Magneto-impedance element, and magnetic head, thin film magnetic head, azimuth sensor and autocanceler using the same

A magneto-impedance element, showing a change in impedance in response to an external magnetic field when an alternating current is applied, comprising a glassy alloy comprising at least one base metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent ≦z≦5 atomic percent.

A magnetic head comprising a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V.

A magnetic head comprising a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent ≦z≦5 atomic percent.

A magnetic head comprising a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V, further comprising a pair of cores and a bonding glass bonding one face of each of said pair of cores by being interposed between said pair of cores;
• wherein
• said magneto-impedance element is arranged over said pair of cores so that an external magnetic field is applied to said magneto-impedance element through said pair of cores.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a thin film magneto-impedance element, provided for detecting an external magnetic field and showing a change in impedance in response to the external magnetic field when an alternating current is applied, comprising a glassy alloy having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, said glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a thin film magneto-impedance element, provided for detecting an external magnetic field and showing a change in impedance in response to the external magnetic field when an alternating current is applied, comprising a glassy alloy having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, said glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent ≦z≦5 atomic percent.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a thin film magneto-impedance element, provided for detecting an external magnetic field and showing a change in impedance in response to the external magnetic field when an alternating current is applied, comprising a glassy alloy having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, said glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V, wherein said thin film magnetic head has a magnetic induction-type structure comprising a writing head and a reading head provided on a slider in which its medium-facing side moves relative to a magnetic medium, said writing head has a magnetic gap and a coil lead interposed between a thin film upper core and a thin film lower core, and said reading head has a magneto-impedance element and an electrode film connected to the magneto-impedance element.

An azimuth sensor comprising a magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of the direction of a magnetic flux of an external magnetic field, said magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V.

An azimuth sensor comprising a magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of the direction of a magnetic flux of an external magnetic field, said magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent <z≦5 atomic percent.

An azimuth sensor comprising:

• a magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of the direction of a magnetic flux of an external magnetic field, said magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• a first magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of an X-axis component of said magnetic flux of the external magnetic field;
• and
• a second magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of a Y-axis component of said magnetic flux.

An autocanceler comprising a canceling coil for applying a canceling magnetic field having the reverse vector to the magnetic flux of an external magnetic field to a CRT tube, and a control unit for controlling the vector of the canceling magnetic field based on the direction of the magnetic flux of said external field detected by a magnetic sensor;

• wherein said magnetic sensor as a sensing means of the external magnetic field comprises a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg, wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxBy
• wherein 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V.

An autocanceler comprising a canceling coil for applying a canceling magnetic field having the reverse vector to the magnetic flux of an external magnetic field to a CRT tube, and a control unit for controlling the vector of the canceling magnetic field based on the direction of the magnetic flux of said external field detected by a magnetic sensor;

• wherein said magnetic sensor as a sensing means of the external magnetic field comprises a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg, wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent <z≦5 atomic percent.

An autocanceler comprising a canceling coil for applying a canceling magnetic field having the reverse vector to the magnetic flux of an external magnetic field to a CRT tube, and a control unit for controlling the vector of the canceling magnetic field based on the direction of the magnetic flux of said external field detected by a magnetic sensor;

• wherein said magnetic sensor as a sensing means of the external magnetic field comprises a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 20° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg, wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and
• a first magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of an X-axis component of said magnetic flux of the external magnetic field;
• and
• a second magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of a Y-axis component of said magnetic flux.

An autocanceler comprising a canceling coil for applying a canceling magnetic field having the reverse vector to the magnetic flux of an external magnetic field to a CRT tube, and a control unit for controlling the vector of the canceling magnetic field based on the direction of the magnetic flux of said external field detected by a magnetic sensor;

• wherein said magnetic sensor as a sensing means of the external magnetic field comprises a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;
• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg, wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent <z≦5 atomic percent;
• and
• a first magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of an X-axis component of said magnetic flux of the external magnetic field;
• and
• a second magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of a Y-axis component of said magnetic flux.

A magnetic head comprising a magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 20° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula and a ΔTx of 50° C. or more:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent ≦z≦5 atomic percent, and
• further comprising a pair of cores and a bonding glass bonding one face of each of said pair of cores by being interposed between said pair of cores;
• wherein
• said magneto-impedance element is arranged over said pair of cores so that an external magnetic field is applied to said magneto-impedance element through said pair of cores.

A thin film magnetic head comprising a thin film magneto-impedance element, provided for detecting an external magnetic field and showing a change in impedance in response to the external magnetic field when an alternating current is applied, comprising a glassy alloy having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, said glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one component selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B, wherein said glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent ≦z≦5 atomic percent, and further wherein said thin film magnetic head has a magnetic induction-type structure comprising a writing head and a reading head provided on a slider in which its medium-facing side moves relative to a magnetic medium, said writing head has a magnetic gap and a coil lead interposed between a thin film upper core and a thin film lower core, and said reading head has a magneto-impedance element and an electrode film connected to the magneto-impedance element.

An azimuth sensor comprising a magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of the direction of a magnetic flux of an external magnetic field, said magneto-impedance element comprising a soft magnetic glassy alloy comprising at least one primary component selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni;

• at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• and B;
• and having a temperature region ΔTx of the supercooling liquid zone of 50° C. or more, said temperature region being represented by the equation ΔTx=Tx−Tg wherein Tx is the crystallization temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature, and wherein said soft magnetic glassy alloy has a composition represented by the following formula:
• (Fe1−a−bCOaNib)100−x−y−zMxByTz
• wherein M is at least one additional metal selected from the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti and V;
• T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Al, Si, Ge, C and P;
• and 0≦a≦0.29, 0≦b≦0.43, 5 atomic percent ≦x≦20 atomic percent, 10 atomic percent ≦y≦22 atomic percent, and 0 atomic percent <z≦5 atomic percent;
• a first magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of an X-axis component of said magnetic flux of the external magnetic field;
• and
• a second magneto-impedance element as a sensing means of a Y-axis component of said magnetic flux.