Patent ID: 6975109

Claim:
A method for sensing a magnetic field, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) etching the substrate to provide a gap; (c) forming a conductive layer extending at least partially over the gap; (d) forming a piezoelectric layer extending over the gap and positioned adjacent to the conductive layer; (e) applying a direct-current voltage across the conductive layer wherein a direct current flows in a first direction; (f) positioning the piezoelectric layer within a magnetic field and generating a Lorentz force in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction to deflect the piezoelectric layer; (g) emitting a signal output from the piezoelectric layer as a function of a generated Lorentz force; and (h) calculating a magnetic flux density of the magnetic field as a function of the voltage output of the piezoelectric layer as caused by the Lorentz force.