Introduction of real-time digital processing techniques for the high-sensitivity GMI sensors

A new fully digital Giant Magneto-Impedance (GMI) sensor is presented. The design combines the off-diagonal configuration of the sensitive element with a real-time digital electronic conditioning based on a Software Defined Radio (SDR). Compared to a conventional implementation of these sensors, the proposed design exhibits key advantages. These include firstly the simplicity of obtaining a quasi-linear sensor response around the zero-field point without making use of a bias magnetic field and an offset cancelling device. Secondly, the potential of integration, the flexibility of reconfiguration as well as the low-noise and high-sensitivity are promising features of the developed concept. Noise performance of 1.8 pT/root Hz Hz was obtained in the white noise region.