Method for measuring three-dimensional magnetic fields

Method for sensing an external magnetic field using a magnetic sensor cell comprising:

• a magnetic tunnel junction including a reference layer having a reference magnetization oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the reference layer, a sense layer having a sense magnetization, and a tunnel barrier layer between the sense and reference layers;
• and a field line configured for passing a field current for providing a sense magnetic field adapted for aligning the sense magnetization;
• the sense layer magnetization being orientable between a direction parallel to the plane of the sense layer and a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sense layer when the sense magnetic field is provided;
• the external magnetic field comprising an in-plane component oriented parallel to the plane of the sense layer and an out-of-plane component perpendicular to the plane of the sense layer;
• the method comprising:
• sensing the out-of-plane component;
• and
• sensing the in-plane component;
• wherein the step of sensing the out-of-plane component comprises determining the exclusive magnitude of the out-of-plane component.