Magnetic sensor including a plurality of magnetic detection elements and a plurality of magnetic field generators

A magnetic sensor system comprising a scale and a magnetic sensor arranged in a variable relative positional relationship with each other, the magnetic sensor system being configured to detect a physical quantity associated with the relative positional relationship between the scale and the magnetic sensor, wherein

• the scale includes a plurality of magnetic field generators,
• each of the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first ferromagnetic material section and a first antiferromagnetic material section,
• the first antiferromagnetic material section is in contact with and exchange-coupled to the first ferromagnetic material section,
• the first ferromagnetic material section has an overall magnetization, and
• the plurality of magnetic field generators includes first and second magnetic field generators configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator.

A magnetic sensor comprising:

• a plurality of magnetic detection elements;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic field generators, wherein
• each of the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first ferromagnetic material section and a first antiferromagnetic material section,
• the first antiferromagnetic material section is in contact with and exchange-coupled to the first ferromagnetic material section,
• the first ferromagnetic material section has an overall magnetization,
• the plurality of magnetic field generators includes first and second magnetic field generators configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator, and
• each of the plurality of magnetic detection elements is configured to be subjected to a magnetic field that results from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of at least one of the plurality of magnetic field generators.

A magnetic sensor comprising:

• a plurality of magnetic detection elements;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic field generators, wherein
• each of the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first ferromagnetic material section and a first antiferromagnetic material section,
• the first antiferromagnetic material section is in contact with and exchange-coupled to the first ferromagnetic material section,
• the first ferromagnetic material section has an overall magnetization,
• the plurality of magnetic detection elements includes a first magnetic detection element and a second magnetic detection element connected in series,
• the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first to a fourth magnetic field generator,
• the first magnetic detection element is configured to be subjected to a magnetic field that results from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator and the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator,
• the second magnetic detection element is configured to be subjected to a magnetic field that results from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the third magnetic field generator and the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the fourth magnetic field generator,
• the first and third magnetic field generators are configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the third magnetic field generator, and
• the second and fourth magnetic field generators are configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the fourth magnetic field generator.