A RELIABLE SOLID-STATE MAGNETIC SENSOR

THE FLUXGATE MAGNETOMETER HAS EVOLVED OF THE LAST 50 YEARS INTO A SENSITIVE DEVICE USED IN STRAPDOWN MAGNETIC COMPASSES. HOWEVER, THE FLUXGATE MAGNETOMETER IS RELATIVELY COMPLEX, REQUIRING A LARGE NUMBER OF PARTS, INCLUDING FERROMAGNETICS. ITS RELIABILITY MAKES IT LESS DESIRABLE FOR USE IN FUTURE MAGNETIC COMPASSES. PROBLEMS WITH THE FERROMAGNETICS INCLUDE RELATIVELY LARGE SENSITIVITY TO TEMPERATURE, VIBRATION AND SHOCK AND A TENDENCY TO DEVELOP A SEMI-PERMANENT MAGNETIC FIELD THAT REQUIRES RECALIBRATION. SILICON DESIGNS HAS BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SENSORS. THIS WORK INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHLY SENSITIVIE AND ACCURATE INTEGRATED SENSOR/AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A SOLID-STATE MAGNETIC SENSOR THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING PROBLEMS. IN PHASE I WE PROPOSE TO DESIGN, FABRICATE AND TEST A PROTOTYPE SENSOR CONTAINING A SOLID-STATE SENSOR AND ITS ELECTRONICS.