Magnetic field amplitude detection sensor apparatus

External magnetic field detection means comprising in combination:

• bidirectionally saturating magnetic sensing means including output winding means wound on a magnetic core for outputting a first signal indicative in polarity of direction of flux level changes in the core;
• integrating second means, connected to said sensing means, for outputting, in response to said first signal, a integrating second signal having an average value of zero with respect to a reference potential and representative in waveshape of flux level changes in said core;
• detection means, connected to said second means, for providing an output third signal indicative of the average of opposite polarity peaks of said second signal with respect to said reference potential;
• and
• feedback means, including integration means, connected between said detection means and said sensing means, for generating feedback and apparatus output signals indicative of the accumulated average of said third signals and thus of the flux level being measured.

The method of measuring magnetic field strength comprising the steps of:

• bidirectionally saturating a directional magnetic core sensor;
• detecting induced voltages generated by said sensor due to flux level changes in the core thereof;
• removing DC components from the induced voltages generated by said sensor while simultaneously integrating the induced voltages;
• peak detecting the integrated signal relative ground for both positive and negative polarities;
• summing the peak detected signals to produce a first signal indicative of the removed DC component;
• integrating said first signal to provide a second signal indicative of external magnetic fields affecting flux levels in the core of said sensor;
• and
• applying said second signal to said sensor in a feedback manner to cancel the effects of external fields on flux levels in the core of said sensor.

Apparatus for measuring magnetic field strength comprising in combination:

• directional magnetic core sensor means;
• first means for bidirectionally saturating said directional magnetic core sensor means;
• second means, connected to said sensor means, for detecting induced voltages generated by said sensor means due to flux level changes in the core thereof;
• third means, connected to said second means, for removing DC components from the induced voltages generated by said sensor means while simultaneously integrating the induced voltages;
• fourth means, connected to said third means, for peak detecting the integrated signal relative ground for both positive and negative polarities;
• fifth means, connected to said fourth means, for summing the peak detected signals to produce a first signal indicative of the removed DC component;
• sixth means, connected to said fifth means, for integrating said first signal to provide a second signal indicative of external magnetic fields affecting flux levels in the core of said sensor;
• and
• seventh means, connected between said sixth means and said sensor means, for applying said second signal to said sensor means to cancel the effects of external fields on flux levels in the core of said sensor means.

The method of measuring magnetic field strength comprising the steps of:

• bidirectionally saturating the magnetic core of a magnetic sensor;
• generating a first signal by removing any DC voltage component from induced alternating signals output by said sensor;
• operating upon said first signal to generate a second signal representative of the algebraic sum of the peak values of said first signal;
• integrating said second signal to provide an output third signal indicative of external magnetic fields affecting said sensor;
• and
• returning said third signal to said sensor as a feedback signal to cancel the effects of said external fields on flux levels in the core of said sensor.

Apparatus for measuring external magnetic fields comprising in combination:

• bidirectionally saturating magnetic sensor means including induced output voltage winding means;
• first means, connected to said winding means, for generating a first signal voltage representative of flux levels in said magnetic sensor less any DC component;
• second means, including integration means, connected to said first means, for accumulating peak values of said first signal voltage and generating an integrated output second signal indicative of any external magnetic field affecting said sensor means;
• and
• third means, connected between said second means and said sensor means, for returning said third signal as a feedback signal.