Patent ID: 6020738
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: B82Y,G01R

Abstract:
A device for setting magnetizations of bias-layer parts in magneto-resistive sensor elements which are interconnected to form a bridge circuit and which have similar thin-film structures on a common substrate and display an enhanced magneto-resistive effect, each sensor element including a magnetically harder bias-layer part having a predetermined direction of orientation of a magnetization and a measurement layer, which is magnetically softer than the bias-layer part and is separated from the bias-layer part by a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, the device comprising:a plurality of conductive-track parts;means for arranging each one of the conductive-track parts in a predetermined position such that each one is associated with and separated from at least one of the sensor elements, the arranging means being removably coupled to the sensor elements; andmeans for conducting a set current of a predetermined direction and strength in such a manner over each of the plurality of conductive-track parts so that the predetermined direction of orientation of the magnetization can be permanently set once and for all in the bias-layer part of at least one associated sensor element.