The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices
Measuring weak magnetic fields proposes significant challenges to the sensing capabilities of magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field detection capacity of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors is often insufficient for such applications, necessitating targeted optimization strategies to improve...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Ran Bi Huiquan Zhang Shi Pan Xinting Liu Ruiying Chen Shilin Wu Jun Hu |
| author_facet | Ran Bi Huiquan Zhang Shi Pan Xinting Liu Ruiying Chen Shilin Wu Jun Hu |
| author_sort | Ran Bi |
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| description | Measuring weak magnetic fields proposes significant challenges to the sensing capabilities of magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field detection capacity of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors is often insufficient for such applications, necessitating targeted optimization strategies to improve their performance in weak-field measurements. Utilizing magnetic flux concentrators (MFCs) offers an effective approach to enhance TMR sensitivity. In this study, the finite element method was employed to analyze the effects of different MFC geometric structures on the uniformity of the magnetic field in the air gap and the magnetic circuit gain (MCG). It was determined that the MCG of the MFC is not directly related to the absolute values of its parameters but rather to their ratios. Simulation analyses evaluated the impact of these parameter ratios on both the MCG and its spatial distribution uniformity, leading to the formulation of MFC design optimization principles. Building on these simulation-derived principles, several MFCs were fabricated using the 1J85 material, and an experimental platform was established to validate the simulation findings. The fabricated MFCs achieved an MCG of 7.325 times. Based on the previously developed TMR devices, a detection sensitivity of 2.46 nT/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msqrt><mi>Hz</mi></msqrt></semantics></math></inline-formula> @1Hz was obtained. By optimizing parameter configurations, this work provides theoretical guidance for further enhancing the performance of TMR sensors in magnetic field measurements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73c0d392861346848a59de0e4b04ce85 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-73c0d392861346848a59de0e4b04ce852025-08-20T03:02:51ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012515473910.3390/s25154739The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance DevicesRan Bi0Huiquan Zhang1Shi Pan2Xinting Liu3Ruiying Chen4Shilin Wu5Jun Hu6Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaMeasuring weak magnetic fields proposes significant challenges to the sensing capabilities of magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field detection capacity of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors is often insufficient for such applications, necessitating targeted optimization strategies to improve their performance in weak-field measurements. Utilizing magnetic flux concentrators (MFCs) offers an effective approach to enhance TMR sensitivity. In this study, the finite element method was employed to analyze the effects of different MFC geometric structures on the uniformity of the magnetic field in the air gap and the magnetic circuit gain (MCG). It was determined that the MCG of the MFC is not directly related to the absolute values of its parameters but rather to their ratios. Simulation analyses evaluated the impact of these parameter ratios on both the MCG and its spatial distribution uniformity, leading to the formulation of MFC design optimization principles. Building on these simulation-derived principles, several MFCs were fabricated using the 1J85 material, and an experimental platform was established to validate the simulation findings. The fabricated MFCs achieved an MCG of 7.325 times. Based on the previously developed TMR devices, a detection sensitivity of 2.46 nT/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msqrt><mi>Hz</mi></msqrt></semantics></math></inline-formula> @1Hz was obtained. By optimizing parameter configurations, this work provides theoretical guidance for further enhancing the performance of TMR sensors in magnetic field measurements.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4739magnetic sensorsmagnetic circuitmagnetic flux concentratorfinite element simulationtunneling magnetoresistance |
| spellingShingle | Ran Bi Huiquan Zhang Shi Pan Xinting Liu Ruiying Chen Shilin Wu Jun Hu The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices Sensors magnetic sensors magnetic circuit magnetic flux concentrator finite element simulation tunneling magnetoresistance |
| title | The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices |
| title_full | The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices |
| title_short | The Influence of Dimensional Parameters on the Characteristics of Magnetic Flux Concentrators Used in Tunneling Magnetoresistance Devices |
| title_sort | influence of dimensional parameters on the characteristics of magnetic flux concentrators used in tunneling magnetoresistance devices |
| topic | magnetic sensors magnetic circuit magnetic flux concentrator finite element simulation tunneling magnetoresistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4739 |
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