How is PNIs magneto-inductive (MI) sensing different from a fluxgate or magneto-resistive sensing?
Magneto-inductive sensing has some particularly useful attributes that set it apart from other magnetic sensing technologies. Specifically: * The output is inherently digital. The output from PNI’s ASIC is a clearly defined number, and this number is directly related to the applied magnetic field. Most other technologies provide an analog output which require additional component hardware, such as amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters. * Very high resolution, on the order of 10 nT, can be obtained with the basic circuit. In comparison, competing technologies either cannot achieve this level of resolution due to inherent noise floors, or it can be comparatively expensive due to the need for costly external components. * Low power consumption. Power consumption with MI technology is inversely proportional to the sample rate, such that at an 8 Hz sample rate power consumption is typically 1.5 mW, while at a 300 Hz sample rate it is typically 7.5 mW. In comparison, magneto-resistive
