초록 ▼

A magnetic sensor device utilizes the principle that the resistance of anisotropic magnetoresistive material is different in the case where the direction of current flowing in the material and the direction of a saturating magnetic field are parallel from the case where the direction of current and

A magnetic sensor device utilizes the principle that the resistance of anisotropic magnetoresistive material is different in the case where the direction of current flowing in the material and the direction of a saturating magnetic field are parallel from the case where the direction of current and the direction of the saturating magnetic field are perpendicular to each other. The sensor device may be used to sense displacement and includes a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element having at least one current path portion, a source applying electric current to each current path portion, and a magnetic field source producing first and second magnetic fields, occurring in first and second regions, and lying in first and second different mutually intersecting directions, respectively, with respect to the current path portion. The magnetoresistive element and the magnetic field source are displaceable in a predetermined direction relative to one another so that the relative amounts of the current path portion that are influenced by the first and second magnetic fields vary in accordance with such displacement. The magnetoresistive element can be connected to a constant current source, so that the voltage across the element indicates displacement. Alternatively, the magnetoresistive element can be formed of two series-connected current path portions, with a constant voltage source connected across both portions, so that the voltage appearing at the junction of the two current path portions indicates displacement.

대표청구항 ▼

A magnetic displacement sensor device comprising: a magnetoresistive element having at least one current path portion formed of ferromagnetic material; source means supplying a current to said magnetoresistive element to flow along a current path in said at least one current path portion; and magnet

A magnetic displacement sensor device comprising: a magnetoresistive element having at least one current path portion formed of ferromagnetic material; source means supplying a current to said magnetoresistive element to flow along a current path in said at least one current path portion; and magnetizing means providing magnetic fields to influence said magnetoresistive element and including a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field lying at different mutually intersecting first and second directions in respect to said at least one current path, and occurring in first and second regions, with the direction of each of said first and second magnetic fields being substantially in a respective one of said directions relative to said at least one current path within the respective first and second regions and changing abruptly to the other of said intersecting directions at boundaries between said first and second regions; said magnetoresistive element and said magnetizing means being mutually displaceable in a predetermined direction relative to one another so that the relative amounts of said at least one current path portion that are influenced by said first magnetic field and by said second magnetic field vary in accordance with such relative displacement.