Patent ID: 6642714
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B82Y,G01R,Y10T

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic field sensor comprising:a first element including soft magnetic thin-films, which are separated by a gap having a predetermined gap length, and each have a predetermined film thickness and a predetermined width at a portion in contact with the gap, a giant-magneto-resistant thin-film formed to fill the gap between the soft magnetic thin-films, and first and second terminals respectively and electrically connected to the two separated soft magnetic thin-films; a second element including conductive films, which are separated by a gap having a gap length substantially equal to said gap length, and each have a film thickness substantially equal to said film thickness and a width substantially equal to said width at a portion in contact with the gap, a giant-magneto-resistant thin-film formed to fill the gap between the conductive films, and first and second terminals respectively and electrically connected to the two separated conductive films; wherein the first terminal of the first element is connected to one end of a first resistor, the other end of the first resistor is connected to one end of a second resistor, the other end of the second resistor is connected to the first terminal of the second element, and the second terminal of the second element is connected to the second terminal of the first element, to form a bridge circuit, and a predetermined voltage is applied between the first terminal of the first element and the first terminal of the second element, and a magnetic field is detected based on a voltage between the second terminal of the first element and said other end of the first resistor.