Patent ID: 7924534
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetic sensor comprising: at least a first and a second structure of soft-magnetic material being spatially separated and defining a first gap between facing ends thereof, the at least first and second structures of soft-magnetic material being adapted to form a gap magnetic field extending between the first structure of soft-magnetic material and the second structure of soft-magnetic material and oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a linear elongation of the first gap and substantially parallel to a line extending across the gap between the first and second structures of soft-magnetic material in a vicinity of the first gap in response to application of an external magnetic field, wherein all facing ends of the at least first and second structures are parallel to the linear elongation of the first gap; and at least a first magnetoresistive layered structure being positioned towards the first gap and being sensitive to the gap magnetic field, wherein the first structure of soft-magnetic material comprises a third structure of soft-magnetic material in the vicinity of the first gap and wherein the second structure of soft-magnetic material comprises a fourth structure of soft-magnetic material in the vicinity of the first gap, the third and fourth structures of soft-magnetic material having different magnetization saturation thresholds than the first and second structures of soft-magnetic material.