Ring shaped tmr elements providing increased linearity

A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) ring element comprising:

• a free layer of ferromagnetic material;
• a barrier layer disposed adjacent the free layer;
• a fixed layer of ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the barrier layer and having a fixed magnetic orientation;
• a first conductive element connected to the free layer;
• and
• a second conductive element connected to the fixed layer;
• wherein the MTJ ring element is configured to produce an output signal indicative of a presence of a magnetic field aligned fixed magnetic orientation of the fixed layer, and wherein the MTJ ring element is configured as a ring shape defining an aperture.

A method of making a TMR sensor having ring elements, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) ring structures having a bridge configuration;
• wherein each MTJ ring structure includes a stack including a free layer, a barrier layer, and a fixed layer have a fixed magnetic orientation, wherein each MTJ ring structure is configured to provide an output signal indicative of a magnetic field aligned with the fixed magnetic orientation, and wherein each MTJ ring structure has a ring shape defining an aperture;
• and
• providing output circuitry configured to receive the output signal and provide signal conditioning of the output signal.