100 pT/cm single-point MEMS magnetic gradiometer from a commercial accelerometer

Magnetic sensing is present in our everyday interactions with consumer electronics and demonstrates the potential for the measurement of extremely weak biomagnetic fields, such as those of the heart and brain. In this work, we leverage the many benefits of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMicrosystems & nanoengineering Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 71
Main Authors Javor, Josh, Stange, Alexander, Pollock, Corey, Fuhr, Nicholas, Bishop, David J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.08.2020
Springer Nature B.V
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Summary:Magnetic sensing is present in our everyday interactions with consumer electronics and demonstrates the potential for the measurement of extremely weak biomagnetic fields, such as those of the heart and brain. In this work, we leverage the many benefits of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices to fabricate a small, low-power, and inexpensive sensor whose resolution is in the range of biomagnetic fields. At present, biomagnetic fields are measured only by expensive mechanisms such as optical pumping and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), suggesting a large opportunity for MEMS technology in this work. The prototype fabrication is achieved by assembling micro-objects, including a permanent micromagnet, onto a postrelease commercial MEMS accelerometer using a pick-and-place technique. With this system, we demonstrate a room-temperature MEMS magnetic gradiometer. In air, the sensor’s response is linear, with a resolution of 1.1 nT cm −1 , spans over 3 decades of dynamic range to 4.6 µT cm −1 , and is capable of off-resonance measurements at low frequencies. In a 1 mTorr vacuum with 20 dB magnetic shielding, the sensor achieves a 100 pT cm −1 resolution at resonance. This resolution represents a 30-fold improvement compared with that of MEMS magnetometer technology and a 1000-fold improvement compared with that of MEMS gradiometer technology. The sensor is capable of a small spatial resolution with a magnetic sensing element of 0.25 mm along its sensitive axis, a >4-fold improvement compared with that of MEMS gradiometer technology. The calculated noise floor of this platform is 110 fT cm −1  Hz −1/2 , and thus, these devices hold promise for both magnetocardiography (MCG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) applications. Magnetic sensing: Small, low-cost magnetic sensor with wide field strength A small, low-power, inexpensive magnetic sensor has been developed in a commercially available platform with a resolution that is within the range of biomagnetic fields. Magnetic sensing is applied in everyday interactions with consumer electronics (such as for navigation) and has the potential to measure extremely weak biomagnetic fields (such as those of the heart and brain). Hitherto, biomagnetic fields have been measured only using expensive mechanisms. However, a team headed by Josh Javor at Boston University, USA has succeeded in applying the benefits of micro-electromechanical systems to fabricate a low-cost magnetic sensor in a small, versatile platform that can be easily integrated into consumer technology. We believe that their new technology has the potential to revolutionize magnetic sensing and offer considerable advantages in such areas as navigation, communication, and biomagnetic field mapping.
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ISSN:2055-7434
2096-1030
2055-7434
DOI:10.1038/s41378-020-0173-z