Patent ID: 6329818
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: B82Y,G01R,Y10S

Abstract:
A magnetic field sensor having four giant magnetoresistive effect elements, each of the giant magnetoresistive effect elements comprising: an exchange bias layer; a pinned magnetic layer whose direction of magnetization has been fixed in one direction by means of this exchange bias layer; a non-magnetic layer; and a free magnetic layer whose direction of magnetization has been made freely rotatable by means of an external magnetic field, whereinthe pinned magnetic layer is stacked on the exchange bias layer, the non-magnetic layer is stacked on the pinned magnetic layer, and the free layer is stacked on the non-magnetic layer;a first giant magnetoresistive effect element and a second giant magnetoresistive effect element being provided along a first straight line, and so that the magnetization of each of said pinned magnetic layers is oriented in a same predetermined orientation orthogonal to the first straight line; anda third giant magnetoresistive effect element and a fourth giant magnetoresistive effect element being provided along a second straight line parallel to said first straight line so that the magnetization of each of said pinned magnetic layers in said third and fourth giant magnetoresistive effect elements is oriented 180.degree. opposite to the directions of magnetization of the pinned magnetic layers in said first and second giant magnetoresistive effect elements.