Patent ID: 6577121
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01B,G01D

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive sensor for measuring relative displacements of construction parts, comprising: a magnetoresistive element formed on a surface of a substrate, and a magnet system which generates a magnetic field having a component directed parallel to the substrate surface at the area of the magnetoresistive element, which magnetic field component, upon the relative displacement of the construction parts, extends at different angles &agr; to the magnetoresistive element and is so large that the magnetoresistive element is always magnetically saturated during the displacement, characterized in that, upon relative displacement of the construction parts, the magnetoresistive element describes a path with respect to the magnet system, in that, for determining a mutual rotation of the construction parts, the magnetoresistive element describes a circular path with respect to the magnet system, with a center with respect to which the magnetoresistive element occupies a fixed position, and in that the magnet system generates a magnetic field at the location of the path of the magnetoresistive element, which magnetic field has field lines extending radially in the plane of the path with respect to an axis of symmetry directed transversely to the plane of the path and intersecting the plane of the path next to the center of the path.