A magnetic sensor includes a bridge circuit including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon, where the bridge circuit is configured to generate a differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements. The bridge circuit further includes a plurality of resistors, where at least one resistor of the plurality of resistors is coupled in parallel to each of the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements.

An apparatus for measuring an electric current through a bus bar comprises a compensation coil and a magnetic field sensor. The bus bar has a through-hole dividing the electric current flowing through the bus bar into at least two partial currents flowing around the through-hole. The compensation coil is disposed in the through-hole and generates a compensation field. The compensation field compensates a plurality of magnetic fields generated by the partial currents and/or an external magnetic field such that a magnetic flux density of a resulting magnetic field at a predetermined position of the through-hole does not exceed a predetermined threshold. The magnetic field sensor is disposed in the through-hole and detects the magnetic flux density of the resulting magnetic field at the predetermined position. The magnetic field sensor emits an output signal corresponding to the detected magnetic field.

An apparatus for measuring an electric current through a bus bar comprises a compensation coil and a magnetic field sensor. The bus bar has a through-hole dividing the electric current flowing through the bus bar into at least two partial currents flowing around the through-hole. The compensation coil is disposed in the through-hole and generates a compensation field. The compensation field compensates a plurality of magnetic fields generated by the partial currents and/or an external magnetic field such that a magnetic flux density of a resulting magnetic field at a predetermined position of the through-hole does not exceed a predetermined threshold. The magnetic field sensor is disposed in the through-hole and detects the magnetic flux density of the resulting magnetic field at the predetermined position. The magnetic field sensor emits an output signal corresponding to the detected magnetic field.

Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor module is configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor module includes a magnetic sensor configured to generate measurement values in response to sensing the magnetic field, and a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to generate a measurement signal based on the measurement values, compare the measurement signal to a switching threshold, generate a pulsed output signal having pulses that are generated based on the measurement signal crossing the switching threshold, measure a first characteristic of the measurement signal, update an offset of the switching threshold according to an offset update algorithm based on the measured first characteristic of the measurement signal, and selectively enable and disable the offset update algorithm based on at least a second characteristic of the measurement signal.

Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor module is configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor module includes a magnetic sensor configured to generate measurement values in response to sensing the magnetic field, and a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to generate a measurement signal based on the measurement values, compare the measurement signal to a switching threshold, generate a pulsed output signal having pulses that are generated based on the measurement signal crossing the switching threshold, measure a first characteristic of the measurement signal, update an offset of the switching threshold according to an offset update algorithm based on the measured first characteristic of the measurement signal, and selectively enable and disable the offset update algorithm based on at least a second characteristic of the measurement signal.

An exemplary wearable sensor unit includes 1) a magnetometer comprising a vapor cell comprising an input window and containing an alkali metal, and a light source configured to output light that passes through the input window and into the vapor cell along a transit path, and 2) a temperature control circuit external to the vapor cell and configured to create a temperature gradient within the vapor cell, the temperature gradient configured to concentrate the alkali metal within the vapor cell away from the transit path of the light.

An exemplary magnetic field measurement system includes a wearable sensor unit and a controller. The wearable sensor unit includes 1) a magnetometer comprising a photodetector and 2) a magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation magnetic field configured to actively shield the magnetometer from ambient background magnetic fields. The controller is configured to interface with the magnetometer and the magnetic field generator and includes a differential signal measurement circuit configured to measure current output by the photodetector.

A magnetic field measurement system includes a wearable device having a plurality of wearable sensor units. Each wearable sensor unit includes a plurality of magnetometers and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation magnetic field configured to actively shield the plurality magnetometers from ambient background magnetic fields. A strength of a fringe magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator of each of the wearable sensor units is less than a predetermined value at the plurality of magnetometers of each wearable sensor unit included in the plurality of wearable sensor units.

An exemplary magnetic field measurement system includes a wearable sensor unit and a single controller. The wearable sensor unit includes a plurality of magnetometers and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation magnetic field configured to actively shield the magnetometers from ambient background magnetic fields. The single controller is configured to interface with the magnetometers and the magnetic field generator.

An exemplary magnetic field measurement system includes a wearable sensor unit that includes a magnetometer, a magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation magnetic field configured to actively shield the magnetometer from ambient background magnetic fields, a twisted pair cable interface assembly electrically connected to the magnetometer, and a coaxial cable interface assembly electrically connected to the magnetic field generator.