A composite material fabricated using a novel process and materials. The piezoelectric and magnetostrictive layers of the composite material are coated, layered, and bonded using a process known as LTTLP bonding. The resulting magnetoelectric composite fibers are bonded to a polyimide film based copper flexible circuit using a room temperature curing epoxy. The sensor that results is an MEMFC that outperforms conventionally fabricated MEMFCs.

A magnetic field sensor component, comprising: a piezoelectric portion; a plate portion comprising (i) a drive electrode superposed over the piezoelectric portion and in mechanical communication with the piezoelectric portion, the drive electrode comprising a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a sense electrode superposed over the piezoelectric portion and in mechanical communication with the piezoelectric portion, the sense electrode comprising a magnetostrictive material; and a tether portion extending from the plate portion, and the magnetostrictive drive electrode being configured to be electrically driven so as to effect a strain modulation of the magnetostrictive drive electrode that upconverts a received magnetic field to a resonance band of the magnetostrictive drive electrode. A method, comprising operating a magnetic field sensor component according to the present disclosure.

A magnetic field sensor component, comprising: a piezoelectric portion; a plate portion comprising (i) a drive electrode superposed over the piezoelectric portion and in mechanical communication with the piezoelectric portion, the drive electrode comprising a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a sense electrode superposed over the piezoelectric portion and in mechanical communication with the piezoelectric portion, the sense electrode comprising a magnetostrictive material; and a tether portion extending from the plate portion, and the magnetostrictive drive electrode being configured to be electrically driven so as to effect a strain modulation of the magnetostrictive drive electrode that upconverts a received magnetic field to a resonance band of the magnetostrictive drive electrode. A method, comprising operating a magnetic field sensor component according to the present disclosure.

A building structure includes a block of building material and a magnetic circuit buried in the block of building material. The structure also includes a plurality of sensing devices buried in the block of building material. Each sensing device may include a contactless power supplying circuit magnetically coupled with the magnetic circuit to generate a supply voltage when the magnetic circuit is subject to a variable magnetic field.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a supporter, a film portion, a first sensing element, a second sensing element, and a processor. The film portion is supported by the supporter, and is deformable. The first sensing element is fixed to the supporter, and Includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The second sensing element is fixed to the film portion, and includes a third magnetic layer, a fourth magnetic layer, and a second intermediate layer provided between the third magnetic layer and the fourth magnetic layer. The processor outputs an output signal when a first signal is in a first state. The first signal is obtained from the first sensing element. The output signal is based on a second signal obtained from the second sensing element.

A system of detecting magnetic field comprises a magnetic impedance element surrounded by a detection coil, a stimulus unit that generates pulse signal of programmable rise/fall time to drive the magnetic impedance element, and a signal detection module that detects signal on the detection coil, wherein the signal detection module includes a buffer unit having adjustable bandwidth for shaping output signal of the detection coil, a signal amplify unit that includes a sample and hold circuit and a chopping programmable gain amplifier to amplify buffered signal from the buffer unit, a signal processing unit that processes amplified signal from the signal amplify unit by applying a selectable algorithm to output detection result, and a control unit that connects the signal processing unit to generate control parameters of the stimulus unit, the buffer unit, the signal amplify unit, and the signal processing unit.

A system of detecting magnetic field comprises a magnetic impedance element surrounded by a detection coil, a stimulus unit that generates pulse signal of programmable rise/fall time to drive the magnetic impedance element, and a signal detection module that detects signal on the detection coil, wherein the signal detection module includes a buffer unit having adjustable bandwidth for shaping output signal of the detection coil, a signal amplify unit that includes a sample and hold circuit and a chopping programmable gain amplifier to amplify buffered signal from the buffer unit, a signal processing unit that processes amplified signal from the signal amplify unit by applying a selectable algorithm to output detection result, and a control unit that connects the signal processing unit to generate control parameters of the stimulus unit, the buffer unit, the signal amplify unit, and the signal processing unit.

A method and structure for operating a magnetoresistive sensor system includes applying a set-reset process wherein the set-reset signal is phased through the magnetoresistive element in such a way that the set-reset field of each region is not released until the adjacent field is aligned. Starting at one end of the magnetoresistive element, the set-reset signal is activated. This aligns the domains directly underneath the first of the set-reset elements. Before this field is released, the adjacent set-reset is activated, which aligned the domains in the adjacent field. Once the adjacent field has been realigned, the set-reset field in the first region can be released, and the set-reset field in the next region can be activated. In this way, no more than two set-reset elements must be active at any one time.

A method and structure for operating a magnetoresistive sensor system includes applying a set-reset process wherein the set-reset signal is phased through the magnetoresistive element in such a way that the set-reset field of each region is not released until the adjacent field is aligned. Starting at one end of the magnetoresistive element, the set-reset signal is activated. This aligns the domains directly underneath the first of the set-reset elements. Before this field is released, the adjacent set-reset is activated, which aligned the domains in the adjacent field. Once the adjacent field has been realigned, the set-reset field in the first region can be released, and the set-reset field in the next region can be activated. In this way, no more than two set-reset elements must be active at any one time.

A magnetoelastic tag includes a frame-suspended magnetoelastic resonator that combines a strong resonant response with a relatively small resonator, enabling magnetoelastic sensor use in a variety of inconspicuous applications and/or small packages. The resonator is suspended with respect to a substrate, which reduces, minimizes, or eliminates interaction between the substrate and resonator. Signal strength is thereby enhanced, thereby allowing miniaturization while maintaining a measurable response to the interrogation field. The resonator can have a hexagonal shape and/or be suspended at particular locations about its perimeter to promote signal generation in a direction different from that of the interrogation field. A sensor can include one or more frame-suspended resonators, which can be arranged in an array, stacked, or randomly where a plurality of resonators is employed.