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NPLs Existing Facility
A low magnetic noise environment and traceable measurement systems have been established at
NPL using a triaxial ambient feld cancellation system based on fuxgate magnetometer technology
[2]. Figure 1 shows the 3 m triaxial Helmholtz coil where the ambient feld is reduced to less than
0.5 nT at its centre. Using this approach, a noise foor of 20 pT/Hz at 1 Hz is achieved at the centre
of the triaxial Helmholtz coil system. Also shown is the magnetic feld variation in the laboratory
before (black line) and after (red line) cancellation.
Temperature System
To produce the temperature conditions
sensors experience during use, a commercial
air temperature forcing system and thermally
isolated enclosure were integrated into this
existing low feld environment. The system
provides high volume, high velocity, temperature
controlled air-fow to an enclosure over the
temperature range -80 to +225 C. Integration of
the temperature system required evaluation of
the temperature stability and uniformity within
the enclosure, and its impact on the performance
of the cancelled environment. The efect of the
air-forcing system on the cancelled environment was determined by measuring its magnetic
signature as it was brought into position. It was found that the efect of the temperature system on
the cancelled environment is of the order of 0.3 0.4 T which, if not accounted for, would lead to a
signifcant increase in the uncertainties quoted. This ofset can be calibrated out by determining the
sensors characteristics at ambient temperature, then by repeating the ambient measurement with
the temperature system in position.
Results of Sensor Characterization Study
For this study, two fuxgate and one anisotropic magneto-resistance (AMR) device were evaluated
over the temperature range stated by the manufacturers. The sensitivity (the ratio of magnetic fux
density to output voltage) expressed in T/V and the scaling temperature coef cients expressed in
ppm/C were determined.
For the fuxgate sensors, an initial measurement
of the sensitivity for each device was performed
with the ambient feld cancellation system at
a room temperature of 20 C. The sensitivity
measurement was repeated at the same
temperature with the sensor located within
the enclosure of the temperature system. Any
diference in the calculated sensitivity is the
result of the DC signature of the temperature
system and can be used to correct the sensitivity
values obtained at other temperatures. Due
to the variation in the zero ofset it is dif cult
to record the sensor output to create one plot of sensitivity against temperature with complete
certainty in the values obtained, this variation is shown in Figure 3.
The sensitivity values shown in Figures 4 and 5 are measured individually at each temperature along
with a measurement of the sensors zero ofset with no feld applied. The sensitivity values plotted
are corrected for the ofset due to the temperature system and also for any change observed for the
sensor zero ofset. The calculated sensitivity together with the associated measurement uncertainty
of 0.05% is shown as the red marker with error bars. The expanded uncertainty evaluated for the
determination of the sensitivity values, at a confdence level of k = 2, allowing for the additional
contributions due to the temperature system increased from 0.05% to 0.15%.
The characterization of the AMR sensor for
scaling temperature coef cients was made
as a relative measurement with respect to
an ambient temperature of 20 C. The zero
ofsets for this sensor are less susceptible to
temperature due to the operating principle.
The plot of the variation in the AMRs
sensitivity is shown in Figure 6.
Once the sensitivity for each device had been
determined over the required temperature
ranges the scaling temperature coef cients,
in ppm/C, were derived and the results are
given in the table.
Characterization of Magnetic Sensors
at the Operational Temperatures
of Industrial Applications
S.A.C. Harmon, M.J. Hall, S. Turner and N. Hillier
National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
Existing measurement facilities do not allow the
characterization of magnetic sensors at the operational
temperatures encountered in a range of industrial applications
such as down-hole drilling to space applications where the
temperature is considerably diferent to that used during their
development and calibration.
Routine calibration of such sensors can be carried out by various
facilities, but are limited to ambient temperatures. To enable
their use in harsh temperature environments, NPL has developed
measurement facilities for the characterization of these sensors
over a temperature range of 55 to + 125 C refecting the actual
temperatures experienced during their operation.
A temperature calibration system to enable this characterization,
developed as part of the European Metrology Research
Programme (EMRP) Project titled MetMags Metrology for
Advanced Industrial Magnetics [1], has been integrated into
NPLs existing low magnetic feld facility to determine the
temperature coef cients of the most sensitive magnetic sensors.

Figure 2: Temperature uniformity within enclosure. PRTs
are located at each corner of the uniformity plots and
cover an area of 160 mm x 100 mm.
Figure 3: Fluxgate No. 2 zero ofset vs temperature.
Figures 4 & 5: Sensitivity plots for fuxgate type sensors
Figure 6: AMR sensitivity.
Specifed and calculated values for scaling temperature coef cient
Specifcation Measured
Operating
temperature
range
(C)
Scaling
temperature
coef cient
(ppm/C)
Temperature
range
(C)
Scaling temperature
coef cient
(ppm/C)
Fluxgate No. 1 40 to + 70 20 to 200
20 to + 20
+ 20 to + 42
+ 42 to + 66
+ 32
+ 4
22
Fluxgate No. 2 0 to + 175 Not specifed
+ 20 to + 77
+ 77 to + 115
+ 115 to + 131
+ 66
+ 46
+ 52
AMR Sensor 40 to + 150 3600 600
25 to 0
0 to + 25
+ 25 to + 50
+50 to + 75
3736
3663
3427
3155
Summary
A calibration system for the characterization of magnetic sensors over the temperature
range 55 to +125 C has been developed and integrated into NPLs existing ambient feld
cancellation system.
The efect due to the temperature systems proximity to the cancelled environment has
been established and a calibration procedure to correct for the magnetic signature, seen as
an ofset in the output of the device under test when no feld is applied, developed.
The results of the characterization study show a good agreement with the stated
specifcations giving confdence that the system provides a robust and traceable
measurement facility for the testing of magnetic sensors. This represents a step change
in the ability to characterize sensors for automotive, geological exploration and space
applications.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the National Measurement Systemof the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that provides
funding to develop and maintain the measurement systems at NPL. They would also like to thank the EMRP MetMags project partners
and stakeholders who provided sensors. The EMRP is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the
European Union.
References
[1] http://www.ptb.de/emrp/metmags-home.html
[2] M. J. Hall, et al., Magnetic environment and magnetic feld standards at NPL for the calibration of lownoise magnetometers and
gradiometers for cleanliness studies, Aerospace EMC, 2012 Proceedings ESAWorkshop on, ISBN: 978-1-4673-0302-6, p. 1 6 (2012).
Figure 1: 3 m diameter triaxial Helmholtz coil used to reduce the ambient magnetic feld at NPL, and the achieved cancellation.