Magnetic field generator for a magnetic field measurement system

A magnetic field generator comprising:

• a plurality of conductive windings comprising:
• a first conductive winding arranged in a first plane, and
• a second conductive winding arranged in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane,
• wherein:
• the plurality of conductive windings are configured to generate, when supplied with a drive current, a first component of a compensation magnetic field, the first component of the compensation magnetic field being configured to actively shield a magnetic field sensing region located between the first conductive winding and the second conductive winding from ambient background magnetic fields along a first axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first plane and the second plane;
• a winding pattern of the first conductive winding includes a first counter-winding configured to reduce a spatial extent of a first fringe magnetic field generated by the first conductive winding;
• and
• a winding pattern of the second conductive winding includes a second counter-winding configured to reduce a spatial extent of a second fringe magnetic field generated by the second conductive winding.