Ferrite-piezoelectric multilayers for magnetic field sensors

A magnetic field sensor based on magnetoelectric effects in a ferrite-piezoelectric layered sample is proposed. Such sensors are passive, provide direct conversion of magnetic fields' into an electrical signal, and allow measurements of both ac and dc magnetic fields. A multilayer sample of nickel zinc ferrite-lead zirconate titanate has been used to characterize the sensor response to ac and dc fields, field orientations,, frequency, and temperature. The sample shows a linear response for dc fields up to a maximum of 1750 Oe. The sensor output is temperature independent over 273-337 K, but is dependent on frequency of the ac excitation field. Operating at electromechanical resonance for the element enhances the sensor sensitivity by an order of magnitude. For ac magnetic field sensors, the output varies linearly with amplitude.