Soft switching of magnetization in a magnetoresistive sensor

A sensor module, comprising:

• a magnetoresistive sensor that includes:
• a stripe portion comprising magnetoresistive material,
• the stripe portion having:
• a stripe width, along a first axis, measured from a first stripe edge of the stripe portion to a second stripe edge of the stripe portion,
• a first end positioned on a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis,
• a second end positioned on the second axis, and
• a length measured from the first end to the second end,
• the length being larger than the stripe width;
• and
• an extension portion comprising magnetoresistive material,
• the extension portion being positioned at the first end of the stripe portion and contacting the stripe portion at the first end of the stripe portion,
• the extension portion having an extension width along the first axis and an extension length along the second axis,
• the extension width being larger than the stripe width and extending the extension portion beyond the first stripe edge in a first direction along the first axis and extending beyond the second stripe edge in a second direction along the first axis, and
• the extension length being smaller than the extension width;
• a first contact component, the first contact component being positioned on the stripe portion nearer to the first end than to the second end;
• and a second contact component, the second contact component being positioned on the stripe portion nearer to the second end than to the first end.

An apparatus to measure magnetoresistance, the apparatus comprising:

• a stripe portion of magnetoresistive material,
• the stripe portion having:
• a stripe width extending along a first axis from a first stripe edge of the stripe portion to a second stripe edge of the stripe portion,
• a stripe length along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis,
• a first stripe end, and
• a second stripe end,
• the first stripe end and the second stripe end being positioned at opposite ends of the stripe portion along the second axis;
• a first extension portion of magnetoresistive material,
• the first extension portion being positioned at the first stripe end and contacting the stripe portion at the first stripe end,
• the first extension portion having a first extension width, along the first axis, that is larger than the stripe width and that extends the first extension portion beyond the first stripe edge in a first direction along the first axis and beyond the second stripe edge in a second direction along the first axis, and
• the first extension portion having a first extension length, along the second axis, that is smaller than the first extension width;
• and
• a second extension portion of magnetoresistive material,
• the second extension portion being positioned at the second stripe end and contacting the stripe portion at the second strip end,
• the second extension portion having a second extension width, along the first axis, that is larger than the stripe width and that extends the second extension portion beyond the first stripe edge in the first direction along the first axis and beyond the second stripe edge in the second direction along the first axis, and
• the second extension portion having a second extension length, along the second axis, that is smaller than the second extension width;
• a contact component, the contact component being positioned on the stripe portion nearer to the first stripe end than to the second stripe end, the contact component being positioned at a distance, from the first stripe end, that is greater than or equal to the first extension length.