Generator Frequency as a Useful Signal in Devices for Measuring Magnetic Field Strength Based on Fluxgate Sensors

The article is devoted to the construction of measuring devices based on fluxgate sensors. The possibility of using as a useful signal, carrying information about the magnitude of the measured magnetic field, the frequency of the generator, performed on the logic elements and powering the excitation winding of the fluxgate, is considered. In such a generator, the field winding becomes in fact an element of the generator itself. Therefore, the measured magnetic field through the excitation winding affects the operation of the generator, which leads to a change in its frequency. The article shows that the magnitude of the frequency change is sufficient to talk about the possibility of a non-standard frequency measurement method for constructing devices based on flux-probes. It is shown that the use of frequency as a useful signal has its advantages. It has been established experimentally that the flux-probe effectively works not only at a specific frequency specified in its passport data, but also within fairly wide limits. It is shown that the frequency changes fall within the range in which the flux probe operates most efficiently. The article provides an original generator circuit for powering the excitation winding of a fluxgate and implementing a frequency-measurement method for constructing devices for measuring magnetic field strength.