Thin film plated wire magnetic switch of adjustable threshold

An adjustable-threshold bistable magnetically actuated switch for generating an electrical pulse at each switching event, comprising:

• a length of wire substrate having an anisotropic magnetostrictive magnetic film covering the wire substrate, the magnetic film having an easy axis of magnetization oriented helically around the wire, the helical magnetization direction being reversible by the application to said switch of external magnetic fields of predetermined magnitude to change the state of the magnetically actuated switch between a first state and a second state and to generate an electrical pulse in said wire substrate with each reversal between said states, said film covered substrate being known as a plated wire;
• adjustable tension means fastened to said plated wire for maintaining said plated wire under tension, the switching threshold level of said plated wire being a function of the magnitude of the tension exerted on said plated wire;
• and
• pulse output terminals from said switch.