Magnetic sensor
AssigneeTDK Corporation
InventorToshihide Suto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic sensor includes first and second MR elements, and an electrode electrically connecting the first and second MR elements to each other. The electrode includes a first portion having a first surface, a second portion having a second surface, and a coupling portion coupling the first and second portions to each other. The first surface is in contact with an end face of the first MR element. The second surface is in contact with an end face of the second MR element. Each of the first and second surfaces has a three-hold or higher rotationally symmetric shape. The diameter of a first inscribed circle inscribed in the outer edge of the first surface and the diameter of the second inscribed circle inscribed in the outer edge of the second surface are greater than the width of the coupling portion.
Claims8
A magnetic sensor comprising:
- a first magnetoresistive element;
- a second magnetoresistive element;
- and
- an electrode electrically connecting the first and second magnetoresistive elements to each other, wherein
- each of the first and second magnetoresistive elements has a first end face and a second end face opposite to each other in a first direction, and includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked along the first direction between the first end face and the second end face,
- the first and second magnetoresistive elements are aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,
- the electrode includes a first portion having a first surface, a second portion having a second surface, and a coupling portion coupling the first and second portions to each other,
- at least part of the first surface is in contact with the first end face of the first magnetoresistive element,
- at least part of the second surface is in contact with the first end face of the second magnetoresistive element,
- each of the first and second surfaces has a three-hold or higher rotationally symmetric shape, and
- each of a first inscribed circle inscribed in an outer edge of the first surface and a second inscribed circle inscribed in an outer edge of the second surface has a diameter greater than a width of the coupling portion in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.