Title:
【発明の名称】ブリッジ回路磁界センサー
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JP3017061
Kind Code:
B2
Abstract:
A magnetic field sensor (10) uses four individual magnetoresistive spin valve elements (A,B,C,D) electrically connected in a bridge circuit. The spin valve elements (A,B,C,D) are lithographically formed on the same substrate with their free layers (36) having their magnetization axes parallel to one another. An electrically conductive fixing layer is formed on the substrate but is insulated from the spin valve elements. The application of current through the fixing conductor during fabrication of the field sensor fixes the direction of magnetization of two of the pinned layers (39) to be antiparallel to the direction of magnetization of the other two pinned layers (39). The bridge circuit (10) output voltage is responsive to an external magnetic field (4) in the plane of the sensor (10). By appropriate fixing of the direction of magnetization of the pinned layers (39) during sensor (10) fabrication, and appropriate connection to the input (20,22) and output leads (24,26), the bridge circuit output voltage is a measure of either the magnetic field or field gradient.
Inventors:
Maurice Musa Dobeck
Robert Edward Fontana, Jr.
Virgil Simon Superios
Jaclyn Kettner Spong
Robert Edward Fontana, Jr.
Virgil Simon Superios
Jaclyn Kettner Spong
Application Number:
JP28307095A
Publication Date:
March 06, 2000
Filing Date:
October 31, 1995
Export Citation:
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
International Classes:
G01R33/09; H01L43/08; (IPC1-7): G01R33/09; H01L43/08
Domestic Patent References:
| JP4358310A | ||||
| JP4369278A | ||||
| JP660336A | ||||
| JP6111252A | ||||
| JP6203340A | ||||
| JP6223336A | ||||
| JP6310327A | ||||
| JP6326374A |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Jiro Yamamoto (2 outside)