Patent ID: 6984979

Claim:
A method for measuring a magnetomotive force experienced by a magnetic body; said magnetic body having a nonlinear permeability; said method comprising the steps of: (a) provide a first winding magnetically coupled to said magnetic body; (b) provide an excitation means for causing a magnetic flux in said magnetic body to oscillate at a predetermined frequency; said excitation means connected to said first winding; the operation of said excitation means resulting in an exciting current flowing in said first winding and an excitation voltage induced in said first winding; said exciting current oscillating at said predetermined frequency; said excitation voltage oscillating at said predetermined frequency; said exciting current having a first waveform, and said excitation voltage having a second waveform; a difference of symmetry between said first waveform and said second waveform being dependent on the magnitude and polarity of said magnetomotive force and on said nonlinear permeability; (c) utilizing predetermined symmetry relationships, determine said magnetomotive force from characteristics of one or both of said first waveform and said second waveform.