3-axis amorphous wire type giant magneto-impedance sensors

Abstract

In the previous, the author reported a 2-axis mass-production of an amorphous wire GMI (giant magneto-impedance) sensor with 10,000 times the sensitivity of the MR sensor. This paper presents a newly developed 3-axis amorphous wire type GMI sensors by adding a new Z axis. The 3D GMI sensor has three orthogonally arranged micro GMI sensor elements and a CMOS signal conditioning IC in a small resin-mold package. And the length of GMI sensor element was shortened from 1.5 mm to 0.8 mm. The world's smallest, quick response and low power consumption 3D sensor can be used in mobile phones with GPS capability as an electronic compass.