Giant magneto-impedance sensor with working point selfadaptation for unshielded human bio-magnetic detection

Background

Compared with traditional biomagnetic field detection devices, such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) and atomic magnetometers, only giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) sensors can be applied for unshielded human brain biomagnetic detection, and they have the potential for application in next-generation wearable equipment for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Achieving a better GMI sensor without magnetic shielding requires the stimulation of the GMI effect to be maximized and environmental noise interference to be minimized. Moreover, the GMI effect stimulated in an amorphous filament is closely related to its working point, which is sensitive to both the external magnetic field and the drive current of the filament.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a new noisereducing GMI gradiometer with a dual-loop self-adapting structure. Noise reduction is realized by a direction-flexible differential probe, and the dual-loop structure optimizes and stabilizes the working point by automatically controlling the external magnetic field and drive current. This dual-loop structure is fully program controlled by a micro control unit (MCU), which not only simplifies the traditional constantparameter sensor circuit, saving the time required to adjust the circuit component parameters, but also improves the sensor performance and environmental adaptation.

Results

In the performance test, within 2 min of self-adaptation, our sensor showed a better sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than those of the traditional designs and achieved a background noise of 12 pT/√Hz at 10 Hz and 7pT/√Hz at 200 Hz.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, our sensor is the first to realize self-adaptation of both the external magnetic field and the drive current.