Magnetic sensor
AssigneeTDK Corporation
InventorsHirokazu Takahashi, Kenzo Makino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic sensor includes an MR element. The MR element includes a free layer. The free layer has a first surface having a shape that is long in one direction and a second surface located opposite the first surface, and has a thickness that is a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The first surface has a first edge and a second edge located at both lateral ends of the first surface. In a given cross section, the thickness at the first edge is smaller than the thickness at a predetermined point on the first surface between the first edge and the second edge.
Claims26
A magnetic sensor comprising a magnetoresistive element and a support member that supports the magnetoresistive element, wherein:
- the magnetoresistive element includes a magnetic layer having a magnetization whose direction is variable;
- the magnetic layer has a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface;
- the first surface has a first edge and a second edge located at both ends in a first direction;
- the support member has an opposed surface opposed to the magnetoresistive element;
- at least a part of the opposed surface is inclined relative to a reference plane;
- and
- an angle that the opposed surface forms with the reference plane in a given cross section intersecting the magnetic layer and perpendicular to a second direction intersecting the first surface direction is greater at a first position that is a position on the opposed surface closest to the first edge than at a position on the opposed surface closest to a predetermined point on the first surface between the first edge and the second edge.
A magnetic sensor comprising a magnetoresistive element whose resistance changes with an external magnetic field, and configured to generate a detection signal corresponding to the resistance, wherein:
- the magnetoresistive element includes a magnetic layer having a magnetization whose direction is variable;
- the magnetic layer has a shape that is long in one direction;
- and
- the detection signal changes linearly within a range where a ratio of a strength of the external magnetic field to a strength of a magnetic anisotropy field of the magnetic layer is 0 to 0.8.
A magnetic sensor comprising a magnetoresistive element and an electrode made of a conductive material, wherein:
- the magnetoresistive element includes a magnetic layer having a magnetization whose direction is variable;
- the electrode has a top surface opposed to the magnetoresistive element, and has a thickness that is a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the top surface;
- the top surface has a first edge and a second edge located at both ends in a first direction;
- and
- in a given cross section intersecting the electrode and perpendicular to a second direction that intersects the first direction, the thickness at the first edge is smaller than the thickness at a predetermined point on the top surface between the first edge and the second edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.