by the electrical conductor, this sensor being able to deliver a value representative of the radiated magnetic field, anda calculator suitable for establishing the intensity of the current on the basis of the value representative of the radiated magnetic field.

The invention also relates to a method of controlling the magnetic field sensor hereinabove comprising a step of generating an excitation field and/or a feedback field suitable for permanently maintaining the amplitude of the magnetic field induced in the core in the operating span [Hmin; Hmax] situated around 0 and in which the magnetic core is never saturated.

FIG. 1represents a sensor2of the current flowing within an electrical conductor4. This sensor2comprises a sensor6of the magnetic field Hmradiated by the conductor4and a calculator8suitable for establishing the intensity of the current flowing within the conductor4on the basis of the magnetic field measured by the sensor6.

The sensor2is, for example, an ammeter clamp.

The sensor6is equipped with a magnetic core10and an electronic circuit12fixed to the core10. The core10is, preferably, a superparamagnetic core.

The core10surrounds the conductor4in such a way that the magnetic field measurement is independent of the position of the conductor. For this purpose, the core10is formed of a superparamagnetic body13(FIG. 2) in which is made a housing14intended to receive the conductor4, and of a superparamagnetic clasp16. The clasp16is displaceable between an open position in which the conductor4can be introduced into the housing14and a closed position in which the conductor4is maintained in the housing14.

Here, the body13is formed of a superparamagnetic web18in the form of a “U” exhibiting two vertical limbs18A and18B.

Likewise, the clasp16is formed of a superparamagnetic cradle19. The clasp16, when it is in the closed position, magnetically links the free ends of the web18to the free ends of the cradle19, so as to form a closed circuit of superparamagnetic material surrounding the housing14.

The web18and the cradle19are made from the same superparamagnetic material.

To simplifyFIG. 1, only the web18and the cradle19are represented.

Other details of the core10will be described below with regard toFIG. 2.

A superparamagnetic core exhibits a magnetic cycle B(H), a typical example of which is represented in the graph ofFIG. 3A. InFIG. 3A, the abscissa axis represents the magnetic field H in amperes per meter and the ordinate axis represents the magnetic induction B in Teslas.

FIG. 3Brepresents for its part the evolution as a function of the magnetic field H of the second derivative of the magnetic induction B. This second derivative exhibits an almost linear and highly inclined slope23(surrounded by an ellipse). This slope23is centered on the zero value of the magnetic field H and lies between bounds Hminand Hmax.

FIG. 3Cgives a typical example of the variations in the relative permeability as a function of the magnetic field induced in the core10. These variations are non-linear, and more precisely parabolic, between the bounds Hminand Hmax.

A superparamagnetic material is characterized by the fact that:

1) it does not exhibit any magnetic remanence, so that the magnetic induction B is zero or almost zero when the magnetic field H is zero;

2) it does not exhibit any hysteresis, so that the magnetization curve coincides with the demagnetization curve in the magnetic cycle B(H);

3) the relative permeability varies continuously and in a non-linear manner as a function of the magnetic field;

4) the magnetic cycle B(H) exhibits the same shape and the same properties whatever the direction of the magnetic field H; and

5) the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic induction B with respect to the magnetic field H exhibits a maximum when the magnetic field H is zero.

Characteristic 2) differentiates superparamagnetic materials from soft magnetic alloys such as mu-metals®.

Characteristic 4) differentiates superparamagnetic materials from an oriented nanocrystalline strip since the latter exhibits a magnetic cycle B(H) without hysteresis and without magnetic remanence only for a single predetermined direction of the magnetic field H. Consequently, the orientation of the superparamagnetic core in relation to the magnetic field to be measured is of no significance, whereas this is not the case when the core is made with the aid of an oriented nanocrystalline strip.

Characteristic 5) results from the fact that the magnetic cycle B(H) is highly non-linear about the zero magnetic field. It also follows from this that the slope23is highly inclined. Thus, a weak variation in the magnetic field H results in a significant variation in the second derivative of the magnetic induction B and also in a significant variation in the amplitude of the even harmonics in the measured signal. The even harmonics are defined as being the harmonics whose frequency is an integer multiple N of the frequency of the magnetic excitation field, N being an even number. This explains that the sensor6exhibits very good sensitivity in relation to the variations in the magnetic field to be measured about the zero magnetic field.

Moreover, the slope23is linear or almost linear over the operating span of the sensor6, so that the conversion of the measured signal into a magnetic field value is simplified.

Here, the superparamagnetic material used to make the web18and the cradle19comprises a solid matrix within the thickness of which are incorporated superparamagnetic particles. The superparamagnetic particles are, for example, ferromagnetic particles whose largest width is sufficiently small for them, taken individually, to exhibit a magnetic cycle B(H) having the same properties as that ofFIG. 3. Typically, the largest width of the ferromagnetic particles is chosen less than 100 nanometers and usually less than 20 nanometers. This largest width of the ferromagnetic particle short of which it becomes superparamagnetic is dependent on the ferromagnetic material used. Superparamagnetism as well as superparamagnetic particles are presented in the following bibliographic reference: E. du Trémolet de lacheisserie and coll “Magnétisme” VOL 1, Presses Universitaire de Grenoble, 1999.

The oxides of iron are the preferred superparamagnetic particles. To be more complete, it may be specified that the superparamagnetic particles can be chosen from among oxides of iron and mixed oxides of iron and of another metal, in particular chosen from among Mn, Ni, Zn, Bi, Cu, Co. The iron oxides Fe3O4and Fe2O3are preferred modalities. It is also possible to use: perovskites having superparamagnetic properties, in particular perovskites based on Fe, superparamagnetic oxides of nickel, of cobalt or mixed oxides of these metals, or else superparamagnetic metallic alloys, e.g. of the FeNi, CoNi type, in particular Fe20Ni80.

The solid matrix is chosen so as not to perturb the magnetic properties of the superparamagnetic particles. For example, the solid matrix is solely diamagnetic.

It will also be noted that here the term “solid” also denotes matrices made of reversibly elastically deformable material, such as elastomers.

The various materials capable of giving rise to a solid matrix within the sense of the invention can be used. Preferably, the matrix is a plastic, in particular chosen from among the thermosets (e.g. phenoplasts, aminoplasts, epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesters, crosslinked polyurethanes, alkyds) and the thermoplastics (e.g. polyvinyls, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl alcohols, polystyrenes and copolymers, acrylic polymers, polyolefins, cellulose derivatives, polyamides), or else special polymers (e.g. fluorinated polymers, silicones, synthetic rubber, saturated polyesters, linear polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyacetals, polyphenylene oxides, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, phenylene polysulfides, polyimides). The elastomers can in particular be of the silicone or synthetic rubber type.

The choice of the material constituting the matrix may be made as a function of the final application, and in particular as a function of the conditions of use. Thus, in the automobile industry, matrices that withstand common temperatures of use are advocated, in particular temperatures ranging from −30° C. to +150° C. For aeronautics, the typical temperature span which the matrix must withstand ranges from −40° C. to +100° C.

At the material preparation stage, the superparamagnetic particles can be incorporated in pulverulent form into the material intended to form the matrix or into a fraction or part of this material. They can also be supplied already dispersed in a medium which will be mixed with the material intended to form the matrix, or with a fraction or part of this material. In all cases, mixing must be sufficient to ultimately obtain an appropriate dispersion of the particles throughout the matrix.

The material can be directly formed in bulk, or be obtained on the basis of beads, pellets or the like of matrix including the superparamagnetic particles, which are thereafter agglomerated under pressure, sintering, melting or any other suitable method.

Thus, the material can be produced by mixing the constituent or constituents of the matrix with a suspension of superparamagnetic particles in an organic phase miscible with the constituent or constituents of the matrix, followed by polymerization. The organic phase containing the superparamagnetic particles can be formed of or comprise an organic solvent, or else be formed of or comprise one or more constituents of the matrix. By way of example, the material is produced by polymerization in emulsion, e.g. the superparamagnetic particles are dispersed in an organic phase containing the constituent or constituents of the matrix, then the dispersion obtained is mixed with all or part of an aqueous solution formed of water and of at least one emulsifying agent, then the whole is homogenized and finally polymerized. By way of illustration, it is possible to implement the emulsion polymerization method described in FR-A-2480764.

Here, to facilitate the fabrication of the core10, the matrix is made of thermoplastic or thermosetting material.

The distribution of the superparamagnetic particles inside the matrix is such that the distances between superparamagnetic particles are sufficient for the macroscopic core formed by this matrix and the superparamagnetic particles to exhibit the same magnetic properties as the particles which form it.

Preferably, the distribution of the superparamagnetic particles inside the matrix is homogeneous, so as to have a homogeneous spatial distribution of the magnetic properties.

The superparamagnetic particles represent a percentage P of the total volume of the superparamagnetic core. Typically, the percentage P is chosen greater than 2.5% and preferably greater than 5% or than 15%.

There exists a threshold L for the percentage P, beyond which the core formed by this matrix and these superparamagnetic particles loses its superparamagnetic properties since the distances between the superparamagnetic particles are too short, so that the superparamagnetic particles are coupled to one another magnetically and so behave as a ferromagnetic particle whose largest width exceeds the threshold beyond which the superparamagnetic properties disappear.

The percentage P is chosen as close as possible to this limit L without exceeding it. For example, the percentage P is chosen in the span defined by the following relation:
L−10%=P=L−1%.

The higher the percentage P the higher the ability of the core10to concentrate the flux to be measured, thereby improving the performance of the sensor6.

The relative permeability μ of the core10is, preferably, strictly greater than 1 so as to concentrate the magnetic flux. Here, the maximum value μmaxof the relative permeability of the core10is obtained for a zero value of the magnetic field induced in the core10. For example, the value μmaxis greater than 1.5.

The circuit12is able to excite with the aid of a magnetic excitation field Hexthe core10and to measure the magnetic field induced Hiin the core10in response to this excitation.

The field Hexis an alternating magnetic field whose frequency is at least twice as large as that of the magnetic field to be measured. Typically, the frequency of the magnetic field Hexis greater than 100 Hz and preferably greater than 1000 Hz.

The amplitude of the magnetic field Hexlies between the bounds Hminand Hmax.

The circuit12comprises an adjustable source for creating the field Hex. This source is, for example, formed of an excitation winding20supplied with AC current of frequency F0by a controllable power supply source22.

The winding20is wound around the web18, in such a way that the field Hexhas the same direction in the limbs18A and18B.

The circuit12also comprises at least one transducer suitable for transforming the magnetic field induced Hiin response to the field Hexinside the core10into an electrical signal such as a measurable current or voltage. For this purpose, the or each of these transducers exhibits a surface sensitive to the field Hi.

Here, the circuit12comprises two transducers26and28sensitive to the fields Hiinside, respectively, the vertical limbs18A and18B.

For example, the transducers26and28are measurement windings coiled, respectively, around the vertical limbs18A and18B.

The transducers26and28are linked in a differential manner to the input of a passive filter30. Thus, in the absence of any magnetic field to be measured, the electrical signal at the input of the filter30is zero. Such a differential arrangement of the transducers26and28makes it possible to increase the sensitivity of the sensor6.

The filter30makes it possible to perform a prefiltering so as to rid the measured electrical signal of the harmonics which are of no interest to the subsequent processing.

The output of the filter30is linked to the input of an amplitude demodulator32suitable for extracting one or more of the harmonics of the signal received as input whose frequencies are multiples of F0, F0being the frequency of the excitation field. Preferably, if a single harmonic is measured, the frequency of the extracted harmonic is N.F0, where N is an even number to facilitate the processing of the signal. For example, here, N is equal to 2.

The filter32is, for example, a synchronous detector linked to the power supply source22.

The circuit12also comprises a field feedback to render the sensor6more robust in relation to temperature variations and to increase its linearity span.

The field feedback is also used here to maintain the amplitude of the field Hipermanently in the operating span [Hmin; Hmax] situated around 0, and preferably centered around the value 0. The operating span [Hmin; Hmax] is represented inFIGS. 3B and 3C.

Preferably, the values of the bounds Hminand Hmaxare selected to correspond to an operating span in which the core10is never saturated.

For this purpose, the circuit12is equipped with a regulator36, an input of which is linked to an output of the demodulator34and outputs of which are linked to a field feedback winding40. The regulator36is able to control the winding40, in such a way that the latter creates a feedback magnetic field Hcsuitable for cancelling the magnetic field Hmto be measured.

For this purpose, the winding40is coiled around the web18.

The current flowing around the winding40is representative of the magnetic field to be measured.

One of the outputs of the regulator36is linked to the calculator8.

FIG. 2represents the exterior aspect of the core10. The web18, the windings20and40and the transducers26and28are embedded inside the body13. The cradle19is embedded inside the clasp16.

The body13and the clasp16are made entirely of superparamagnetic material. For example, the same superparamagnetic material as that of the web18and the cradle19is used to make the assembly of the body13and clasp16.

For example, the body13and the clasp16are obtained by overmolding respectively the web18and the clasp16.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the core10also comprises a hinge40for mechanically linking an end of the clasp16to the body13while allowing displacement of this clasp16between its open position and its closed position.

On the opposite side from the hinge40, the core10comprises a closing mechanism44suitable for maintaining the clasp16in its closed position. This mechanism44is integral with the body13and the clasp16.

More precisely, here, the mechanism44is formed of a first profile with hollows and bumps on a surface of the body13and of a second profile with hollows and bumps formed on the clasp16. The first and second profiles are suitable for cooperating with one another to maintain the clasp16in its closed position.

A part of the body13is also devised to form a connector46containing lugs48. The lugs48are linked electrically to the windings20and40as well as to the transducers26and28embedded inside the body13. These lugs48make it possible to link these windings20and40and the transducers26and28to the corresponding elements of the circuit12.

The operation of the sensor2will now be described with regard to the method ofFIG. 4.

When a continuous or alternating current flows in the conductor4, the latter engenders the creation of the magnetic field Hminside the core10.

During a step50, the winding20creates the field Hexinside the core10. In parallel, during a step51, the winding40creates the magnetic field Hcwhich circulates around the conductor4inside the core10.

The magnetic field induced Hiinside the core10and to which the transducers26and28are sensitive is therefore the result of the vector sum of the fields Hm, Hexand Hc.

During steps50and51, the circuit12generates the fields Hexand Hcin such a way that the amplitude of the induced magnetic field Hiis maintained in the span [Hmin; Hmax]. Thus, the core10is not saturated and can preserve a good ability to concentrate the magnetic flux.

The induced magnetic field is transformed, during a step52, into current by the transducers26and28.

All the following steps of processing the current produced by the transducers26and28in order to obtain a magnetic field value and the intensity of the current flowing around the conductor4are grouped together in a step54represented inFIG. 4.

The filter30filters the difference between the currents generated by the transducers26and28to obtain a filtered signal. The filter32extracts the harmonic of frequency N.F0from the filtered signal. The appearance of this harmonic at the frequency N.F0is related to the non-linearity of the magnetic cycle B(H) of the core10and therefore to the non-linear variations in the relative permeability of the core10. More precisely, the deformations of the field Hexthat are due to these non-linearities vary as a function of the amplitude of the field Hm. These deformations of the field Hexresult in the presence of harmonics that are multiples of F0in the induced magnetic field measured by the transducers26and28.

The demodulator34establishes the amplitude of the harmonic of frequency N.F0.

This amplitude is used by the regulator36to control the winding40, so as to generate a field Hcof opposite direction and opposite amplitude to the field Hm.

The feedback signal generated by the regulator36is therefore representative of the amplitude A of the field Hm.

The calculator8delivers a signal proportional to the intensity of the current flowing around the conductor4, this signal being established on the basis of the amplitude A.

FIG. 5represents a superparamagnetic core56capable of being used instead of the core10in the sensor2. The core56differs from the core10by the fact that the matrix used to make it is not a plastic or thermosetting matrix but an elastomer matrix. Therefore, the core56is elastically deformable.

A through-hole is made inside this core56to make the housing14.

A passage58is also made in the core56to allow the introduction of the conductor4into the housing14.

In the absence of exterior loading, the passage58is sufficiently narrow to retain the conductor4inside the housing14.

To introduce the conductor4into the housing14, the core56is deformed elastically so as to enlarge the passage58under the action of an exterior force.

Thus, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a hinge, such as the hinge40, or a closing mechanism, such as the mechanism44.

The windings and the transducers are, for example, incorporated inside the core56in a manner identical to that described with regard to the core10.

FIG. 6represents a field sensor60which differs from the sensor6essentially by the fact that it comprises a superparamagnetic core62surrounded by a conductor64generating the magnetic field to be measured. The fact that the conductor64surrounds the core62makes it possible to render the magnetic field measurement independent in relation to the position of the conductor64.

Here, the core62incorporates an excitation coil66linked to a power supply source68identical, for example, to the source22.

The core62also incorporates a coil70for measuring the magnetic field induced inside the core62. This coil70is, for example, linked successively to the filter30, to the filter32and to the demodulator34. The output of the demodulator34is representative of the amplitude of the measured magnetic field.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, the field feedback is omitted. In that case, the amplitude of the magnetic excitation field is adjusted at the level of the source68so that, when said field combines with the magnetic field to be measured to form the magnetic field induced Hiinside the core62, the amplitude of the field Hiremains in the span [Hmin; Hmax]. This adjustment is, for example, done in a manual manner as a function of prior knowledge about the range of amplitudes of the magnetic field to be measured.

The operation of the sensor60ensues from the operation of the sensor6and will therefore not be described here in detail.

Numerous other embodiments of the magnetic field sensor are possible. For example, the excitation and measurement coils can be merged. Likewise, the excitation coil and the field feedback coil can also be merged.

The field feedback can be omitted.

To decrease the costs, one of the transducers26or28can be dispensed with.

In a very simplified variant, the superparamagnetic core does not completely surround the conductor generating the magnetic field to be measured.

The measurement of harmonics may amount to a single harmonic; in this case an even harmonic, that is to say N=2, will preferably be chosen.

The coils as well as the transducers can be embedded inside the superparamagnetic core by any type of molding or overmolding method.

The coils may also not be embedded inside the superparamagnetic core but merely wound around the latter and fixed to this core by any appropriate means such as, for example, with the aid of adhesive resin.

The closing mechanism is not necessarily integral with the clasp and the body. For example, it can be fixed to the clasp and the body by all types of fixing means such as, for example, by gluing. The closing mechanism can also consist of a shell embracing the body and the clasp and suitable for maintaining the clasp in its closed position.

The superparamagnetic core can be replaced with any core made of a magnetic material (for example a soft magnetic alloy composite) exhibiting curves similar to those ofFIGS. 3A to 3C.

The superparamagnetic core is used here both as modulator of the magnetic excitation field as a function of the magnetic field to be measured and as magnetic flux concentrator. As a variant, the superparamagnetic core can be used in a magnetic field sensor solely as modulator or, alternatively, as flux concentrator.