Patent attributes
A magnetometer has a resonating structure which is naturally resonant in at least first and second resonant modes, a resonant frequency of the second mode being at least an order of magnitude greater than a resonant frequency of the first mode, the resonating structure having two sense electrodes disposed on opposing major surfaces of the resonating structure and having a conductive path formed as a loop, the loop being disposed near or at edges of the resonating structure and the two sense electrodes being formed inwardly of the edges of the resonating structure and also inwardly of said loop. First and second oscillators are provided, the first oscillator being coupled to the loop for applying an oscillating current to the loop, the oscillating current having a frequency essentially equal to the resonant frequency of the first mode of the resonating structure, the second oscillator being coupled to said sense electrodes, the second oscillator oscillating with a fundamental frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the second mode of the resonating structure, the second oscillator also producing sidebands indicative of the magnetometer sensing an external magnetic field.
