Analysis of the fluxgate response through a simple spice model

In this paper, harmonics content of sinusoidal excited fluxgate sensors res ponse is analyzed by means of a simple electrical model developed for SPICE . The model construction is detailed and it is applied to the simplest flux gate sensor. Well known characteristics of these sensors are confirmed thro ugh the simulations, while new useful outcomes are discussed. In particular it is found that the 4th harmonic response has, in analogy to that of the 2nd one, a linear range which is of greater sensitivity independent of the shape of the BH curve. Second and 4th harmonic responses present a negative slope region. Using a previously developed 2nd harmonic fluxgate magnetome ter, some preliminary experimental results are obtained confirming the appe arance of the negative slope region at its output. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e S.A. All rights reserved.