In one embodiment, a magnetometer includes an electromechanical resonator coupled
to a drive-and-detect (DD) circuit. The resonator has a deformable beam that is
a part of a closed current path. By applying a periodic drive signal to a drive
electrode located in proximity to the deformable beam, the DD circuit induces an
oscillation of the beam. In the presence of a magnetic field, this oscillation
changes the magnetic flux through the closed current path, thereby generating an
oscillating electrical current in the path. Dissipation of this current due to
resistive losses in the closed current path then dampens the oscillation of the
deformable beam with a damping coefficient that depends on the magnetic-field strength.
Using a sense electrode located in proximity to the deformable beam, the DD circuit
detects the oscillation amplitude. Based on the detected amplitude, the DD circuit
changes the frequency of the drive signal to find the resonant frequency. Since
the resonant frequency depends on the damping coefficient, the magnetic-field strength
can be deduced in a relatively straightforward manner from the resonant frequency.