Patent ID: 8773821
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: G01R,H01F

Abstract:
1. A mixed anisotropy magnetic field sensor comprising: a first magnetic material film having in-plane anisotropy with a first magnetic easy axis that is in-plane, the first magnetic material film having a magnetization that has a first magnetization orientation parallel to the first magnetic easy axis in the presence of no applied magnetic field; a second magnetic material film having out-of-plane anisotropy with a second magnetic easy axis that is perpendicular to the first magnetic easy axis of the first magnetic material film, the second magnetic material film having a magnetization that has a second magnetization orientation parallel to the second magnetic easy axis in the presence of no applied magnetic field; and a non-magnetic spacer between the first magnetic material film and the second magnetic material film; wherein the magnetization of the first magnetic material film rotates to align with the magnetization of the second magnetic material film in the second magnetization orientation in the presence of an applied out-of-plane magnetic field exceeding a threshold, and the magnetization of the second magnetic material film rotates to align with the magnetization of the first magnetic material film in the first magnetization orientation in the presence of an applied in-plane magnetic field exceeding a threshold; and wherein at least one of the first magnetic material film and the second magnetic material film has increased magnetization in a region adjacent to the non-magnetic spacer.