Chip-size Magnetic Sensor Arrays

Arrays of micron-sized magnetic sensors and sensor spacing on a single chip can be used to detect very small magnetic fields with high spatial resolution. These very small magnetic fields, or changes in magnetic fields, are associated with magnetic biosensors, non-destructive test/ inspection/evaluation, document validation including currency and credit cards and magnetic imaging. By using a silicon substrate, the signal conditioning and logic capability of integrated circuits can be used to optimize system performance when compared to a collection of sensors supplying raw signals to a processor. This integrated technique reduces the effect of noise and simplifies the sensor/signal-processing interface. Applications of these micro-arrays will be discussed during the presentation.